Picked up some saws- any good?

[Mac53]

I was given 3 saws by a friend of mine who saved them from being thrown out. 1 is somewhat new and not pictured, but these two obviously have at least a little age to them. Can anyone tell me anything about them? Good find?

[FrankLee]

I can't help much except to direct you to the Disston website http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/. Lots of info there. You can get an age range of the Disston based on the medallion.

[Mac53]

Thanks! I'm no pro, but it seems to be a D-8 from 1947-1955?

[rusty]

Probably about right, neither is ancient.

But..both are old enough to have been made from good steel, and both are worth some TLC as users.

Those ugly , horrible slotted screwss have to go tho, they won't properly support the handle, and you will break something :(

*sigh*

[john k]

Worth saving, certainly, plus they can be sharpened.   The blonde finish handle is the newer one, probably do the 1950s.  The Warranted Superior saw is possibly by Disston, just downgraded to be a store brand.   The etch is probably still on the blade, there are several places that give good instructions in recovering the etch, just don't use a power sander or buff, or wirewheel to do it.   I have a few saws like that hiding in my shop.

[scottg]

Disston D-8 for sure!
Looks like it must be a crosscut as I can't see the teeth in the pic and rip teeth are big enough to show up.
This has a beechwood handle.
Cleaned up and sharpened well you will never believe what this saw can do. You just won't believe it.
3 to 4 strokes and a 2x4 parts company.  Same few strokes and a 1x12 pine plank parts as well. Outrageously good. 

The blonde handle saw is a low quality hardware saw from the 1950/60's.  The wood is thin and slabby shaped and likely plywood to boot.  The screws were all lost at some point and replaced with improper replacements. 
  The medallion screw though, the Warren and Ted medallion?  This is from a much earlier saw, probably around 1920.   Its a good medallion in my opinion and I like it. I would save it for sure.

The saw however will never be in the same league as the Disston for hard use.
  You can carve a better handle for it and use it, but it just won't be special.

   So I would either make a real art saw from it, sparing no labor nor embellishment and keep it for show.
        Or simply lop it up into scraper blades.  This is the exact kind of saw I look for in scraper blade stock.  Not too pitted, not too desirable a saw,......... just right for scrapers!!

  There is a lifetime supply of magic in that saw waiting to be turned loose. Scrapers are one of the woodworkers miracles.
    yours Scott 

[Branson]

I kinda hate to break up an intact saw for scrapers.  I'd probably sharpen Blondie and keep it in the van or truck as a just in case saw.  Definitely lose the screws and replace them with proper saw nuts.

That Disston, like Scott says, has a world of surprising work in it.  Get it sharpened and be amazed at what a good saw is like to work.

Speaking of scrapers, a fellow at work got a bunch of his grandfather's wood working tools and asked me to identify them.  Among other things, he couldn't see himself using scrapers, and he gave me a set of three, still in their envelope, including one of the French curve scrapers.

[Mac53]

Thank you all! I'll definitely clean them up. Where would I find the right type of screws to put into the one?

[Branson]

Thank you all! I'll definitely clean them up. Where would I find the right type of screws to put into the one?

http://www.joesbucketorust.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_19&products_id=813

[scottg]

I kinda hate to break up an intact saw for scrapers.  I'd probably sharpen Blondie and keep it in the van or truck as a just in case saw.

No argument there either. This saw could definitely be put to work again.
Its just that when you already have the cream of 900 saw sightings,
  because you never passed a saw in your life without taking a look,
   and you scored a percentage when you actually have money to spend on a saw?

So now you have a pile of wicked killer candidates???

Then you can afford to think scrapers.



Three card scrapers in a pack? Does it look like 1970's maybe?
In the 70's there was a brief but brilliant flowering of woodcraft.
Between Jim Krenov, the University of Ca, Humboldt, and the Taunton corporation (known as the rag tag staff of Fine Woodworking in those days...).........................
   Between these and an attractive shipping rate at UPS on freight and the Post Office on bulk mail..........??
  Many mail order catalog, hand woodworking tool firms, started up.

   Some grew into great companies in a very short time. Some of the old line firms, after struggling along forever,  blossomed into big outfits too.
   All like a mushroom or a wildflower.
  One day nothing, the next your mailbox is overflowing with thick catalogs. Each better than the last. 

But just like a toadstool or a dandelion...............
  It all faded to business as usual.   
          yours Scott

[Branson]

Three card scrapers in a pack? Does it look like 1970's maybe?

I spect '70s is correct.  The envelope still has a page of instructions in it from Brookstone Company with the Peterborough, New Hampshire address,
which was the 1973 address for the company.

As for saws, it's really hard for me to walk away from a decent one.  Even a not so decent one.   If it has split nuts, there's no way to walk away.  If I find a broken bladed saw, *then* I have scraper stock!  And molding  contours to put in a scratch stock!

[scottg]

       Brookstone was one of the exact companies I was talking about.
From a nothing 5 or 10 page catalog, to 175 page full color glossy catalogs coming once a week, every week.
   All inside of 5 years.

  Then it turned around. Catalogs got smaller and smaller and...........

I really wish I'd saved the first and the best catalogs from each of the companies.  I kind of knew I was witnessing something at the time but didn't realize I would want to keep it.

   I bought a set of German made Bracht firmer gouges from them when they were heading down.
About 70% off, too good to pass up.
The gouges are so fine (heavy forged Solingen steel, mirror polished, shaped oval hornbeam handles)  I never had the heart to use them. heh

Brookstone is still in business selling mostly crappy gee-gaws for high profit to stupid people, ....................  shopping mauls.
  Last I heard anyway.


Oh yeah in my "to do" saw pile..............
  I have a very fine Disston (and early sons, good etch, good nib) #12 blade waiting for a handle.
   A big rip or two,    6 or 7 regular crosscuts from various makers, 
5 or 6  "toolbox saws" (full pattern handsaws with 18" and under blades),
   a 1909 Disston nest-o-saws with all possible attachments waiting for me to design and sew a custom canvas cover. I have 2 different original bags to get ideas off of. 
  A homemade floor saw with curving scimitar type blade and a custom spalted applewood handle that only needs screws, filing and finish work (similar to the great Atkins pattern, but of course, my own design take on it),
    um and at least 4 great backsaws in various sizes??.............
          all waiting for attention.

  I don't know how many -ready to go saws- I have. Lost track.

I can pass up a lower middling quality saw with no regrets. I have one old blade 1/2 gone due to scraper blades already, and at least 2 more in reserve.   

It takes no money, only time.
I know, because I never did have money to spend heheheheheehheeheheheh
    yours Scott

[Branson]

That sounds sooo familiar.  My wife thinks the 8 saws I have on the back porch are signs of excess.  She doesn't know about the ones in the shed, or the ones in storage...   I have a ply handled Sandvik, but I found a solid wood handled Sandvik at the dump ... "What do you want for this old saw?"  "Oh, just take it."  Got it home and found that despite the rust all over the blade, it was still sharp.  Couldn't leave it there, could I?

[scottg]

Sandvik is the best natural steel on the planet!!  Definitely worth carving a new tote for.
Even the best of the Sandvik saw totes are pitiful, (they obviously never cared about that at all) but the steel???
  oh ho that steel!!
  yours Scott

[Branson]

Sandvik is the best natural steel on the planet!!  Definitely worth carving a new tote for.
Even the best of the Sandvik saw totes are pitiful, (they obviously never cared about that at all) but the steel???
  oh ho that steel!!
  yours Scott

Yeah, clunky handles, even before the clunky plywood handles, but the steel!!  Picked up an ooold Disston handle I found in a 25 cent bin -- the kind where the top of the saw is higher than the top of the handle?  Know what I mean?  It would make a pleasant handle pattern, don't you think?  Ought to mate up fine with the Spears & Jackson rip saw I stumbled across...