A weed clearing tool that may get me into trouble? Any advice?

[Rustybean]

I wouldn't be without this for hacking down the brambles

[darcyvuqua]

I wouldn't be without this for hacking down the brambles [ATTACH]37176[/ATTACH]

Do the old boys worry when they see you with this possibly thinking there time is up and the grim reaper is coming for them

What is this tool called??

[VirginVegGrower]

I bought Mr VVG one of those. It's a slasher

[Rustybean]

Don't know it's name but bought these two for a tenner at car boot.

[veggiechicken]

I bought Mr VVG one of those. It's a slasher

My neighbour has one of those - he says - I'm going up the garden for a slash I try not to look

[darcyvuqua]

Don't know it's name but bought these two for a tenner at car boot. [ATTACH]37178[/ATTACH]

I been looking for one of the hoey rakey things too what are they called?

[Rustybean]

as says a Chillington hoe

[Glutton4...]

Hoey rakey things? Ya mean a Swoe?

[darcyvuqua]

Hoey rakey things? Ya mean a Swoe?

Possibly

[snohare]

Don't know it's name but bought these two for a tenner at car boot. Attachment 37178

That one on the left is an azada. I'd give my left nut for one... I have to carry an old-fashioned mattock around town when I'm off gardening, an azada is just as good and much lighter. (As all the Vine threads on it say.)
The item on the right is a long handled bill hook; much much safer than a short handled bill hook or a sickle, which is more inclined to end up hacking your own hand as you grab vegetation.
Young Sam'l, my sincere suggestion to you is keep your machete-type thing very sharp at all times. Sounds daft, but it will be much safer, because you will need much less effort to cut things, and will be able to take your time, slow and methodical, instead of using brute force and having the blade deflect in a way you will regret. The main thing to remember about swinging edged tools is that they were once the leading cause of death in the farming industry...(and I'm not just talking about when the peasants went to war.)
In conservation work, we are encouraged to sharpen the blade every fifteen to twenty minutes, being sure to wear a glove on the hand that holds the whetstone. (Or you may end up with a gruesomely scarred knuckle like mine - two goes at stitching it failed.)
My understanding of the law is that it is the same in England as it is in Scotland, it is very old case law; you may be required to provide a good reason to a police officer why you are carrying anything that may be deemed an offensive weapon, and they may confiscate it if they do not consider your explanation valid. But you have to agree to have your item/tool confiscated. If you do not agree with this decision, you must go to court in order to argue the point with a judge - so presumably you would have to be arrested for an offence, at which point the knife would be seized as evidence, but not confiscated. This allows workmen freedom from harassment. Once you have agreed to confiscation, there is no way legally of changing your mind or having your item returned.
In over twenty years of travelling on buses with all sorts of tools in bin liners and rucsacs, I've never had a problem; I always just hide any sharp bits in wrapping in case a bus driver worries.
As a scabbard, I usually use a thick newspaper tightly rolled to fit and sellotaped on, or thick cardboard with duct tape; but on long winter nights, you can have fun experimenting with lino, wood, aluminium, and laminates of all sorts.

[Two_Sheds]

considering the viewpoint of people towards my age group

Just think yourself lucky you aren't a young, short, blonde female: cos nobody believes a word you say, they assume you're stupid, a bad driver, and a doormat. Oh, and you never get served at the bar

[veggiechicken]

Just think yourself lucky you aren't a young, short, blonde female: cos nobody believes a word you say, they assume you're stupid, a bad driver, and a doormat. Oh, and you never get served at the bar

Or a short, white haired pensioner..........we're just senile

[Samuel1988]

Thanks for the health and safety heads up - I will be using more thicker gloves next time (I've got all sorts of cuts on my hands from somewhere). Sharpen every 15 minutes, that often? Didn't think it goes blunt so fast! Maybe it was going blunt after many hours of intense rambo action today! Its knackering work but means I dont need a gym membership

The instrument is a hooked machete type of thing, about 45-60cm long.

I wouldn't mind seeing a few young short blonde females down the allotment patch - most of the girls I know spend their life watching x factor and rubbish like that so would be loverly to see a few blossoms down my way lol Definitely make for some more interesting conversation!

[Two_Sheds]

I wouldn't mind seeing a few young short blonde females down the allotment patch

Here ya go then:

[snohare]

Sharpen every 15 minutes, that often? Didn't think it goes blunt so fast!

It doesn't - but we say that to people, so they might get around to doing it every half hour...

Of course you will need to keep it very sharp, if you end up dog-tired...