When a person had cut the throat [of an animal] with a hand sickle, a sharp flint stone, or with a reed, it is Cashér. All may slaughter, at any time, and with any instrument, excepting a reaping hook, a saw, the [sharp] teeth [of animals fixed in the maxillary bone], or with the finger nail, because the [first mentioned three] do not cut, but strangle [and tear]. When a person slaughtered an animal with a reaping hook, having teeth or notches, with the first or down stroke or cut only, it is unfit for use according to Beth Shammai, but Beth Hillel hold it to be Cashér; but if the teeth of the reaping hook had been ground away [so as to give it a sharp and even edge] it is the same as a knife.
Tosefta Chullin
And similarly as to a blind person that knows how to slaughter, his slaughter is valid (Hul. 1:1). A minor that knows how to slaughter, his slaughter is valid (ibid.). We can always slaughter, whether during daytime or nighttime, whether on a boat or on top of a roof. We can slaughter with anything (Hul. 1:2), even with a flint, even with glass, even with the point of a reed. We can slaughter with anything, whether with something connected to the ground, or whether disconnected from the ground, whether, the knife is passed on top of the throat, and whether the throat is passed on top of the knife and slaughtered, [and] his slaughter is valid.
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Tosefta Chullin
One who flays the skin of an animal [by pulling it from the feet toward the neck (see Jastrow, "מרגל")] and [then] slaughtered [the animal], his slaughter is valid. A detached tooth or a detached fingernail -- we may slaughter with it (Hul. 1:2). A scythe [may only be used to slaughter] by [cutting] in the direction it normally traverses (alt., moving it forward) (ibid). Beit Shammai invalidate it and Beit Hillel validate it. And if the teeth of the scythe are filed away, behold, it is like a [regular] knife. One who [intended to] stick a knife in the earth by throwing it [באַטְלֵק not באטלס, see Jastrow] and slaughtered with it, his slaughter is invalid. A knife that has many notches (lit., "notches notches"), behold, that is like a saw. If there is between one notch and the next notch [a space equivalent to the space] between the two [simanim] in the neck, his slaughter is valid. [If] there is but a single notch, if it would get caught, the slaughter is [nonetheless] valid, [but] if it strangles, it is invalid.
