Kim Malmberg
05-22-2013, 10:36 AM
I had originally planned to post a gloat but decided I'd ask some serious questions instead.
I got myself another Sandvik saw (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/sets/72157633510336990/) the other day. It's one of those older ones with a dragon ornamented apple handle, a tapered and breasted saw plate. It's one of those saws that places a broad smile on the face of most people inclined my way.
But as I promised not to gloat I will get on with the questions.
I have been trying to document and date Sandvik saws for a year or so. I have some ideas about manufacturing periods but very little hard facts.
So, I am hoping that some of you might be able to shed some light on production periods and dates. I have uploaded a collection of some of Sandvik's various models. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/collections/72157631879869955/)
My latest Sandvik saw is what I believe to be one of their earlier production periods, made possibly no earlier than the 1940s. But that is a hunch more than a fact. I base my theory upon other saws I have seen, and mostly the etches and medallions on various Sandvik saws.
What I know for sure is that the production of hand saws begun in 1886. I don't think I have ever owned or seen a Sandvik saw that old. All the ones I have owned are made in the 1900s.
My general and thus very fragile concept for dating Sandvik saws is based on studying etches, medallions and the variations in the company logo:
Etches
Etch theory I: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509810/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring text written in Swedish only, must be of the oldest kind. There might have been several, but some feature the word SANDVIK at the top of the etch and some feature the full company name SANDVIKENS JERNVERKS AB SANDVIKEN SVERIGE as well as a different logo depicting a cross with a capitalized S in the middle:
Etch theory II: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/7152300739/in/set-72157633594885974) Any saw featuring text written partially in Swedish and English is oldish.
Etch theory IIA: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757262/in/set-72157633594885974)An etch combination where the two main etches are otherwise identical, but the model number is placed at the bottom of the right hand etch, just below the fish and hook. Saws from this era have often lost the model number as it engages with the workpiece and therefore is very often worn off. As seen in ad from 1935. Interestingly enough the position of the model number is identical to that of what I believe to be much later three etch/print designs.
Etch theory IIB: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8759325696/in/set-72157633594885974)An etch combination where the model number is placed centered in between the two main etches is of a later production, as spotted in an ad from 1948.
Etch theory IIC: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509626/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring an etch written in Finnish (yes, Sandvik did have a factory in Finland for a while in the 1930s) combined with the cross logo is made sometime around 1937 as evidenced by a product catalogue from that year. The Finnish plant was established in 1933 but wasn't very long lived.
Etch theory III: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757146/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring text written only in English is newer. Many a time, the hand saws of this era have three etches, the quality disclaimer to the left, the main etch centered and an tooth setting instruction etch to the right. A confusing detail about this etch combination is that the model number appears at the bottom of the middle (and main) etch. This position of the model number is more in line with the etch IIA (an earlier one) rather than the preceding etch IIC.
Etch theory V: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/7068660483/in/set-72157633594885974/) Any saw featuring only one etch including the quality disclaimer and model number, all written in English (at the top below the SANDVIK logotype). I simply don't know in which order this etch should be placed. I've seen it one one saw.
Etch theory V: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757854/in/set-72157633594885974) Any saw featuring the newer Sandvik logo (capitalized with one line above and another below) is late production. This is more likely always a print. This period spans 30-40 years and will be divided into several studies of their own once I learn more. A common denominator is that the fish and hook appears in all these etches and prints. A differing detail is that the company name appears in at least three different ways.
Medallions
Medallion theory I: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782643396/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying a capitalized S encircled by the company name written in Swedish is of the very old kind.
Medallion theory II: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509888/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying only a cross with a centered S is old. I could well have placed theory I and II in the wrong order. The cross does appear in a product catalogue published in 1937, which makes me think Sandvik ought to have made the Theory I saws before this. But I am not sure.
Medallion theory III: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8744747194/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying the company name written in Swedish at the top, featuring the fish and hook in the middle and the place of origin at the bottom written in English, is an older one. These appear as niclek plated brass nuts and brass only.
Medallion theory IV: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8775941371/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying only SANDVIK followed by the fish and hook is of the newer kind. This medallion coexists with newer type brass nuts with more rounded ends and Phillips screw slots
Other etches
There are several other etches, including the famous ship etch of the no 280. I passed down an offer to buy a almost NOS no 280 with a black plastic handle about a year ago. I'm still beating myself for this because this saw is one of Sandvik's finest. There are a lot of late era etches like the Sandvik "Jubilation", the Sandvik "Högboo" and others, but these were in my opinion marketing gimmicks made to boost the sales of modern era saws with laminated handles and printed etches.
Sandvik made a lot of saws for international export. A sea of saws were sold in the UK and US, and it seems to me like the saws spotted in the US are slightly different than those found in Scandinavia. Tooth configuration is one thing, but also how the teeth were shaped. This would be related to a much more frequent and varied use of hand saws for varying purposes and woods in the States.
There might well be other medallions unknown to or forgotten by me, but regardless of etch or medallion, any details about productions periods would be highly appreciated. And if all you have is one of those nasty late era saws with wobbly n´backs and shaky and thin plastic handles, that's just fine. Any details about any production period and model will be appreciated. And images displaying etches and medallions would be very helpful.
Greetings from Finland where the wood anemones are giving way for the summer flowers. (http://www.visitraseborg.com/en/do/605-varen-i-raseborg)
I got myself another Sandvik saw (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/sets/72157633510336990/) the other day. It's one of those older ones with a dragon ornamented apple handle, a tapered and breasted saw plate. It's one of those saws that places a broad smile on the face of most people inclined my way.
But as I promised not to gloat I will get on with the questions.
I have been trying to document and date Sandvik saws for a year or so. I have some ideas about manufacturing periods but very little hard facts.
So, I am hoping that some of you might be able to shed some light on production periods and dates. I have uploaded a collection of some of Sandvik's various models. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/collections/72157631879869955/)
My latest Sandvik saw is what I believe to be one of their earlier production periods, made possibly no earlier than the 1940s. But that is a hunch more than a fact. I base my theory upon other saws I have seen, and mostly the etches and medallions on various Sandvik saws.
What I know for sure is that the production of hand saws begun in 1886. I don't think I have ever owned or seen a Sandvik saw that old. All the ones I have owned are made in the 1900s.
My general and thus very fragile concept for dating Sandvik saws is based on studying etches, medallions and the variations in the company logo:
Etches
Etch theory I: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509810/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring text written in Swedish only, must be of the oldest kind. There might have been several, but some feature the word SANDVIK at the top of the etch and some feature the full company name SANDVIKENS JERNVERKS AB SANDVIKEN SVERIGE as well as a different logo depicting a cross with a capitalized S in the middle:
Etch theory II: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/7152300739/in/set-72157633594885974) Any saw featuring text written partially in Swedish and English is oldish.
Etch theory IIA: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757262/in/set-72157633594885974)An etch combination where the two main etches are otherwise identical, but the model number is placed at the bottom of the right hand etch, just below the fish and hook. Saws from this era have often lost the model number as it engages with the workpiece and therefore is very often worn off. As seen in ad from 1935. Interestingly enough the position of the model number is identical to that of what I believe to be much later three etch/print designs.
Etch theory IIB: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8759325696/in/set-72157633594885974)An etch combination where the model number is placed centered in between the two main etches is of a later production, as spotted in an ad from 1948.
Etch theory IIC: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509626/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring an etch written in Finnish (yes, Sandvik did have a factory in Finland for a while in the 1930s) combined with the cross logo is made sometime around 1937 as evidenced by a product catalogue from that year. The Finnish plant was established in 1933 but wasn't very long lived.
Etch theory III: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757146/in/set-72157633594885974)Any saw featuring text written only in English is newer. Many a time, the hand saws of this era have three etches, the quality disclaimer to the left, the main etch centered and an tooth setting instruction etch to the right. A confusing detail about this etch combination is that the model number appears at the bottom of the middle (and main) etch. This position of the model number is more in line with the etch IIA (an earlier one) rather than the preceding etch IIC.
Etch theory V: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/7068660483/in/set-72157633594885974/) Any saw featuring only one etch including the quality disclaimer and model number, all written in English (at the top below the SANDVIK logotype). I simply don't know in which order this etch should be placed. I've seen it one one saw.
Etch theory V: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/6962757854/in/set-72157633594885974) Any saw featuring the newer Sandvik logo (capitalized with one line above and another below) is late production. This is more likely always a print. This period spans 30-40 years and will be divided into several studies of their own once I learn more. A common denominator is that the fish and hook appears in all these etches and prints. A differing detail is that the company name appears in at least three different ways.
Medallions
Medallion theory I: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782643396/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying a capitalized S encircled by the company name written in Swedish is of the very old kind.
Medallion theory II: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8782509888/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying only a cross with a centered S is old. I could well have placed theory I and II in the wrong order. The cross does appear in a product catalogue published in 1937, which makes me think Sandvik ought to have made the Theory I saws before this. But I am not sure.
Medallion theory III: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8744747194/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying the company name written in Swedish at the top, featuring the fish and hook in the middle and the place of origin at the bottom written in English, is an older one. These appear as niclek plated brass nuts and brass only.
Medallion theory IV: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77333663@N07/8775941371/in/set-72157633594885974)Any medallion displaying only SANDVIK followed by the fish and hook is of the newer kind. This medallion coexists with newer type brass nuts with more rounded ends and Phillips screw slots
Other etches
There are several other etches, including the famous ship etch of the no 280. I passed down an offer to buy a almost NOS no 280 with a black plastic handle about a year ago. I'm still beating myself for this because this saw is one of Sandvik's finest. There are a lot of late era etches like the Sandvik "Jubilation", the Sandvik "Högboo" and others, but these were in my opinion marketing gimmicks made to boost the sales of modern era saws with laminated handles and printed etches.
Sandvik made a lot of saws for international export. A sea of saws were sold in the UK and US, and it seems to me like the saws spotted in the US are slightly different than those found in Scandinavia. Tooth configuration is one thing, but also how the teeth were shaped. This would be related to a much more frequent and varied use of hand saws for varying purposes and woods in the States.
There might well be other medallions unknown to or forgotten by me, but regardless of etch or medallion, any details about productions periods would be highly appreciated. And if all you have is one of those nasty late era saws with wobbly n´backs and shaky and thin plastic handles, that's just fine. Any details about any production period and model will be appreciated. And images displaying etches and medallions would be very helpful.
Greetings from Finland where the wood anemones are giving way for the summer flowers. (http://www.visitraseborg.com/en/do/605-varen-i-raseborg)