Thread: Interesting Disston No 12 - Domed Nuts

Nice pick up. It looks as though there is the "X" stamped under the handle too, which all No.12s are reputed to have. I wouldn't have been sure that they did this for the early models. I would keep that one just as it is and keep my eyes peeled for something to salvage the missing nut.

My guess is that the wheat carving is entirely done by hand, not that you would know it, but it has a very distinct quality to it that even later No.12s lacked.

Regards
Paul

That's a good find. The saws in unbroken condition with those nuts sell for a lot, and I'd imagine (not suggesting you do this) that the nuts themselves would be really valuable as there are probably a lot of those saws in need of a single part to be complete. Sort of like a ward double parallel iron. They're worth $150 when other makes are worth $25, solely because there are a lot of old norris planes missing their original ward irons.

I've had a couple of older disston saws and found that they are much more attractive, but the plates themselves have been hit or miss. That one looks to have been cut at the toe already and could be cut again due to a subsequent break. that said, I'm not advocating that it's a "junk saw" by any means, I'd give it the care it needs and make it the best it can be. The tastefulness of the handle work is something that disston lost pretty quickly when they made the handle making processes more efficient and lower skill (by having someone at each station doing each part of the handle in a semi-assembly line fashion).

Hi Schuld66,

well I agree with Paul & D.W. what a great saw, now tell us did you feel like you were stealing when you walked out the door after paying just $1.50???

Looking at your photos the blade does look as though it has already been shortened at the toe, which would explain the missing nib, you did not say what the
length of the blade is.

Can you measure the current blade length at the tooth line and add the missing cut away heel and broken toe bit and then add another maybe 2"-3" for the cut off
toe section, this would then give you an idea of the original length.

Also these saws were tapered ground are you able to measure the blade thickness to confirm this.

How many ppi does it have and are the teeth rip or x-cut?

Just curious.

Graham.

David

I should have asked the same questions as Graham. Most interested to hear your answers if you are able. Those No.12s were a very deep saw so it could have lost much of it's original depth and still look quite respectable. It certainly would have had the bead and nib at one time.

Regards
Paul

Graham,

To be honest, I bought this in a group with a few other saws for $1.50 each and had no idea it was a Disston until I got it home and uncovered the etch. I liked the handle, and the sawnuts looked unique. It was in pretty bad shape -- I cleaned a lot of paint off the handle.

I'll answer your questions as best I can -- I like old saws, but I'm no expert

The length from current toe point to heel point is 20". It appears that about 1/4" is broken off at the toe, and after looking at the Disstonian photos, I would guess about 2" has been cut off at the heel.

As for the taper ground question, I think it is. Across the top, it measures 0.032" at the heel end, 0.029" half way, and 0.029" at the toe end. Across the tooth line, it measures 0.037" at the heel end, 0.037" half way, and 0.035" at the toe end.

It has 5 ppi, and I think it's rip -- I'll attach a closeup to make sure.

David

IMG_1421.jpg

David

Your saw was almost certainly originally a 26" saw. If it was a more recent model I would have said definitely, but there is always a question mark over early saws. Later on the Disston company regulated their models into very predictable slots. However, in principle, panel saws (which includes all saws 24" and shorter) normally would have a thinner plate at about .029" and thinner again as they became smaller down to say .025". Secondly the panel saws nearly always featured one saw screw less than the full size handsaws.

Your saw with four saw screws and a plate thickness around .037" would have been a 26" model. However, I would in no way be disappointed to have that saw and as you say that handle is a treat and in good condition. One day you may find a replacement screw.

Regards
Paul

A couple of my saws came into my possession with bolts missing (where do they all go to??) so I 'cheated' and made them a new bolt and Glover nut with a metric thread. Looks pretty obvious beside the originals, of course: bolts.jpg

I distressed it a little & polished up the others a bit, & a few years down the track, I can't tell which is the odd man out from the outside without a very careful examination! handle etch side.jpg

It's probably preferable to have an 'original' if possible, because some clown in the future is going to try & force the wrong nut onto the wrong bolt, but it is another option in these missing-bolt situations.

BTW, those thumping great washers are rather fugly - surely they're not original? I'm guessing either the handle has shrunk a bit & the the nuts were bottomed-out before they were tight, so someone added the washers, or else those bolts weren't actually fitted to that handle by Mr. Disston???

Cheers,

Ian,

I believe they are original -- the photos of this type of saw on Disstonian shows washers.

Online Reference of Disston Saws -- No. 12 and D-12 Models

David

David

I noticed that while generally these No.12 handles are similar with the double cove and normally the only difference being with the level of intricacy in the wheat carving the handle on your saw is very slightly different. Jusging by the similar saw on the Disstonian site it adds to the authenticity of your saw.

Disston No.12 early domed saw screws.jpg Disston No.12 David's.jpg

Later saws do not have this extra little hounds tooth.

Regards
Paul

Paul,

I noticed that as well when I was comparing the two handles. I wasn't aware that it was not found in newer models, though.

Nice find,
David

One thing I did notice is that the scroll work is different on my handle than in the photo on the Disstonian site -- a different pattern. Did early scroll work vary by engraver?

Regards,
David

Originally Posted by schuld66

Ian,

I believe they are original -- the photos of this type of saw on Disstonian shows washers.

Online Reference of Disston Saws -- No. 12 and D-12 Models

David

OK David - I guess I was out to lunch there. I'd always assumed that the washer was a collar and part of the bolt/nut head. I stand corrected!
Cheers,

David,

thanks for supplying all the extra tec-nic-cal data about your No. 12.

It is through Forum members like yourself posting such information that myself and others
can learn more about these enticing historical jewels of manufacturers from the past.

Apart from old catalogues there were not too many records kept about them.

You have done a great job with your level of clean up especially the paint splatted handle.

If your scroll work reference is referring to the wheat carving, I believe the early saws
were all hand caved which would account for the variation.

I enlarged your tooth line photo and I reckon the teeth appear to be x-cut as they look
like they were filed with a fleam angle although they have a rather steep rake angle.

You'll soon find out if ever you put a file to it to give the teeth a touch up.

Ian great job you did with your "new saw bolt" it blends in very well.

Graham.