Thread: Disston saw identification?

I haven't seen a modification like that before, so I am guessing that it was added for a particular purpose by one of the owners.
The teeth have certainly had a hard life so you are right about needing a new set.
These old Disstons really are lovely saws aren't they.
Is the medallion 1 inch across?
If so, then the saw probably dates from 1878-1888 - seems to be like this one:
The image is from the Disstonian Institute and is named 1880 - so possibly a closer date to your saw's manufacture

SG

Very nice! I haven't seen a saw with that mod either, I'd be curious to know what it's for.

Are you changing the tooth pattern or sharpening as is?

Originally Posted by Blue-deviled

I suspect that it's a 76 Centennial

Online Reference of Disston Saws -- No. 76 "Centennial" Saws

FWIW sure looks like it to me.
Notice the catalog line-drawings from the 1876+1890s ... they seem to show a curious original toe-shape that has gone from the 1906 and later drawings.

It says rarer than #12s, so nice score.

Looks like it might be a crosscut saw??? What tpi is it? and can you make out any of the etching?

I had read that to clean up a saw and try to keep the etch you want sandpaper wrapped around a block, to try not to sand down into where the etch is. I have found an old car brakepad to be pretty effective ... assuming the brakepad is flat to start with. It is a fine material, designed to erode away, with a solid metal backing. I was using it tentatively at first, with a lubricant of course, ... but quite confident with it now.

Cheers,
Paul.

Very nice saw.

What's interesting to me, is the link Paul has posted has prices listed per dozen but also looks like a retail mail order catalogue (ie the reference to "your dealer").

I suppose you would always want spares on hand given the lifestyle and remoteness of many buyers in the 19thC but eleven ?

Was this normal or is it a wholesale catalogue?

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

I haven't seen a modification like that before, so I am guessing that it was added for a particular purpose by one of the owners.
The teeth have certainly had a hard life so you are right about needing a new set.
These old Disstons really are lovely saws aren't they.
Is the medallion 1 inch across?
If so, then the saw probably dates from 1878-1888 - seems to be like this one:
The image is from the Disstonian Institute and is named 1880 - so possibly a closer date to your saw's manufacture

SG

Yes, a 1" medallion. I'm unsure how much it's been sharpened over its life. The breasting is intact and still in a smooth curve, there is no set - I suspect that it's just been used and used without much sharpening until quite a few teeth were left behind.

Agreed, their early work is splendid. The blade on this rings if you tap it. I'm certainly looking forward to using it (when it's less gappy)!

Thanks for the help.
cheers,
B-D.

Originally Posted by firemedic

Very nice! I haven't seen a saw with that mod either, I'd be curious to know what it's for.

Are you changing the tooth pattern or sharpening as is?

Well, it looks a little like a lion if you squint (maybe a Lannister Disston) Shall we start a second-front on the "what's that nib for?" bun-fight!

I'll have to joint the teeth off and start from scratch; too many ducks, drakes and missing fowl for a normal sharpenning. However, it will remain the same tpi (about 10 at a rough count) and cross-cut.

cheers,
B-D

I saw it earlier today. The front was certainly not done by the same person who buggered up the teeth. It was shaped beautifully and looks original but who knows?
The handle is typical Disston of that era - a dream to hold, made for someone to work all day.
The odd thing is that the first photo seems to show etching but I couldn't see it on the saw.
Cheers,
Jim

[quote]

Originally Posted by pmcgee

Online Reference of Disston Saws -- No. 76 "Centennial" Saws

FWIW sure looks like it to me.
Notice the catalog line-drawings from the 1876+1890s ... they seem to show a curious original toe-shape that has gone from the 1906 and later drawings.

Hi Paul,

Or at the least something that deviates from a straight toe/end.... curious!

It says rarer than #12s, so nice score.

Thanks - I'm chuffed. I didn't really 'need' any more saws, but you know how it is

Looks like it might be a crosscut saw??? What tpi is it? and can you make out any of the etching?

Approx 10tpi crosscut. Very, very faint outline in some light (a touch shroud-of-Turin-like).

I had read that to clean up a saw and try to keep the etch you want sandpaper wrapped around a block, to try not to sand down into where the etch is. I have found an old car brakepad to be pretty effective ... assuming the brakepad is flat to start with. It is a fine material, designed to erode away, with a solid metal backing. I was using it tentatively at first, with a lubricant of course, ... but quite confident with it now.

I'd best avoid drum-brakes then! Never heard of this method, I'll give it a try. Actually, this is pretty clean. All I did was give it a wipe down with some penetrene on a rag, so sadly the etching was gone before my time.

Cheers,
B-D.

Originally Posted by Blue-deviled

Hello all,

I gleaned this Disston the other day, and was wondering if anyone had encountered one with a similar end? From the Disstonian Institute I suspect that it's a 76 Centennial, but there is no mention of a 'nib'. Home modified or no, it's a superb saw, and will get a complete set of teeth next week



Any ideas?

cheers,
B-D

B-D,
I've no doubt in my mind that's a user modification at the front....by some oaf that wanted a "special" tool for the screws on his handplane back irons. Obviously saw the folly of using a cast iron lever cap, and thought saw-steel a better option.....

All silliness aside....Interestingly when I discover tool chests, it is the saws that are badly mistreated by the second and third generation who inherite the tools.
Often the saws are gone completely, sometimes they are stored out of the chest and rusted away for 50 years after being used to prune something in the garden, and everything else in the chest is fine....except maybe a couple of chisels used by the same person to do all those things that send a shiver up the spine of the tool enthusiast.

Regards,
Peter

Originally Posted by lightwood

B-D,
I've no doubt in my mind that's a user modification at the front....by some oaf that wanted a "special" tool for the screws on his handplane back irons. Obviously saw the folly of using a cast iron lever cap, and thought saw-steel a better option.....

All silliness aside....Interestingly when I discover tool chests, it is the saws that are badly mistreated by the second and third generation who inherite the tools.
Often the saws are gone completely, sometimes they are stored out of the chest and rusted away for 50 years after being used to prune something in the garden, and everything else in the chest is fine....except maybe a couple of chisels used by the same person to do all those things that send a shiver up the spine of the tool enthusiast.

Regards,
Peter

Hi Peter,

I see a far more nefarious cult - the chisels have been used to open paint tins, and the saws have then been subjected to acts of 'folk art'.

Actually, the only other tool that would be recognised by the uninterested in most chests would be hammers. Are these often gone too?

You don't think the fancy end helps with aiming the saw

cheers,
B-D.

By the width of the saw at the heel I would say the end of the saw has been broken off I have diaton saws I bough brand new about 55 or 60 years ago and through constant sharpening the heelof the saws is nealy down to the handel. I would say about 100mm is gone from the toe of the saw.
Rowley.

Originally Posted by Rowley

By the width of the saw at the heel I would say the end of the saw has been broken off I have diaton saws I bough brand new about 55 or 60 years ago and through constant sharpening the heelof the saws is nealy down to the handel. I would say about 100mm is gone from the toe of the saw.
Rowley.

Rowley,
good thought.!
B-D please cast your measuring stick over the saw and let us know the depth of the blade at the heel, the depth of the toe, and the length in front of the handle.
Although I don't actively collect saws, I do have a couple or twenty to look at and compare


Regards,
Peter

Trimmed to fit in a saw till?
Cheers,
Jim

curious to know what the length is along the teeth (22"24" ?), looking at the picture it doesn't look to be a hand saw length, of 26" or more, looks to be shorter..if so it would seem for whatever reason (damaged toe or not) the owner decided to make it into a panel saw (10 ppi makes a nice fine cut panel saw)..if it was originally a panel saw i would assume it would only have 3 screws in the handle, this obviously has 4 which indicates its been shortened


cheers
chippy