On to the next estate sale find...

[schuld66]

I hope you guys don't mind me showing you what I'm finding, but there's no one I know who really appreciates this saw stuff

I picked up this one today -- quite a Frankensaw -- wrong handle and wrong medallion. First I saw the tiny nib and Simonds medallion and thought that's fine, I don't find too many old Simonds. Then I noticed how the holes didn't even come close to matching up (exactly why it had just the medallion and 1 sawnut). Next I held it so I could try to get a glimpse of the etch and was very pleased. I was able to read DISSTON, but not the typical etch I'm used to. The keystone was much smaller than "normal". I took it home, cleaned it up a bit, and saw that I think it matches up with an 1865 - early 1880s etch, and a number 7, just like the example on the Disstonian site:

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/etch.html

Here are some photos:

IMG_7362.jpg IMG_7363.jpg IMG_7364.jpg IMG_7378.jpg IMG_7379.jpg

Do you agree with the age estimate? Notice the super tiny nib. And I paid the whopping price of $1.00

Regards,
Dave

[TobyC]

Yes, but 1871 ~ early 1880s narrows it down a bit.

In 1871 Albert Disston was the second son to become a partner in the company and the name was permanently changed to Henry Disston and Sons. He worked in the business office until his death in 1883.

[pmcgee]

The original #7 handle would have looked quite like the one it has now.

In fact I think Simonds made very nice handles ... a bit of grinding of the saw blade (possibly) and a carbide bit and that handle will fit nicely.

Cheers,
Paul

... aaaand ... I think #7s are really under-rated as good quality saws. Some of my very finely ringing saws are #7s.

1870s, big full bladed saw ... excellent.

[pmcgee]

Are there small holes under the handle? with two drilled out larger?

Cheers,
Paul

PS your original handle would look pretty much like this, but in beech rather than apple.
A sunken medallion Disston handle would look nice back on there.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1Q...S9ZJh8ACHoXo6P

[macg]

Hello Dave,

looks like you've scored your self a gem of a saw for a run away price.

The blade appears to be good and should clean up ok, is it straight?

What is its length and ppi?

I wonder what happened to its original handle?

With a bit of patience and searching you may come across a good # 7
handle on a used up saw that you could bring together with this blade.

Most of the Disston saws that I've come across here in South Australia have the
1898 - 1917 medallions or younger.

Only a few earlier saws like yours have found their way to my place, a 12" back
saw, a # 12 and a couple of # 7s, one a panel saw the other a hand saw,
all with the same type of etch.

It's always a good feeling I get when I'm cleaning up a saw and come across an
intact etch, and it only gets better when they get older, so then one gets to thinking
when did this saw get here? Was it sold and bought here? Did it immigrate with its
owner? Has it had one or many owners? Has it done a lot of work? What sort of work
was it meant to do?

Saws, where would we be without them?

Graham.

[TobyC]

And Dave doesn't respond.

[schuld66]

Hello Dave,

looks like you've scored your self a gem of a saw for a run away price.

The blade appears to be good and should clean up ok, is it straight?

What is its length and ppi?

I wonder what happened to its original handle?

With a bit of patience and searching you may come across a good # 7
handle on a used up saw that you could bring together with this blade.

Most of the Disston saws that I've come across here in South Australia have the
1898 - 1917 medallions or younger.

Only a few earlier saws like yours have found their way to my place, a 12" back
saw, a # 12 and a couple of # 7s, one a panel saw the other a hand saw,
all with the same type of etch.

It's always a good feeling I get when I'm cleaning up a saw and come across an
intact etch, and it only gets better when they get older, so then one gets to thinking
when did this saw get here? Was it sold and bought here? Did it immigrate with its
owner? Has it had one or many owners? Has it done a lot of work? What sort of work
was it meant to do?

Saws, where would we be without them?

Graham.

It's 26" with 7 PPI. The "7" is faint, but readable. It's actually pretty straight -- just a slight kink along the teeth about 3/4" from the toe.

I believe I picked this one up at an estate sale -- hard to remember which I bought where anymore. I go to every estate/garage sale I can find, and I'm always looking for saws. Funny how some people have no regard for their saws and sell them so cheap. Others have too much. I saw a WS in horrible condition the other day and they guy wanted $20 for it. You're right, the older, the more exciting it is. I got a Stanley level a couple of years ago for $2.00. It looked like an old piece of driftwood. I took it home, cleaned it up, and discovered it was circa 1860-70s. Interesting to think that it was used back around the US Civil War time.

How else can someone spend a buck or two and pick up a 140 year-old piece of history? It makes you realize just how important saws were to people when you see the repairs done to them to keep them going. I mean, this one had the wrong handle and only two bolts holding it on, but it worked.

Regards,
Dave

[pmcgee]

hard to remember which I bought where anymore.

ummm ... ya ...

[macg]

Hello Dave,

I agree with you about the selling of vintage tools at garage sales etc..

A lot of the time the seller is not the original owner, or they have no
knowledge or interest regarding old tools.

They just need to get rid of them with all the rest of the surplus to
requirements old junk, and so they often have uninformed or misguided
pricing.

So it is up to people like us to search out these old relics and look after
them, that they can once again be admired for their intended purpose.

Graham.

[Bushmiller]

The original #7 handle would have looked quite like the one it has now.

In fact I think Simonds made very nice handles ... a bit of grinding of the saw blade (possibly) and a carbide bit and that handle will fit nicely.

Cheers,
Paul

... aaaand ... I think #7s are really under-rated as good quality saws. Some of my very finely ringing saws are #7s.

1870s, big full bladed saw ... excellent.

Paul

I agree that Simonds made very nice handles, but I am not so sure that the Disston No.7 would have had a similar handle.

The reason I say this is that Disston's No.7 was of the early style of saw where the handle stood off the saw. That Simonds handle is from a No.8 which is a close coupled saw. The plate is slightly let into the lower guard of the handle (a bit like Disston's D8).

Definitely a good pick up Dave. Those full depth saws are always impressive.

Regards
Paul