Thread: Disston Joiner Saw

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Peter

There is, of course, the possibility that this saw has been "manufactured" by an enterprising soul from an old saw plate either for a specific purpose or even as a curiosity. It would be easy to do this.

In the absence of any catalogue history or other provenance, I would be deeply suspicious that it was original

Regards
Paul

I think I would tend to agree with you, Paul, it has the distinct look of a custom job. The teeth would have to have been reversed, since we'd expect them to have cut on the push stroke in the blade, but of course that wouldn't daunt anyone wanting a special saw for a special purpose. Wonder what on earth that purpose was? It would have to have been something he did on a regular basis to warrant the effort...

Cheers,

Whenever I see a weirdo saw like that my instinct is always to guess "Pruning Saw".

Handle is lower than the teeth so that it can be easily wrapped up above high branches, and the teeth are oriented for a pull stroke so that the sawyer (gardener? arborist?) can use gravity to his advantage.

Just a guess.

Makes sense, Luke. About the only situation I can think of where a pull cut & a low handle are desirables...

Cheers,

Well it seems Badaxe Saws have come up with a use for a Disston Joiner's Saw.
https://instagram.com/p/BONfgTSlPXX/
No need to ask who cut the cheese!

The Joiners saw and it's purpose have been a source of conjecture and a lot of discussion here on the Forums. I was checking out a Simonds publication today and chanced upon this reference as to it's use back around 1923/1925. both pictures were in the publication "Simonds Saws and Knives." The knives of course are planer knives or peeling knives and not Bowie knives .

thumb_P1020665_1024.jpgthumb_P1020666_1024.jpg

Apologies, I am using wife's MAC, and can't work out how to rotate pix. However, I have found if you stand the computer screen on one edge it is easier to read, but if you don't want to do that, it says:

" Joiner or Bench Saw

A rather narrow blade of uniform width and fine teeth. It is used for making smooth cuts such as is necessary in making fine joints."

Note too the entry for the Pattern Makers saw:

" Pattern Makers Saw

A small saw with a thin narrow blade of uniform width. Similar to a bench or joiner saw. Used for small fine work."

I would disagree with some of the similarities in that the Pattern Makers saw is diminutive to put it mildly.

Regards
Paul

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170325/c44322bc3b749b73745d20e809fe14a4.

Paul, please stop drawing over everything.

Cheers Matt

Interesting how different people & different trades sometimes use very similar, & sometimes quite different tools. I can't imaging what that pattern makers' saw would be good for, it has ugly great fangs, so when Simonds say it's for 'fine work' they must mean something other than what the term implies to me. And that high-set handle with its odd-looking hang-angle would be extremely awkward for me to use! However, a lot of people obviously didn't share that view, or they wouldn't have made 'em that way.....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Simplicity

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170325/c44322bc3b749b73745d20e809fe14a4.

Paul, please stop drawing over everything.

Cheers Matt

It wasn't me!! Really!!



Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by IanW

Interesting how different people & different trades sometimes use very similar, & sometimes quite different tools. I can't imaging what that pattern makers' saw would be good for, it has ugly great fangs, so when Simonds say it's for 'fine work' they must mean something other than what the term implies to me. And that high-set handle with its odd-looking hang-angle would be extremely awkward for me to use! However, a lot of people obviously didn't share that view, or they wouldn't have made 'em that way.....

Cheers,

Ian

The No.166 is a good example of a catalogue being misleading. I have no idea why they depicted it that way as the teeth look nothing like that. They are exactly like a fine point dovetail saw. I am about halfway through restoring my example. I will post some pix when it is finished.

Regards
Paul