Flea market Atkins and Simonds

[Phil Mueller]

While waiting for glue and finish to dry, I thought I’d bore (share) a couple of recent finds and a bit of research into their model and age.

First the Atkins. 26” No. 53 which I’m dating sometime between 1907 and 1922.
As found:
It appears the previous owner took good care to keep the saw in reasonably good shape. Both the Atkins and Simonds came with this “guard system”. The flea market owner said that is how they came to him. The Atkins was as some point owned by Leo McTaggart.

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General condition good, brass nuts, floral carving, 11 ppi, filed crosscut. Etch is faint, but can make out the 53.
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My dating is based on looking through the 1895, 1906, 1919, 1923, and 1950 catalogs.
The No 53 in 1906 had a wheat carving on the handle. In 1919 the floral carving is shown. Also in 1919 it indicated brass nuts. The 1923 catalog listed nickle nuts. So I’m assuming sometime after the wheat carving and before the nickle nuts (1907-1922).

It has lost about 3/4” of the plate - the catalog indicates 7” at the butt, and 2 3/4” at the toe. This one is approximately 6 1/4” at the butt and 2” at the toe.

Don’t think I’ll do much with this one except for a very light cleaning and sharpening.

I also found it interesting that Atkins (and others) list these hand saws as “Hand”, “Rip”, and “Panel”. The term “Crosscut” was reserved for the larger lumber oriented saws.

Next up, the Simonds.

[Phil Mueller]

Here is the Simonds. Looking through the 1912, 1916, and ~1926 catalogs, I’m thinking it is a 10 1/2 based on the nut configuration and skew back, and from around 1915. The 1912 catalog shows the carved handle, the 1916 shows it without a carved handle. I also read somewhere that they stopped the half crescent medallion in 1914. So the carving and the medallion seem to align it with 1915 (?) (any input here is welcome!)

It is also in reasonable shape, came with the same “guard system”, although Leo McTaggart is not to be found. It’s 26”, 9 ppi, filed crosscut.

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The etch is very faint...maybe a little cleaning will bring it out.

I paid $18 for the two saws. I really don’t need more saws, but I just can’t walk away from a decent, low priced vintage saw.

By the way, who ever sharpened this seemed to love a lot of set.

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Well, maybe the project can come out the clamps now.

[Jim Koepke]

Here is the Simonds. Looking through the 1912, 1916, and ~1926 catalogs, I’m thinking it is a 10 1/2 based on the nut configuration and skew back, and from around 1915. The 1912 catalog shows the carved handle, the 1916 shows it without a carved handle. I also read somewhere that they stopped the half crescent medallion in 1914. So the carving and the medallion seem to align it with 1915 (?) (any input here is welcome!)

It is also in reasonable shape, came with the same “guard system”, although Leo McTaggart is not to be found. It’s 26”, 9 ppi, filed crosscut.

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The etch is very faint...maybe a little cleaning will bring it out.

I paid $18 for the two saws. I really don’t need more saws, but I just can’t walk away from a decent, low priced vintage saw.

By the way, who ever sharpened this seemed to love a lot of set.

390168

Well, maybe the project can come out the clamps now.

For some reason your attachments do not show.

jtk

[Phil Mueller]

Thanks Jim. I became a little photo upload challenged on this one...I think the thumbnails are now included.

[Jim Koepke]

I think the thumbnails are now included.

The Simonds saw does look to a bit over set. It may have been done for wet soft woods.

If you have a good machinist vise you can reduce the set.

jtk

[Nicholas Lawrence]

I have an Atkins very similar to yours. It is one of my favorite saws. I think you will enjoy it.

[Noah Magnuson]

I have a few (too many) of both. Be careful with the Atkins as the etches are generally very shallow and it takes almost nothing to make them disappear completely. I really like the Simonds(es) I have (a 5, couple of 62s and 72s). They just hang nicely for me and cut extremely well.

Good finds. Definitely a step up from the average flea mkt find and well worth the $18.