Thread: The Simonds Saw Story

Each time I begin to think I am on top of the subject I discover a little more information that destroys that notion.

Today I turned up this advertisement which dates from 1926, the year Simonds stopped their hand saw production.

Simonds Home and Farm handsaw 1926.jpg

This appears to be a last ditch effort from Simonds to remain in the market. So it becomes another saw I am chasing and yet another in the Simonds line, which does not feature in their catalogues as far as I know.

My conjecture is that it could be basically another model from their range that is "re-badged." From the advertisement it only comes in a 24" length and a couple of tooth sizes. Very specifically targeted, but probably also very short lived.

Regards
Paul

I am in the process of restoring four Simonds No.5 saws, which is a favourite model for me. I had cleaned up the saw plates, but when I looked at the handles I felt they were beyond redemption. Broken horns on two, three nails in the third with filed down horns and the last handle was a home made affair that looked as though it had been on steroids with the finesse of a rhino. The No.5 handle is a classic, right up there with Disston's No.12. Actually, you have to know what you are looking for to distinguish them.

Simonds punched plates 008.jpg

It shared this handle with the No.61 and the short lived No.4 1/2. When I inspected the saw plate on the first saw I realised that it had five holes, which did not look right for the four stud pattern. The holes looked punched. Not botched like this:

Simonds punched plates 006.jpg

I checked the others and two were the same with five holes and one four holes. So I did some more checking: Another No.5 and two No.4 1/2. This resulted in two saws with five holes and one with four.

It turns out that the four hole saws (One No.5 and one No.4 1/2) were both from the Crescent Moon era, which was before 1907. All the other saws were in the following era 1907 - 1922.

Simonds punched plates 002.jpgSimonds punched plates 003.jpgSimonds punched plates 004.jpg Simonds punched plates 005.jpg

I can't explain this, but clearly it was done at the factory.

I am making up new handles. One for me and three for who knows, but they'll be pretty good users.

Regards
Paul

Great read
Thank you Paul
Keep it coming

Thanks Matt

I got the first of the four No.5s to nearly ( ) finished today. Some pix below of before and after.

Simonds No.5 CM rehandled 001.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 002.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 003.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 004.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 005.jpg

As you can see the handle that came with the saw is a replacement made to withstand an elephant treading on it in a Burmese logging camp. But that is all you can say for it as it is really ugly.

This saw is the one I am keeping and if that seems a little self serving to have done mine first, that is not really the case. It was more the trial run to iron out any problems and, if the truth is told, in case I had a little stuff up.

I will wait for the other three before I do the finishing as I really hate cleaning brushes and in keeping with my sporadic attempts at doing the dishes it appears, if I am to believe SWMBO, that I don't clean the brushes well enough either .

I just can't get over how ugly that other handle is...........

Regards
Paul

Paul,
Just too reckless hi jack your thread
I sore this on the weekend in a junk shop.
And left it behind.
They were asking $15 I think did I do bad[emoji20]
Sorry poor shot and only of the medallion.


Cheers Matt

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Thanks Matt

I got the first of the four No.5s to nearly ( ) finished today. Some pix below of before and after.

Simonds No.5 CM rehandled 001.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 002.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 003.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 004.jpgSimonds No.5 CM rehandled 005.jpg

As you can see the handle that came with the saw is a replacement made to withstand an elephant treading on it in a Burmese logging camp. But that is all you can say for it as it is really ugly.

This saw is the one I am keeping and if that seems a little self serving to have done mine first, that is not really the case. It was more the trial run to iron out any problems and, if the truth is told, in case I had a little stuff up.

I will wait for the other three before I do the finishing as I really hate cleaning brushes and in keeping with my sporadic attempts at doing the dishes it appears, if I am to believe SWMBO, that I don't clean the brushes well enough either .

I just can't get over how ugly that other handle is...........

Regards
Paul

Paul,
Ugly is in the eye of the beholder
Now.

It's only seen as selfish, by everyone looking in on you.
You looking out on the world it makes perfect sense to do yours first.

Then procrastinate over the others.

Cheers Matt

Ok Matt. I can run with that .

With your passed over saw for $15 you have not given us too much to go on and what is there looks as though the photographer had a little bit to drink judging by sharpness.

From the Warranted Superior medallion it is a saw the manufacturer did not want to put his own name on, but that does not mean that it is no good. The crown indicates it is a British saw and I can categorically state it is not a Simonds.

Is that any help?

Regards
paul

Lol
Thanks Paul.
I found something else
But that I will post soon in its own thread.
Instead of being rude [emoji20]

Ooooh! I love a find. I will scour the threads with a keenness designed to make a bloodhound go for a nose job.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Ooooh! I love a find. I will scour the threads with a keenness designed to make a bloodhound go for a nose job.

Regards
Paul

O you have a gift with words

Anybody remember that TV skit with Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker? The hardware store with the juxtaposition between Four Candles and Fork Handles? . It was a classic in the same vein as Faulty Towers "Don't mention ze war" and Monty Python's "Norwegian Blue."

Well somehow my No.5s reminded me of this a little, but I am going to get some help with the problem .

This is where I am at with flash:

Fork Handles Simonds No.5 002.jpg

and without flash

Fork Handles Simonds No.5 003.jpg

The biggest difficulty at the moment is distinguishing between them as there are probably very slight differences between them as they are individually fitted to the sawplates. I have found this problem with other makes with the Disston D8 being the worst of all. I have hardly found two alike.

Anyhow I'm getting there. Just got to remember, mine's the one on the left (left behind; Not sent on etc...)

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

This is where I am at

Hot dang!

Looks like a fine effort Paul.

But I've never ever seen a four handled saw.
I imagine that would cut quite fast with four people going for it.

Cheers Matt

Matt

Four handles, but five people: The fifth one calls the beat . It's still best to be "top dog" as well, although not as important as with this one:

Chainsaw with helper handle.jpg

I have huge admiration for the men on the pointy end.

Regards
Paul