Souplex:
I am not talking about how effective they are in all situations I am just talkin bout how badass they are.

The thing a scythe by definition is a tool for reaping grain. Therefore warscythes are not scythes and scythes can not be effective weapons!

HA VICTORY BY TECHNICALITY!

I doubt you'd be saying that after someone "reaps" you a new ass hole with one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythe
Also mentions war scythes.

why I love scythes. Get diablo2. Get a paladin. apply zeal to scythe and you become Mr.Lawnmower.

Najos:
Edit: I'm pretty sure the "war scythe" is the INVENTION of the glaive.

Incorrect, but thanks for playing.
The War Scythe and a Glaive are similar but unrelated weapons. If anything, a War Scythe is a reverse-edged Fauchard. The war scythe was wielded more as a halberd, for chopping not piercing as the strength of the blade is on the cutting edge, not the point. Glaives on the other hand were treated mostly as a spear, used for stabbing, but with the option to slice if needed. In addition, the War Scythe is a polish adaptation whereas Glaives are French... Therefore, unrelated designs.

As to OP's question why scythes are treated as a weapon instead of a tool, it's simple. Can you kill someone with a scythe? Yes. So it's a weapon.

war scythes are also tools i think. I have a Brush axe, which looks like the war scythe from Diablo2 (Which i will take as a reliable source, and dont try and dissuade me because i will throw peanuts at you).

well very very interesting... if Scytes won't work (wich they will because stones can be effective weapons too) we could also use other farm tools for weapons... like a flail maybe.
Where did you think weapons like nunchucks came from.

Warscytes are made from normal scythes like an improvised weapon

"A war scythe is a kind of improvised pole weapon, similar to a fauchard, usually created from standard scythes. The blade of the scythe is transformed so as to extend upright from the pole, thus forming an infantry weapon practical both in offensive actions against infantry and as a defensive measure against enemy cavalry" this wiki quote might help you stubborn people out there.

In the hands of a trained warrior all can be a weapon. I guess it would be harder to master a regular scythe in combat. But I do not doubt it's effectiveness as a weapon.
I thing a well timed swing at ones ankles or neck will severly injure, immobilize or kill a person.

well most things came from farming impliments, no argument. Nunchucks were wheat threshers i think...there are a good number more which i for the life of me cant remember. As for scythes, switch handled scythes which allow you to keep a swinging cross of death in front of you would be pretty effective against light armoured infantry, since with enough control the haft can be used to block, even more so if it has notches to catch the blade in. But thats assuming people have used one enough to be able to actually do that. odds are they havent.

Well the uniqueness in regular scythe combat is in the weapon's uncanny design. You don't use the same muscles swinging a scythe compared to a traditional polearm, it's dual handle design makes it more like you're hanging on to a pair of wooden rods, and punching someone. The left hand holds the pivotal handle, the left arm being outstretched, while the right hand holds the functional handle with his arm tucked inward like he's preparing for a Kung-Fu punch. Then to strike, the user reverses which arm is outstretched and which one is tucked back, causing the shaft and blade to swing forward like a tipped over scorpion's tail. As I said, the motion for the arms if the scythe wasn't being held, would very closely resemble martial arts punching.

Because of this unique swinging action, and the awkward balance of having the entire weight of the polearm hanging on one side, scythe combat takes much practice. But with it comes a fighting style hard to counter... All the traditional blocking moves, parries, and counter-attacks are ineffective against a scythe. The added factor of the weapon's reach, and that it comes at you from the side or behind, makes it a very fearsome thing. Scythe-wielders aren't stabbing at your chest or chopping at your shoulders... They're trying to get their blade in behind your legs and hamstring you (or simply chop off the legs), or they'll come at your neck from behind where the armor is almost non-existent.

The only martial weapons I know of which are as deadly as a scythe, when in the hands of a trained user, is the Japanese Naginata or the Chinese Guandao.

http://www.spookhouse.net/angelynx/comics/kusarigama.jpg

Not the most realistic picture, but let's go with it. Big scythes are impractical, but kamas, sickles, etc. have been used effectively in battle. It's interesting, both the East and the West have used scythes as a weapon (well, sorta). In Japan, in fact, it was a fighting style (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusarigama). So scythes can be used effectively as a weapon, just not in the way that they're usually associated with.

As for why they're associated with fighting...look at technology and the media. Scythes are no longer needed to harvest, given our technological advances (besides, it was tiring and wasted a lot of grain). And then,look at shows (specifically anime and Japanese games), and see where the influence comes from. When people watch stupid stuff happening in fiction, most of the time they'll duplicate it in their works of fiction (or in real life). That's why such an impractical weapon is associated with fighting.

Oh, and as for improvised weapons...I don't know about in the West, but in Japan they banned both Okinawa and Taiwan from having weapons (I think it was both of them), so they came up with new ones: nun-chucks, tonfa, bo-staff, and the oar (which is kinda badass -_-). I think tonfa were the threshers actually, but I'm not sure.

Scythes could have been practical in a particular time period. Farmers and such could have turned them into effective weapons since they were used to handling them, such as the nunchuk thing. The people who used them all their lives wernt about to clout themselves on the noggin. But yeah...as technology progresses we have cheap guns, home made propellants for basic weapons and bits of metal pipe. Though saying that a sling rocketing a nice stone at your heads going to kill you or at least leave some major damage.

if i may add this

tehy did have WAR SCYTHES in medevil euroupe the blade was bent so that it looked like a backward halberd and it was very dangeous,

Souplex:
Scythes have very thin blades that break if they are used to slice anything more durable than the grain they were designed for.
[quote=smallharmlesskitten post=18.70517.694223]war scythes... can sut through full plate helmets...... OW!!!!

Yet another case of people confusing scythes and battle axes. Scythes have thin blades that break if they are used on anything more durable than the grain they were made for harvesting.

they REforged scythes so that they would be thicker and MUCH much more durable and the scythes that they didnt bend back they sharpend them on the outside edge.....so it looked like a resonable version of what zasalamel from soulcalibur would have used....if he were human...and mortal.
point is you can cut someone in half with a single hit from a scythe yes you would have to get the curve behind them but hey, its on a pole so thats not hard after that part it just depends on how fast the blade is moving and if the victim is wearing armor, or you could just put the pointy part thru their skull and be done with it

Souplex:

Yet another case of people confusing scythes and battle axes. Scythes have thin blades that break if they are used on anything more durable than the grain they were made for harvesting.

...I'm sorry, what?

It seems as if you've never heard of something called a War Scythe, which HAVE been documented as cutting straight through armour.

You can put a hell of a lot of force behind something that long, combine that with a hard swing and a sharp edge and you've got yourself a very efficient weapon, providing the wielder can lift it for extended periods.

An ordinary scythe is made for cutting through grain, not people, that is why they have thin blades - to make them lighter.

Akas:
Words...

Your train of thought confuses me. You're using the term Scythe, then talking about Kamas and Sickles, and talking again about scythes in combat, then linking (broken link BTW) to the Kusarigama. I can only assume you mean to allude to Kusarigamajitsu, the art of fighting with a Kusarigama, but even that doesn't track with what we're all talking about.

The Scythe is unique among former-farm-implement weapons. A Kama is similar in appearance (Bill-shaped blade) but appearance only. A Kusarigama is a Kama on a chain, with a weight at the other end of the chain. The weighted end is what would be thrown at the enemy, and once entangled or knocked out, the Kama end would be used to kill the victim. This style has nothing whatsoever to do with scythes and their style of combat.

Comparing Kusarigama to scythes is like comparing a flail to a scythe, and likewise Kama or Sickles don't compare any better than stilettos or hatchets. The only weapon that is in any way related to a traditional scythe is a war scythe. War scythes are in turn, related only to certain polearms. To compare combat styles of a war scythe to a halberd or bardiche makes sense, but no fighting style compares to how a scythe works. It's unique, and that makes it dangerous. It's also rare as shit, both back in the medieval ages and today, which makes it a very specialist skill.

best polearm is the lucern hammer.

designed specifically for destroying the armor of and killing the mounts of mounted foes

Souplex:

TheGhostOfSin:
Well would you like to be attacked by someone wielding one?

Yes actually, I for one encourage natural slection. It is our duty to prevent Mike Judges masterpiece Idiocracy from becoming a reality. If some idiot wants to come at me with a unwieldy piece of wood with a piece of metal with the blade facing towards the wielder then they are basically asking me to shove it where the sun does not shine.

Confused...do you mean Idiocracy, the movie?

Well, as the guy who probably caused OP to make this thread with my mention of dual-wielding scythes in the dnd thread, I would have to say, even if it is the most ineffective, unwieldy, oddly shaped weapon around then why does it have the highest critical hit multiplier in dnd? HA I WIN!

Souplex:
Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

It's because Death "harvests souls". So yeah, it's pretty much what Doctor said the first time.

I don't see why a Scythe couldn't be used as a weapon, but its usually used in gaming and entertainment as a way of making the character embody evil and death.

the scythe is a metaphor for the grim reaper reeping the wheat (souls) and hell it is a menacing looking implement

Stalington:
Well, as the guy who probably caused OP to make this thread with my mention of dual-wielding scythes in the dnd thread

That just doesn't make sense. You can't dual wield a scythe, or even a war scythe.

Souplex:
Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

The reason being that Death harvests the life which has reached it's peak. See the connection there?

Xhumed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythe
Also mentions war scythes.

War scythes are much cooler than normal scythes. Shorten the stick (hilt?) and it'd be like a mega-sword, very cool weapon.

Psychological effect. You look like death and (if your like the poster of the thread) are carrying a weird weapon, the guy gets intimidated and thrown off. Add to that it's swing arc, it's ability to strike from awkward directions(as was said multiple times already), plus(like the bo staff) the stick can do some damage if the blade misses and it is a pretty useful weapon if(like almost any other weapon) you know what the hell your doing.

tbh if you saw a farmer with a scythe nowadays you would think hes totally out of date :)

Pretty much every weapon can be a badass if you've practiced a LONG time using it.

The scyth is no differece, learn how to use it's mechanic to your advantage. I don't think it's easy to block it's edge because of the movement style, so if you bring it to a swordfight you'll have a certain advantage.

Decoy Doctorpus:
Imagery. The scythe has connotations with Death. Thus a person using a scythe has connotations with death. It's a cheap way of making a character look dangerous and gothy.

i agree

Khell_Sennet:

Stalington:
Well, as the guy who probably caused OP to make this thread with my mention of dual-wielding scythes in the dnd thread

That just doesn't make sense. You can't dual wield a scythe, or even a war scythe.

I've seen people dual-wield spears, whos to say you cant dual-wield other pole-arms? Besides, the only thing more badass then a scythe......is TWO!

Stalington:

Khell_Sennet:

Stalington:
Well, as the guy who probably caused OP to make this thread with my mention of dual-wielding scythes in the dnd thread

That just doesn't make sense. You can't dual wield a scythe, or even a war scythe.

I've seen people dual-wield spears, whos to say you cant dual-wield other pole-arms? Besides, the only thing more badass then a scythe......is TWO!

Well, for one, I'm to say you can't dual-wield two scythes or war scythes.
For a real scythe, it's impossible to swing one-handed. The pole's too long, awkwardly bent, and with the blade being completely blunt on the edge you'd thrust out, it wouldn't do fudge-all. Someone like pre-politics Ahnold Govanator may be able to hold two, but to swing them, no way.

Now war scythes don't have the bent shafts, and you can thrust with them, but it's still impractical and/or impossible. War scythes cut with the inner edge of the blade, not the point. It's flimsy and prone to breakage, and means the war scythe is unsuitable as a spear. In addition the head of a war scythe is heavier than an entire two spears tip-to-tip (unless it's a metal shaft spear). With the chopping motion of the war scythe, a person may be able to hold two at once, but no man could swing one axe-style with one hand. On the hypothetical false notion that someone could, they wouldn't be able to put any power into the swing, would leave themselves open to any attack imaginable, and wouldn't be making any use of the second war scythe while they do swing it.

So I reiterate. In a D&D style world with giants and gods, a half-dragon may be able to dual-wield a war scythe, or a four-armed mutant could wield two regular scythes, but here on earth, fat chance.

The war scythe be looking a bit like a Lochaber with a bit more curve. I'm thinking it would be used like one, or a billhook. Anyway, if you see someone coming at you with a scythe, you're gonna run.

Using a farming style Scythe as a weapon is ridiculous, the bent shape of the blade and shaft makes it awkward to swing when not on the ground, not to mention if they block your attack they are between you and the blade of the scyth leaving you wide open.

The scythe is damn scary, and I suppose there would be some psychological damage to your opponent. It may not be as practical as an axe, but it can mess you up.

You can't change the scythe. The scythe was picked because when used for farming it cut lots of wheat right. Now imagine every stalk of wheat was a person getting there head cut off. It symbolizes how many death "Grim Reaper" has killed. So all of you saying its should just be a farm tool should go hide, because if i was the grim reaper i would not be to happy about you making fun of my weapon. Not only that, tons of people have used scythes as weapons so your agruments is rather pointless.

smallharmlesskitten:
war scythes... can sut through full plate helmets...... OW!!!!

the scythe has been turned so it is an almost straight weapon instead of a horizontal bit.

So yes scythes are badass

Yeah, I don't remember when but the scythe was at one point in ancient history weaponized. It was usually used as a mounted weapon, holding it behind the mount and dragging it through a person that way.

I made a scythe with a tree branch, an old saw blade, and some twine. It's pretty badass.

also, while an opponent may need to be very close to you in order for the weapon to be effective, you can use it to get too much proximity, where your opponent with some kind of straight-edged weapon won't have the room to stab or swing, and all you have to do is pull back fast enough (making sure not to slice your own neck in the process)

If skilled enough, a scythe wielder can be more deadly than any swordsman, simply because of the suprise generated by fighting someone with a weapon as crazy as that. I mean, which nation (of any time period) wastes the money to train their soldiers to combat a farming impliment? In my opinion, the mere inexplicability of the weapon is it's major advantage.

well it was used by the japanese as a weapon because during an era the samurai banned civilians from using weapons so they used their everyday harvesting tools as weapons as well as normal items.

Larenxis:
Scythes are just a coward's sickle.

Which, in turn, is just a coward's toothpick.