Daryl Weir
10-25-2017, 7:31 PM
I was fortunate enough to see this saw posted by a fellow creeker on here a few months back https://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?256715-Geo-H-Bishop-saw He said he really wasn't a "saw collector" but couldn't pass this one up, I couldn't have either. I thought, what the heck, maybe I should contact him and see if he would be interested in selling it. After a private message on here and sharing of our contact information, it was pleasant to talk with him on the phone. We agreed on a price and I became the new owner.
This is not the first one of these I've purchased. In fact, this one will be replacing another 12ppi cross cut that is not in as good of condition as this one.
A link to an old Iron Age picture http://hus-saws1.wkfinetools.com/BishopGeoH/advert/b1909-Bishop-The_Iron_age-V.83-3/1909-The_Iron_age-V.83-3.asp courtesy of Wiktor's site.
With it's Cuban mahogany handle, lambs tongue, wheat carving, nickel plated fasteners, highly polished blade & a very good taper grind, this saw was not only built for performance but was made to impress. This saw was probably meant to compete with the rosewood handled Atkins 400, that came out a little earlier, which by the way was the most expensive saw ever produced at that time coming in at $4.00 for a 26" version. The Bishop Greyhound was considerably less expensive at $3.00 but was still an expensive saw in 1908. Disston lagged behind, not producing the rosewood handled D15 & D115 until around 1914, IIRC.
The extra hardware store etch is a nice addition and the ribbon back also adds a nice touch. I mentioned is had a good taper grind, with the cutting edge measuing .040" and the back of the point coming in at .020". I can always tell the quality of the steel by how a saw files and I can tell you this is good stuff. This saw takes little set to run free in the cut and with it's 12ppi undercut cross cut configuration produces a good finish in dry seasoned lumber.
Hope some of you can apprecitate the pictures of U.S.A. made quality from a by-gone era!
Take care
Daryl
This is not the first one of these I've purchased. In fact, this one will be replacing another 12ppi cross cut that is not in as good of condition as this one.
A link to an old Iron Age picture http://hus-saws1.wkfinetools.com/BishopGeoH/advert/b1909-Bishop-The_Iron_age-V.83-3/1909-The_Iron_age-V.83-3.asp courtesy of Wiktor's site.
With it's Cuban mahogany handle, lambs tongue, wheat carving, nickel plated fasteners, highly polished blade & a very good taper grind, this saw was not only built for performance but was made to impress. This saw was probably meant to compete with the rosewood handled Atkins 400, that came out a little earlier, which by the way was the most expensive saw ever produced at that time coming in at $4.00 for a 26" version. The Bishop Greyhound was considerably less expensive at $3.00 but was still an expensive saw in 1908. Disston lagged behind, not producing the rosewood handled D15 & D115 until around 1914, IIRC.
The extra hardware store etch is a nice addition and the ribbon back also adds a nice touch. I mentioned is had a good taper grind, with the cutting edge measuing .040" and the back of the point coming in at .020". I can always tell the quality of the steel by how a saw files and I can tell you this is good stuff. This saw takes little set to run free in the cut and with it's 12ppi undercut cross cut configuration produces a good finish in dry seasoned lumber.
Hope some of you can apprecitate the pictures of U.S.A. made quality from a by-gone era!
Take care
Daryl