I dont really think the scythe has ever been used as a weapon. The japs have a sickle attached to an extended chain, that acts kinda like a flail, but no scythe I know of.

As a weapon, the scythe has an extended curved single cutting edge, this makes it a slashing weapon that could easily disembowel it's opponent. the stave, if made of iron, could be used to block with an uncertain degree of accuracy. At a distance, the scythe would have a huge advantage, especially against mounted enemies due to its curved blade and long reach kinda like a poleaxe or halberd. Practically any injury cased by the blade itself to the torso or head would be fatal.

Swords and sythes have nothing in common in terms of combat. Both require entirely different fighting styles and training (if any ever existed for the scythe). It's just a weapon thats synnonimous with the grim reaper, a.k.a. death, thats why it's popular.

'NEO notices the funny looks people are giving him and shuts up'

Armour/weapon could be defined more to seperate it from the flesh etc