I have no idea what this hand saw is, or what it was used for. However, here are some things about it:
- 18-inch plate
- The medallion says H, DISSTON & SONS. – Philada (there is a period after the word SONS).
- I have no idea what the wood is. It might be apple.
- The teeth appear to be filed for rip cuts, 5-6 TPI. Some of the teeth appear a tad shorter than others. Maybe a previous owner did not know how to sharpen a hand saw? Or maybe I know nothing about hand saws? I admit it – I don’t!
- The teeth are not in a straight line, as the last photo shows. Did someone screw up the teeth during several sharpening sessions?
- The screws are brass; they don’t require a special tool to remove, as the slot is straight.
I appreciate your help identifying this saw. Is it a panel saw? Thanks for your help!
— Al Navas
I’d say bad sharpening, or at least rushed sharpening. If you don’t joint the teeth each time, you end up giving most of your attention to the middle teeth because there the ones that get dull. I’m guilty of it. I have a rip saw that’s about a ¼” higher in the middle. Doesn’t seem to affect the performance all that much.
Paul, I bet you are right, and rushed sharpening led to the bad tooth line. I already have the handle off, to start tackling it later this week. Thanks!
Looks like it might be a Disston number 16, later versions were called D-16. It also looks as though someone turned it into a pruning saw. I bought one very similar three months ago. I hand filed it straight (it was over half an inch bowed the same way this looks), then followed Paul Seller’s video instructions for cutting new teeth. I sharpened it and it cuts great now. Once you clean the plate you may be able to see the etching. Good luck!
Thanks for this information, Bill! I will be following Sellers’ procedure, as it will likely work me – I love simple!
This looks like a panel saw Paul Sellers uses in his videos. He says his is a saw he bought on EBay and rehabbed and claims it is from the Hammacher & Schlemmer catalog from the late 19th century. Pardon my spelling for the name. I have watched him use it in his videos and it appears to be a pretty handy panel saw.
Ray
Ray, Thanks for the information – I will review Paul Sellers’ videos to try to spot his small saw. Great tip!
Absolutely the sharpening is a bit on the “crap” side. The tooth line should be straight or a bit convex but only just a little bit (magic word = “breasted”). Distonian Institute web site should be able to help a bit with dating based on the mediation, handle shape, etch, etc..
All in all, should make a nice user panel rip saw if you need a coarse one.
Thanks, Rob! Someone on WoodNet has suggested this saw is from 1874-75, based on the medallion. I will test the cut it makes, and will decide then whether to try to sharpen it as-is, or whether to joint the teeth and try to sharpen it into a user.