Thread: Disston Screwdriver

Disston made screwdrivers for many years. They are in catalogs from 1876 up to the 1950's.


Disston made their own steel, and they made tools other than saws, though the saws were by far their sales leader.

I've included a scan of the screwdrivers shown in the 1932 catalog.


screwdrivers1.jpgscrewdrivers2.jpg
Disston had a factory in Sydney from 1926 until the '50's.

Mine looks a lot like this Stanley Rule & Level Co Screwdriver No. 64 Patent 1871

Screen shot 2013-07-14 at 10.47.31 PM.png

I picked up a try square that had the name DISSTON embossed in the stock of the square. The blade would be 300 X 60mm and like you I was amazed that they made squares. The little bit of investigating I did on Google told me that they actually made just about any tool you can think of. Not only carpentry tools but bricklaying tools as well.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I picked up a few old tools today and included is a beech handled screwdriver, the old type made from a flat bar, I can't think of the name.

I've always heard these referred to as "London Pattern" screwdrivers. They're excellent for wide but shallow grooves like Dzus fasteners. By coincidence I popped into an antique/2nd hand shop on my way home from work last week and the owner has thrown loads of old tools out onto the shelves including several London's. Some rarer items included a Disston cross-cut saw setting/sharpening gauge, plus another of a different make (can't remember) complete in it's original box with instructions and all accessories.

Disston 1876 screwdrivers3.jpg

So based on this catalog etch the screwdriver dates from about 1876.

205mm long overall
105mm Blade (4")




I now feel reluctant to repurpose the screwdriver. The problem is always a catch 22. It is cheaper to buy an old tool and repurpose than to buy the materials to make one, but then you are destroying history.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

I've always heard these referred to as "London Pattern" screwdrivers. They're excellent for wide but shallow grooves like Dzus fasteners. By coincidence I popped into an antique/2nd hand shop on my way home from work last week and the owner has thrown loads of old tools out onto the shelves including several London's. Some rarer items included a Disston cross-cut saw setting/sharpening gauge, plus another of a different make (can't remember) complete in it's original box with instructions and all accessories.

"London Pattern" could be the term. What sort of price were they asking? I'm not sure what I paid for mine, as I picked out a small bundle of items and the guy gave me a price for the lot.

Some rarer items included a Disston cross-cut saw setting/sharpening gauge……...I'm not sure what that is. I am thinking it is nothing like a Eclipse saw set.
Have you got any photos?

I didn't ask the price but I doubt he would have wanted more than 10 bucks for them. They were mostly ex-government/defence force.

The saw setting tools are for those BIG two person crosscut saws. I picked up the Disston and was trying to work out what the hell it was; when I asked he pulled out the boxed set (Simonds was the brand now I remember) and showed me the instructions. It looks nothing like anything I've ever seen before but if you Google Image "crosscut saw setting tool" there are a couple shown, some still boxed.