Thread: Show Us Your Hand Saws

SG - I usually feel a bit hesitant to do one of these "show us" posts, but since I've been involved in this sawmaking flurry, and just taken a pic of my toolbox doors, what the heck - here is my offering.....

I keep my saws in the toolbox - Brissy weather is unkind to ferrous metal left exposed.

Right side door: From left to right, then down:
A S&J rip, 5 tpi. An early 1950's model, Beech handle. It was in mint condition when I bought it - couldn't have been sharpened more than once (it's had a few sharpenings since, though! )
Beside it, you can see the handle of a flush-cut saw (Carbatec blade with my own handle)
Top right is my newest "Bunniebob" saw. 12tpi crosscut. Black Walnut handle, Blade 300mm long.
Bottom left is a Tyzack & Turner (rehandled & refiled as a 12 tpi rip - my dovetailing saw, & one of the oldest residents of the toolbox - bought new about 1981).
Beside the Tyzack is a small saw I made up using a cheap blade bought new about 30 years ago - 18tpi crosscut - holds its sharpness well.
Above these two is a small knife-handled saw I made recently (150mm x 45mm blade, 18tpi crosscut)
Bottom right is a Disston 8 tpi crosscut (taper ground, original Walnut handle - lovely saw, & a gift from a very thoughtful friend!!).
Tucked in behind the Disston is a pull-cut keyhole saw.

Left Side Door:
Top right is a home-made bowsaw for coping blades (English Walnut, brass & bull oak handle). Beside that, my first 'Bunniebob' saw (12 tpi rip, 300 x 75mm blade, birdseye Maple handle)
Centre left a small bowsaw (Blackwood, brass & Bull Oak handle, fits a 300mm blade)
Bottom left is the first small saw I made from scratch. (250 x 55mm blade, 15 tpi crosscut). This is my all-time favourite general-purpose small saw - am really pleased with it!

Believe it or not, all of them get pretty regular use, some more than others, of course (the S&J ripsaw doesn't get so much use since I bought a 17" bandsaw a couple of years ago, but it still comes out occasionally).

These are all the saws I could want or use. I've arrived at this conclusion after much trial & error, & besides, there isn't room for another saw.

I do still plan to make a few more saws - but only for friends, of course...

Ian,
I've used the disposable type Japanese saws for the last more than a few years, and not paid much attention to traditional saw types.
But after some less than gentle persuasion from RayG I've got the bug, but sadly not the time at the moment.
If the recession hits hard, and business slows in the middle of the year after the wedding season finishes....and the to-do list of household reno's and new furniture allow me time..I aspire to a set like yours!
Thanks for sharing, they look fantastic, and I'll bet they work pretty well too!
Just before Easter I bought these tools, and there was a better than usual apple handled Disston with them as well as some other pretty things.
Regards,
Peter

Very nice toolbox Ian, and a good idea with all this moisture around at the moment.
It is a treat to see how you have arranged your saws to fit.
I notice that both you and Peter have a Disston with the extra hole in the handle. I have one that was my Dad's that is 4TPI and used for ripping - rarely I must say, as I use my Tablesaw most of the time and bandsaw most of the rest of the time.
Incidentally I have not mastered a comfortable grip on this saw and find the extra hole a nuisance. Maybe it's my technique.
Was it only the ripsaws that had this handle feature and was it used across a defined tooth range?
Just interested to know.
Cheers
SG

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

I notice that both you and Peter have a Disston with the extra hole in the handle. I have one that was my Dad's that is 4TPI and used for ripping - rarely I must say, as I use my Tablesaw most of the time and bandsaw most of the rest of the time.
Incidentally I have not mastered a comfortable grip on this saw and find the extra hole a nuisance. Maybe it's my technique.
Was it only the ripsaws that had this handle feature and was it used across a defined tooth range?
Just interested to know.
Cheers
SG

SG - Mine is a Spear & Jackson, actually. I've only ever seen the thumb-hole on rips, but not sure if it wasn't used on other types. I did read something of the history of that feature somewhere, a while back, but can't remember where, & can't remember who they claimed started it, but the conclusion was that it's more gimmick than use for the average bloke. Maybe it has functions similar to the nib (i.e. to cause endless debate amongst later generations)?

In any case - I've pushed & pulled that saw a few (million!) times and never found the thumb hole was of any use to me, either. I just hold it like any other saw & it's comfy enough, but my ageing arm gets a bit tired on a very long rip job. As I said, I still find a lot of uses for mine, there are lots of big & small jobs done better & safer with it than on the table or band saws.

Peter - LOVE those tap & die sets! And the Apple-handled Disston is a treat, too - any idea of it's age? Pre or post WW2?

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

SG - Mine is a Spear & Jackson, actually. I've only ever seen the thumb-hole on rips, but not sure if it wasn't used on other types. I did read something of the history of that feature somewhere, a while back, but can't remember where, & can't remember who they claimed started it, but the conclusion was that it's more gimmick than use for the average bloke. Maybe it has functions similar to the nib (i.e. to cause endless debate amongst later generations)?

In any case - I've pushed & pulled that saw a few (million!) times and never found the thumb hole was of any use to me, either. I just hold it like any other saw & it's comfy enough, but my ageing arm gets a bit tired on a very long rip job. As I said, I still find a lot of uses for mine, there are lots of big & small jobs done better & safer with it than on the table or band saws.

Peter - LOVE those tap & die sets! And the Apple-handled Disston is a treat, too - any idea of it's age? Pre or post WW2?

Cheers,

Thanks Ian,
I re-read your post and noticed that the saw was indeed a S&J - sorry for the confusion.
I do have another ripsaw with a traditional handle and I much prefer using it. It is so much easier to use and can also be used to saw two handed and with the saw upside down.
Am I the only one who does this or is it a common practice I wonder.
Cheers
SG

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

....I do have another ripsaw with a traditional handle and I much prefer using it. It is so much easier to use and can also be used to saw two handed and with the saw upside down.
Am I the only one who does this or is it a common practice I wonder.

SG - No - I often use two hands on mine, too - especially when getting tired!

As a kid, I used to watch my dad & other old Chippies ripping two-handed. They often held the saw & ripped 'backwards' (i.e. with the teeth facing away) when carefully ripping a bird-mouth, or anything where two cuts had to be kept very straight & meet precisely. They would use saws in every way & angle imaginable, neatly nipping off boards from positions I would never be able to achieve. It was the same with driving nails - try nailing up T&G ceilings all day with a hammer. No wonder air-nailers were invented!

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Very nice toolbox Ian, and a good idea with all this moisture around at the moment.
It is a treat to see how you have arranged your saws to fit.
I notice that both you and Peter have a Disston with the extra hole in the handle. I have one that was my Dad's that is 4TPI and used for ripping - rarely I must say, as I use my Tablesaw most of the time and bandsaw most of the rest of the time.
Incidentally I have not mastered a comfortable grip on this saw and find the extra hole a nuisance. Maybe it's my technique.
Was it only the ripsaws that had this handle feature and was it used across a defined tooth range?
Just interested to know.
Cheers
SG

SG,
I just went to look at the Disston web page, and the handle was used on rip saws. Mine is a 3 1/2.
I'm still to try this one out, it's the first for me with that handle. I used my Dad's saws for years, and now use machines for ripping.
It doesn't seem to sit in my hand with immediate comfort, but I put it into my brother's hand and he liked it....not that he will get to keep it mind you!!
Regards,
Peter

Originally Posted by IanW

Peter - LOVE those tap & die sets! And the Apple-handled Disston is a treat, too - any idea of it's age? Pre or post WW2?

Cheers,

The tools were mostly from between the wars and earlier. The fellow I got them from was about 70, and they were his father's tools, some brought to Australia when he came from Sweden in the late 1890s. He was a cabinet maker turned into teacher and stopped using them in the 1940's. Boy did he keep them in good condition!
Just checked the medallion on the Disston web page it is 1896 - 1917 NICE!!
Regards,
Peter

Hmmm, I think I need to recheck the handle of my D8 after looking at the Disstonian page. From a not very thorough examination the colour & grain pattern made me think it was Black Walnut, but according to the Disstonian site, it should be Apple. I suspect it is stained from use & perhaps Linseed oil, which can go very dark with age. And come to think of it, the wood is a bit tighter-grained than typical walnut - need to investigate with a scraper in a not-too visible area.

I was sure I had seen a couple of old Disstons when I was in Canada that had Walnut handles (one was a backsaw). Does anyone know if Disston ever used Walnut at all?
Ray? Where's RayG - too busy photographing his collection to post here, perhaps??

Originally Posted by IanW

I was sure I had seen a couple of old Disstons when I was in Canada that had Walnut handles (one was a backsaw). Does anyone know if Disston ever used Walnut at all?
Ray? Where's RayG - too busy photographing his collection to post here, perhaps??

Hi Ian,

I don't know If Disston ever made walnut handles, I know that other makers sometimes used American Black Walnut, so I wouldn't be suprised if they did.

Been busy designing a new saw till, I am inspired by your beautiful tool cabinet, and Derek's magnificiently organized workshop...

Here is my current saw till, typical of my (dis)organized approach I'm afraid...



Another project..

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

......
Here is my current saw till, typical of my (dis)organized approach I'm afraid...

Holy Smokes!!!!

How on earth do you know which one you want????

I can't compete with Ray for saw numbers but here are some pics.
For a long time I got by with cheep throw away saws as real saws were expensive. Thanks to this forum I got going with restoring old saws to working condition. Some of the ones here were in very bad shape when I got them but all are good workers now.
The back saw is a Disston as are a rip and a crosscut. The other rip and crosscut are Spear and Jackson. The gents saw is not very old and is made in Japan. The fret saw and coping saw are English as far as I know.
Next step will be having a go at making one when some more of that brass backing is available.
Regards
John

Orraloon - those two old Disstons are cracker saws! You can see the wear marks on the top of each handle from the users' thumbs - they've been pulled & pushed through a few cuts, those beauties!

You just can't beat a good, sharp, nicely-balanced old handsaw - makes cutting wood a pleasure. And they're almost as fast as those screaming, 'lectron-burning, leg-eating things (for the first two or three cuts, anyway....)
Cheers,

Ian,
I am especially fond of the very well used Disston rip. About half the blade has been sharpened away but it really chews through hardwood. I often reach for it on smaller jobs rather than start up the table saw. It cuts surprisingly fast.
Regards
John