<P> Unlike the European blades, typical American style blades are made of harder, more brittle steel and are not usually peened, or cannot be peened at all, without cracking . The harder blade holds an edge longer and requires less frequent honing in the field but after heavy use or damage the edge must be reshaped by grinding, which subtracts metal, rather than reforming the more malleable edge by peening . Some examples have a laminated construction with a hard, brittle, core providing the edge and softer sides providing strength . </P> <P> The scythe may have dated back as far as c. 500 BC, and seems to have been used in Ancient Rome, but became more common in Europe with agricultural developments during the Carolingian era (8th century AD). Initially used mostly for mowing hay, it had replaced the sickle for reaping crops by the 16th century as the scythe was better ergonomically and consequently more efficient . In about 1800 the grain cradle, was sometimes added to the standard scythe when mowing grain; the cradle was an addition of light wooden fingers above the scythe blade which kept the grain stems aligned and the heads together to make the collection and threshing easier . In the developed world the scythe has largely been replaced by the motorised lawn mower and combine harvester . However, the scythe remained in common use for many years after the introduction of machines because a side - mounted finger - bar mower, whether horse or tractor drawn, could not mow in front of itself and scythes were still needed to open up a meadow by clearing the first swathe to give the mechanical mower room to start . </P> <P> The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities of Sir William Smith claims that the scythe, known in Latin as the falx foenaria as opposed to the sickle, the falx messoria, was used by the ancient Romans. According to ancient Greek mythology it was believed that Gaea the Greek goddess mother of Titans gave' a sickle was made out of the strongest metal' to her youngest son' Kronos' who is also youngest of Titans (also known as God of Harvest) to seek vengeance against her Husband Ouranos for Torturing their oldest sons . To illustrate this, Smith cites an image of Saturn holding a scythe, from an ancient Italian cameo . The Grim Reaper and the Greek Titan Cronus were often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe . According to Jack Herer and "Flesh of The Gods" (Emboden, W.A., Jr., Praeger Press, NY, 1974 .); the ancient Scythians grew hemp and harvested it with a hand reaper that we still call a scythe . </P> <P> The Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet in Sheffield, England is a museum of a scythe - making works that was in operation from the end of the 18th century until the 1930s . This was part of the former scythe - making district of north Derbyshire, which extended into Eckington . Other English scythe - making districts include that around Belbroughton . </P>

What is the name of the tool the grim reaper carries