Styrian treasures

The scythe factory is guarding a “left-handed” rarity

Hannes Köck from the Deutschfeistritz scythe factory knows the history of the left-handed scythe(Bild: Thomas Caks)

Part 5 of the "Krone" series on Styrian regional museums: the Deutschfeistritz scythe factory is home to one of the earliest mowers produced specifically for left-handers. 

Until the 1970s, there were virtually no left-handers in Styria. "Even at school, children were encouraged to only use their good, i.e. right, hand," says Hannes Köck from the Museum Sensenwerk in Deutschfeistritz. Being left-handed was considered a flaw that had to be ironed out by any means necessary - even in the world of work. This makes the scythe that was produced in Deutschfeistritz in the 1960s all the more special: A left-handed scythe - currently on display in the show "Who are you: Styria?" at the Folklore Museum Graz.

A rarity in the large range
"This item was only produced in very small quantities - and only for a single trading company in the Swiss canton of Zurich," says Köck. The word "Superieur" in the lettering reveals just how rare such a product was at the time. So although it is a historical object, it is actually also a niche product for the scythe factory in Deutschfeistritz, which was in operation from 1849 to 1984 and produced up to 60,000 scythes a year in the golden age.

(Bild: Thomas Caks)

The work steps (there are exactly 33) that were necessary for this and what this work looked like - this has been explained in the Museum Sensenwerk for many years: "After it was shut down in the 1980s, the factory was in danger of falling into disrepair. It is thanks to many volunteers that it has been preserved as a living museum with its five water wheels," says Köck. It is also thanks to these volunteers that the museum did not fall victim to a flood this year: "The mud was everywhere. But we didn't let it get us down," says Köck.

The left-handers also refused to be defeated. After centuries of forced adaptation, which often caused psychological problems, today they are allowed to be who they are. And they can buy tools for left-handers in any store.