Thread: Early 1800s Kenyon 10" Brass Back Saw

Hi Dale,

Interesting.. as it happens I've seen that detail before, but on closer examination, it turns out I think I'm remembering the exact same saw!!!

1812 Kenyon dovetail - Saw Discussion Forums So this is the second time it's appeared on ebay, first time around it sold for GBP131, so I'd think $US325 is actually a pretty good price.


But if someone has copy of the TATHS's publication that describes the Seaton Tool Chest in detail, there is a pristine collection of Kenyon saws in that collection. Saws copied from that collection don't have the curved tip as far as I know?

I've checked other pictures of Kenyon DT saws of the same era, can't see the rounded nose, but here is a Kenyon backsaw, that looks a bit like the tooth line curves a bit near the tip..



Hard to tell if it's original or not...

More info Kenyon Backsaw - Saw Discussion Forums Interestingly that one sold on ebay recently for $332



Regards
Ray

It would be interesting to file a saw with the small curve and see how it cuts starting at the centre of a board as suggested. I wonder if the curved section would be RIP or Xcut and if it matches the rest of the tooth line.

It is also interesting that the saw bolts look like they could be countersunk heads, I wonder what they are exactly.

Irwin still sell what I think is classed has a flooring saw
I have and have used one for putting square holes in the middle of a floor
Or for cutting out the bottom wall plate of a new wall frame were a door is to go once it is up with out cutting in to the floor

My suspicion would be a user modification ... easy to do if you wanted it.

In a similar vein to this *well*-used #12 ...

Cheers,
Paul


20131202_121031[1].jpg 20131202_121118[1].jpg

The slotted screw caps are interesting. Looking at the Seaton saws (2nd ed of book) there are no slots in the caps, and the small backsaw handles looks nothing like the one being sold. Questions - are the handle and/or screws original? Is this an early saw, we await with impatience, Simon Barley's book?

Cheers
Peter

Hi Peter,

The "egg" shaped boss is an earlier style that preceeded the pointed style of the Seaton tool chest saws. To my eye, it all looks genuine, someone has cut slots in the heads of the screws, but otherwise they look right. I'd be guessing 1780's for a rough date. It's probably had a new blade, maybe a bit thicker than the original, going by the ebay item description. But the new blade could have been fitted 100 years ago.

An almost identical saw was discussed by Chris Schwartz Woodworking in America: A Shocking Saw - Popular Woodworking Magazine

They measured the saw plate thickness as 17 thou, which contrasts with the ebay description of "thicker saw blade" So I'm thinking the ebay saw has had a new blade fitted... it would also explain why the saw looks so good, after 230 odd years..


Here's the one from the Schwartz article, linked to above.


Regards
Ray

I would be guessing that this feature was original just because of the way the front vertical edge curves out.
The way the brass back steps out at the top is normal isnt it ? but that curve is there for a reason ?

Rob

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi Peter,

The "egg" shaped boss is an earlier style that preceeded the pointed style of the Seaton tool chest saws. To my eye, it all looks genuine, someone has cut slots in the heads of the screws, but otherwise they look right. I'd be guessing 1780's for a rough date. It's probably had a new blade, maybe a bit thicker than the original, going by the ebay item description. But the new blade could have been fitted 100 years ago.

An almost identical saw was discussed by Chris Schwartz Woodworking in America: A Shocking Saw - Popular Woodworking Magazine

They measured the saw plate thickness as 17 thou, which contrasts with the ebay description of "thicker saw blade" So I'm thinking the ebay saw has had a new blade fitted... it would also explain why the saw looks so good, after 230 odd years..


Here's the one from the Schwartz article, linked to above.


Regards
Ray

I stand corrected Ray! I note that both saws have a hole drilled in the handle, obviously earlier owners were not taking the needs of 21st C collectors into account. The saw plate on the eBay saw does look somewhat newer than the CS saw (I had completely forgotten that blog... what blog?). Re length of horns - the CS handle is somewhat longer, how did it survive?

Cheers
Peter