My dad used one when I was a kid some 50 years ago.

When I was old enough and tall enough ...about 12...he let me give it a try.

He would use it and the weeds or whatever he was cutting just rhythmically fall. My attempt was a total nightmare with just moving them and cutting maybe just a dozen or so stems.

He let me suffer through it for about a half an hour and then stepped in to teach me....had to learn the wrong way to learn the right way.

Doesn't require much strength..but does require a bit of muscle endurance if there is a lot to do.

The whole secret to successful use of the scythe is the angle of the blade and a rhythm...hold the scythe for the correct blade angle and get the rhythm down and it is just like poetry in motion....with almost no effort....just let the scythe do all the work.