Disston No7 Panel Saw.

[Stewie Simpson]

With the inclusion of the English pattern traditional lambs tongue within its shape my personal preference does favor the No.7 handsaw over that found within the Disston's D7 series handsaws.

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/7page.html


The following No.7 Panel Saw was owned by my late father. It has the H DISSTON & SONS medallion & etch that allows me to date this saws production to circa 1900 -1917.

It has a 22 inch saw plate; and is 10 ppi; with a crosscut tooth.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0466_zpsnmsfownt.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0466_zpsnmsfownt.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0467_zpsjsnlnnvy.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0467_zpsjsnlnnvy.jpg.html)

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/7page/7etch3.jpg

This saw has seen many years of service during my fathers working career as a certified Carpenter & Joiner; commencing at an early age as an apprentice in Scotland during the early 1950s under the tutelage of his employer, a Master Craftsman of that era.

The following compares the difference in the cut of the saw plate within the saw handle of this 1900-1917 circa Panel Saw to that of a D8 Panel Saw of a later 1917-1928 circa.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0476_zpsheodcsl1.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0476_zpsheodcsl1.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0477_zpsyrke40b2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0477_zpsyrke40b2.jpg.html)

This final photo is of my fathers Panel Saw after its been resharpened, and a new stained finish applied to the handle.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0475_zpskoqpgozq.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/dads%20no7%20disston%20panel%20saw/_DSC0475_zpskoqpgozq.jpg.html)

regards Stewie;

[Chris Hachet]

Wonderful!

[lowell holmes]

It looks like the one on my bench except your tote was and is in much better shape. It is my favorite cross cut saw.

I'm making a new handle for mine. I can't find the etch on my saw though. My saw still has the nib.

[Tom Vanzant]

Stevie, a beautiful restoration and a tribute. I am going to dig out my grandfather's Disston 4 backsaw and do the same. It's from the late 1920s-early 1930s, 14" w/steel back, and a closed beech handle that looks like it was jig-sawed from a plank. Two cracks had been repaired with brads, but the plate, back and all the brass parts are in good shape. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Roger Rettenmeier]

I like the look and heft of the Old no. 7s (pre '27 ?), and have a couple of those in my arsenal.

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi Lowell. Paul Sellers also has a No.7 Panel Saw of the same appearance. He dates his at Circa 1848, but looking at the medallion, I would prefer to date it a later Circa 1896 - 1917. https://paulsellers.com/2011/05/a-lovely-disston-handsaw/

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/medv2.html

I agree. The No.7 Panel Saw is a wonderful handsaw to use when its sharpened x cut. Look forward to viewing your new saw handle when its completed.

Not sure what the story is with the missing nib on my fathers handsaw.

regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Stevie, a beautiful restoration and a tribute. I am going to dig out my grandfather's Disston 4 backsaw and do the same. It's from the late 1920s-early 1930s, 14" w/steel back, and a closed beech handle that looks like it was jig-sawed from a plank. Two cracks had been repaired with brads, but the plate, back and all the brass parts are in good shape. Thanks for the inspiration.

Hi Tony. Restoring your grandfathers backsaw sounds like an excellent project. Thank you for your feedback.

regards Stewie;

[Tony Zaffuto]

D7 and Disston #16's are my favorite saws, bar none. I have a couple of short D7's-18" & 20" (IIRC), with nibs intact. One is sharpened at 9PPI and the other at 12PPI. Handier than the new half-backs I have.

[Jim Koepke]

Very nice looking saw Stewie.

Many of my saws came to me from a friend's estate. My D7 at around 8PPI doesn't get as much use as my D8 at 10PPi for crosscutting work.

They are all good saws.

jtk

[Dave Anderson NH]

I have 2 #7s Stewie. I love them both. One is an 18" plate panel saw at 10tpi crosscut and the other is a 26" at 8tpi crosscut. Both were inherited and are in great shape with no need for restoration.

[Joe Bailey]

Stewie

That is a nice job, and a usefully-sized saw with a great history.
The No 7 is interesting in that it is the only Disston model (of which I'm aware) wherein the 28" rip version of the saw, gets a different handle than the 26" and smaller versions.
It is a beefier handle (sans lambs tongue), with room enough for a two-handed ripping grip.

Here are two of mine, for comparison:
308735

[Ray Bohn]

Here is a smaller member of the immediate family- 20" crosscut. I also have an even shorter one, 17.5" that is filed as a rip- sounds like a strange configuration to me.

[Stewie Simpson]

I have 2 #7s Stewie. I love them both. One is an 18" plate panel saw at 10tpi crosscut and the other is a 26" at 8tpi crosscut. Both were inherited and are in great shape with no need for restoration.

Hi Dave. Sounds interesting. Were you able to define a date of manufacture on both these hand saws.

Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Here is a smaller member of the immediate family- 20" crosscut. I also have an even shorter one, 17.5" that is filed as a rip- sounds like a strange configuration to me.

Hi Ray. That 20" hand saw is in excellent condition. Little sign its had much use. The shorter 17.5" is at an odd length. Possibly 18" when it left the Disston factory.

regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Stewie

That is a nice job, and a usefully-sized saw with a great history.
The No 7 is interesting in that it is the only Disston model (of which I'm aware) wherein the 28" rip version of the saw, gets a different handle than the 26" and smaller versions.
It is a beefier handle (sans lambs tongue), with room enough for a two-handed ripping grip.

Here are two of mine, for comparison:
308735


Hi Joe. I was not aware of that fact with the No.7. Most interesting.

regards Stewie;

[lowell holmes]

I ran across my saw that is one of these in my till today. I had forgotten about it. If you read through the string, you will see where I made a new handle for mine.'
If anyone is interested, I will post a picture of it. My saw has a nib on it. It cuts straight and fast.:)

I looked at the Disston Institute and the saw is a D-7. It looks like the saw shown in the Institute the second saw down from the top of the D7 section.
I forgot that I had posted about this saw before. I made a test cut with it. It is a sweet cutting saw. It cuts straight and fast.

[Phil Mueller]

Stewie, your restoration work is excellent. The handle finish is very nice. There is always something special about having a tool that was part of your Father's life.

A bit of Disston 7 show and tell myself. Top one is 24", 5ppi rip from 1917-1927. The bottom one is 22", 7ppi rip from 1896-1917 (with unfortunately a drilled hang hole and a shortened top horn). Believe it or not, both were garage/estate sale finds and in surprisingly good shape. The etch on both are faint, but readable. Both perform extremely well and I find the "smaller" handle fits me better than some of the other Disston models.

359504

[lowell holmes]

My saw is like the bottom one. My saw has the nib.

My handle is curly maple.

Does anybody know that the saw nib is for?

[Kees Heiden]

Does anybody know that the saw nib is for?

You're joking, right?

[lowell holmes]

No, I'm not joking. As far as I know it has no use.

[Kees Heiden]

The funny part is that this one of those questions like: pins or tails first. Heated discussions have been the result without any real conclusions.

[Kees Heiden]

BTW, good job on the saw, Stewie! I wish my father had left some tools. At least he left quite a few interesting books.

[steven c newman]

The nib was about the same as a hood ornament, nothing else.
359523
When last I looked, this was the No. 7 with a nib. The others in the shop (2) MAY be D-7s....
This one is a 26" 7ppi crosscut.

[Stew Denton]

Stewie,

Very nice job, the handle especially looks beautiful.

You can't beat the family connection with that saw.

The saw looked pretty good before the restoration, and was obviously well cared for. You made it better.

Stew

[Andrew Gibson]

I own a 26" #7 rip of the same era in similar shape (the lams tongue on mine is chipped). Picked it out of an umbrella stand at an antique store somewhere in the Boston/South Shore area for $10 a few years back. I don't think it had made more than a handful of cuts in its life. A single pass of a file over each tooth and it was good as new, I did not need to reset the teeth.

[Stewie Simpson]

The post on the Disston #7 restoration dates back to 2015.

The following is a Disston D8 Panel Saw, 20" 10 ppi, that was refurbished during that same time period.

Note the reshaping of the saw handle.


before.
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0453_zpsxmuvwqod.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0453_zpsxmuvwqod.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0454_zpsmz5wtac2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0454_zpsmz5wtac2.jpg.html)




after.
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0457_zpsfeb8fh9s.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0457_zpsfeb8fh9s.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0464_zpsugrhcglb.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0464_zpsugrhcglb.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg.html)

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0469_zps1ilf4dnf.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0469_zps1ilf4dnf.jpg.html)

[Phil Mueller]

Another beautiful restoration, Stewie. I like the more tapered ends on the horns...a nice look in general, and especially for when they are shortened from damage.

It appears you have modified the Gramercy saw vise with a bar of some sort. Can you tell me more about that; the reason, the material, how it was done?

Thanks!

[Stewie Simpson]

Phil; the bulky look of the top and bottom horns represents a later period in time when Disston were producing sub standard saw looking saw handles. Same can be said with the overall appearance of the saw handles bottom rail.

As to the comments on the Gramercy Saw Vise; the jaw extension is a loose length of 90 degree aluminum angle that I lock into position when sharpening full length hand saws.

Stewie;

[Pete Taran]

Stewie,

Are you left handed? Never saw anyone saw with waste to the left like is shown in the photo...occurred to me that perhaps lefties do it different!

Pete

[Stewie Simpson]

Yes Pete; left handed.

[Phil Mueller]

Thanks Stewie. And the saw position looks perfectly normal to this left hander as well. Although, I do go both ways at times...

[Joe Williams]

Thanks for sharing, this is probably my favorite saw of all the Disston saws I have worked on over the years and this was a really nice one!

[lowell holmes]

Actually, I have both saws. I put new handles on both of them.

I always figured the saw nib was for decoration. I heard one explanation that it was uses to scribe marks on the
board to saw to. That never made sense to me. I also heard it was used to tie saws together in the tool box.