This hand wrought iron object is called a tang and held the nib(s) or handle(s) of a scythe as portrayed in the illustrations at right (after Sloane 1974: 103-104).  Scythes were used during the harvesting of grains such as rye, oat, wheat, hay, among other grass-related crops such as depicted in this ca. 19^th century print (after Smith 1975: 8).

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