Sickle Cutter System

A sickle cutting apparatus comprising:

• a frame structure arranged for forward travel over ground having a standing crop thereon;
• a cutter bar secured to the frame structure and extending transversely across a front end of said frame structure;
• a plurality of knife guards mounted along the cutter bar and projecting forwardly therefrom;
• each of said guards having at least one guard finger so that the fingers are arranged in a row along the cutter bar with a space between each finger and the next allowing crop to enter the space up to a position of engagement with a surface of the guard;
• each guard finger having an upwardly facing ledger surface with opposed side edges thereof arranged to provide first and second shearing edges;
• a sickle bar mounted in transversely extending position and being driven for reciprocating movement relative to said guard fingers;
• the sickle bar having a plurality of the sickle knife blades mounted thereon for movement therewith;
• each sickle knife blade comprising a blade body having a cutting surface for passing across the ledger surface of the knife guard fingers and an opposed surface with the blade body having on first and second sides first and second side cutting edges to cooperate with said shearing edges of said guard fingers;
• wherein cooperation between the blade and the ledger surface of the guard length defines a transverse rearmost cutting line at which a cutting action occurs;
• wherein a length of each knife blade from the transverse line to a forwardmost tip of the knife blade is greater than 2.2 inches;
• and wherein a width of each guard at the transverse line is greater than 1.2 inches.