SMS425 With a history

[MalMac 1,328]

Long long ago back in the 60's I remembered selling a few sickle bars when we had a dealership. I can remember customers coming back in saying of all the attachments, excluding the mower decks, that the Sickle Bars really worked well. Now quite a few years ago I acquired some property that had a use for a small sickle bar. After trying to find one around here in Indiana, I finally located one in West Virginia. It appeared in decent shape and was attached to a Commando 8. Well after convincing the Mrs. I really was not nuts I set out on my road trip. That thing was up in hollars that the could have filmed the movie Deliverence in. Some of the most beautiful country is there. Anyway, I got the thing loaded and hauled back to the state of its birth. As you all know how the best of intentions to redo, fix projects have a way of getting pushed back until they are almost forgotten. This is what happened to this Sickle bar. I took it off the tractor and sold the tractor. Now that bar just lay there in wait. Finally I got tired of tripping over it and getting hurt (yes they can hurt you and not even be mounted) I decided to sell it. After the add was answered  arrangements were made for one of are Red Square members to come pick it up. Well I had to call the buyer and tell him not to come because the Sicke Bar had been stolen along with other forms of steel and metal by scrapping thieves. Fortunately the Sickle Bar was recovered. Once again I made arrangements for the buyer to make his trip to pick it up.

 

Now this member did a restore on this bar that can not be believed. He did not cut any corners and paid attention to ever detail no matter how big or small. We all know this member does not do anything half way. It's all or nothing with this guy.  When I was messaging with this member about downsizing, he mention he was doing the same thing and offered the sickle bar back to me. After some thought and seeing these pictures he sent me I just could not resist. So off to the west this time to meet up dclark to pickup the same sickle bar. This has got to be the most traveled Sickle Bar in history. Here is some pics of it on Dennys 857 that I believe he had since sold.

[Thegearhead0324 1,209]

That would look nice on my 1257..... seriously tho very nicely done. 

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,342]

Great story and it's also great that it came home, again.  It's amazing that it was recovered after being stolen.  That in itself is amazing since most items stolen in up in scrap yards never to be found again.

[dclarke 4,011]

Quite a history on that sickle bar and I was very lucky to get it after it was stolen. Great story, Tim!

[Sarge 3,462]

Nothing worse than metal thieves - our local Sheriff's office has gotten quite good at tracking stuff down and going after them - they got me for almost 2 tons of usable iron once here and we have people riding around all the time casing people's properties for iron to steal . If I see any of those idiots - I take their picture along with the vehicle tag and keep the date for reference , last time they came back a week later when I wasn't home and must have been in and out really quickly . All the local yards around here keep video tape and a record of who turns in what , especially any iron/metal that looks new or is an expensive object and nearly all of the thieves get caught one way or another . Just have to keep an eye on the scrap yard prices - when it's up high the thieves come out of the woodwork...really glad that sickle got recovered - you're quite lucky .

 

Great backround story too , I've always wanted a sickle despite not really having an honest use for it . Looks like the restore is top shelf , kudos to whoever did the work as that's not easy .

 

Sarge

[WVHillbilly520H 10,369]

Can I ask what part/town in WV that sickle made it before you recovered it, since I'm originally from WV and traveled/seen a good portion of my modest homeland,Jeff.

[MalMac 1,328]

Been a long time ago. I want to say it was around New Martinsville. 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,369]

Thanks, OK that's on the Ohio river border western side of the state, I'm from the eastern side bordering MD and VA (Blueridge mountains) where I reside now and have worked for 27 years, but yes lots of WV still looks as rugged as it did 100 years ago,Jeff.