Thread: Backsaw find - Beardshaw and Sons

Nice score Paul

Hi Paul,

Congratulations on a very nice find, I'd say it's in pretty good condition too, just going by the pictures.


Johnathan Beardshaw & Son were in business for an exceptionally long time, from 1825 - 1911 at least. So dating is a bit of a guess.

My guess is it's at least 100 years old maybe more...

Style wise it looks 1870-1890 ish...

Regards
Ray

Thanks Ray and RayG.

What i found interesting was the grain direction in the handle. Its different to most i have seen.

Interesting.... I have a Taylor Brothers backsaw in the electrolysis bucket at the moment that is almost 100% identical to yours, even though the stamping on the steel back has different names, the orientation is also the same. Different makers, very, very similiar pattern.

Perhaps its the Sheffield style of saw for that era?

The grain direction looks normal to me, how would you have expected it to be?

Toby

The grain direction goes from side to side whereas with other handles it seems more at and angle.

That handle has some nice lines. What is the wood? How long is the blade?

How late did they use split nuts over there? Did they hang around until a later date than they did here in the US?

Isaac it is a British saw imported to the "colonies" and as RayG has said "My guess is it's at least 100 years old maybe more...

Style wise it looks 1870-1890 ish..."

I dont know what the wood is... sorry. Its 14 inches long and 4 inches high. Would this make it a sash / carcase saw?

Originally Posted by Pac man

I dont know what the wood is... sorry. Its 14 inches long and 4 inches high. Would this make it a sash / carcase saw?

Hi Paul,

Looks very much like Beech, which is the usual choice for Sheffield made saws. ( I'd call it a sash tenon saw, but I wouldn't argue if you wanted to call it a carcase saw )

Originally Posted by Isaac

How late did they use split nuts over there? Did they hang around until a later date than they did here in the US?

Split nuts lingered on well into the 1900's in the UK, in the USA the major manufacturers ( Disston etc ) were pretty quick to change after 1887 ( Glover's Patent), The UK was much slower to change.

Although, it goes without saying, you can buy saws made in the USA today (in 2013) with split nuts...

Regards
Ray

sash tenon saw it is then

Originally Posted by TobyC

The grain direction looks normal to me, how would you have expected it to be?

Toby

Agree with Toby - it looks to me like the long grain runs so that it is more or less continuous through the top to the cheeks, which is how you want it, & how the vast majority of handles I've ever seen have it. Maybe our eyes are deceiving us, or we are not understanding what you meant?

Cheers,