Disston Dovetail Saw Restoration #1: I've got questions... Please Help

I googled “Henry Disston and Sons” and got this hit: http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id57.html

If you scroll down the page, there is a .pdf catalog for the year 1939. Your saw looks very much like the Disston #4 Back Saw on page 11 of the catalog although the screw placement in the handle is a little different.

If you look further through the catalog there are instructions on how to use the saw, how to sharpen the blade and other tips.

I don’t know if there’s any way to determine what year your saw might have been manufactured.

You gotta love the internet.

-- Daddy always said, "Try not to bleed on the wood."

Blake,

Not sure how far you have searched yet, but there are numerous sites devoted to Disston Saws. This is the one I go to a lot. A bunch of info can be gleened from them. Great looking saw, not sure which one of the backsaws you have, but I am sure it is pictured somewhere.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

I would have it professionally sharpened. I have seen the computer driven machines that sharpen hand saws and the results that they produce. You can’t beat them.

If you want to sharpen it yourself, have it done professionally the first time. Then you only have to maintain it.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

I’ve just picked up three backsaws. All need work of one sort or another.

The guides I’m following are ‘How to Clean a Saw” & “Saw Filing—A Beginner’s Primer” both found at the library link at http://www.vintagesaws.com/

Under Saw Care is information on size of files and “Saw Filing—A Beginner’s Primer”

http://www.backsaw.net/ has a large library of handle templates if that is needed; also some good descriptions and historical information

I will tell you that you have on your hands a very fine vintage saw…these saw date back as far as 1864 and some are very highly sought after by collector. Your is known as a back saw and in my estimation would be around 1920’s. This may be a good site to look into http://www.vintagesaws.com/cgi-bin/frameset.cgi?left=saws&right=/backsaw/backsaws.html...thanks for posting and sharing this fine hand tool …Blkcherry

On the disston web site there is a area that dates the saw by the button on the handle.

-- WOOD/DON (...one has the right to ones opinion but not the right to ones own facts...)

Hey Blake,
Great find. I have an old Disston carcase saw and when I was looking to get it sharpened I was directed to Daryl Weir. He sells a lot on ebay as Woodnut4. Another place that Chris Schwarz just blogged about is http://www.technoprimitives.com/. Good luck and I can’t wait to see it cleaned up.

-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com

Blake, I agree with blackcherry on the vintagesaws.com site. Excellent resource. Another place you might check for reference information is www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog. Here is a link for all their articles specifically related to saws. Down the page, there is a good article about Western Backsaws posted in March.

Here is a clearing house of reference links. MANY things hand tool related including some saw sharpening links.

If you decide to send it out the first time, this fella has restored a lot of saws and is now offering a sharpening service.

Good luck!

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

TechnoPrimitives is now offering sharpening and sales without going through ebay
http://www.technoprimitives.com/saw_sharpening__restoration_services

Wow, thanks for all the great info!

According to THIS page it seems to be a civil war-era saw.

According to THIS it appears that it might be between 1897 and 1917.

Thanks rejr, I like that link for resharpening.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Thanks for sharing with us Blake …I got a great kick out of seeing it…cherish this fine vintage tool…Blkcherry