Thread: When it is not a No.12

A short while ago a couple more "Lookalikes" came into my possession.

Both feature Warranted Superior medallions. The first a 26" crosscut and is stamped on the blade with "Reliance Saw Co." but despite this identification I have not been able to turn up any further information. Split nuts and the inclusion of a nib make it around the 130 year old mark at the earliest. It tapers from .033" at the heel to .026" at the top of the toe.

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The second saw is a 28" and no additional identifying marks. It has the Glover style of saw screw (missing one as you can see) and also incorporates a nib. Interestingly the ppi has been stamped twice on the heel of the blade. One attempt does appear a little messy. However the tooth count is in fact 5 1/2ppi!

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Both saws are in fairly good order although the Reliance has a crack in the handle that should be a fairly easy repair. Both feature the sunken or recessed medallions, which I find particularly appealing.

Something that was brought to my attention recently was that most of these saws with the double cove on the lower part of the handle have the handle perched on the end of the plate like the original Disston No.12. Just occasionally the handles are closer coupled. The Simonds No.61 is an example of the latter.

Simonds No.61.JPG

Regards
Paul

I said in the previous post that I could not find any further information on the Reliance Saw Co. and that was true when I wrote it, but I, just on a whim, gave a last plug into Goggle. I found a reference to such a saw (a back saw) and it mentioned that Erv Schaffer's book makes a mention of Reliance. Indeed it does but nothing other than that and that it was because such a saw existed.

The internet reference concluded that it was made by Disston. I think this assessment was made because on the backsaw it said "Philada".

Reliance backsaw.jpg

It is true that Disston often featured the "Philada" abbreviation for Philadelphia, but other than that there is no indication that Disston either owned or made saws for Reliance. Philadelphia clearly was a buoyant saw making community and many of the companies bought by Disston were located in the Philadelphia region. However a Reliance Saw Co was not listed as one of their acquisitions. I think they took over, bought out or absorbed about nineteen saw making companies

Regards
Paul