Went thru the pile of saws at the Habitat store yesterday.  I had ignored this (meat) saw earlier, but pulled it out to look it over.   The stamp is H & C Disston, over Phila.   Warranted.  OK a Disston, father and son stamp?   The Keystone stamp is a bit blurred and slightly off center, hand stamped?   Handle is definitely for 3 fingers, and never modified.  The frame is one piece, and the front with hole for the pin is definitely  hand forged.  Thought it was rather interesting, especially for the price.   I have known this type as a butchers saw,  but am wondering with its age if it wasn't an early hacksaw?

I would say it's a meat saw.

I'd speculate meat; no good way to tension the blade for metal cutting.

I would also agree with the meat saw guys. What is puzzling is the H & C Disston mark.

I looked thru a lot of information on the Disstonian Institute web site but didn't find any of Henry's sons or grandsons with a C or even a G as a first initial. They don't seem to cover meat saws at all.

Mike

Hello, I believe wvtools has a similar saw listed on ebay, H.C. Disston label. Regards, Lou

I even saw a Disston brush popper once. Very plain and simple. Ugly, really. Is there any way the C could stand for Co.?

The stamping is clearly H. & C.  Disston, puzzling, but am pleased to own it.  Not arguing with it being a meat/butchers saw, but when this was built, the only thing being made was soft wrought iron.   Remember Disston also made a hacksaw, that looks exactly like a  D-23, made just for cutting iron.   Own one of those too. 

H. & C. Disston was a collaboration between Henry and his brother Charles from what I'm told.

EAIA Directory of American Tool Makers states, H & C Disston was a subdivision on H Disston & Sons made saws and trowels. After Charles died in 1895 it was dissolved and its assets reverted back to the parent company. Another listing for Charles states that he was born in in 1823. He held 12 saw and trowel patents.