German scythe mowers made for the toughest scrub

Extra heavy brush and scrub can be the very devil to shift and only a scythe mower is really equipped to chop it down.

One German engineering company, Al-ko, has a range of these machines designed to cope with such problems and the first is the Al-Ko BM 870-III Scythe-Bar Mower.
It has a 148 cc Briggs & Stratton engine which has a fuel pump primer for easier starting and has one forward gear
It has a grass deflector and vibration damping to make it less tiring to use and the cutting width is 87 cm. The height of the handlebars can be adjusted as well.
A wide range of accessories can be purchased including a snow plough.
This machine costs £699 and delivery is free within two to three working days. It has a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
The AL-KO BM5001R Scythe Mower is a really mean machine designed to deal with badly overgrown paddocks orchards and scrub land and has a Briggs & Stratton 190 cc engine designed with automatic decompression so that it can be started more easily with a lighter pull on the recoil start.
It also has torque control which takes more power from the engine when it encounters a tougher task.
A reverse gear is another handy feature for when you get stuck in particularly stubborn vegetation or encounter muddy ground.
The cutting width is 102 cm.
Adjustable handlebars and vibration dampers make it more comfortable to use and a deflector lets you leave the debris where you choose.
It costs £1099 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £1399. Delivery is free within two to three working days and there is a two year warranty from Al-Ko.