Backsaw Question

[Joel Goodman]

I'm looking at an old Disston D4 Backsaw and the depth of cut is greater at the heel than at the toe by about 3/8"--- another way of saying this is the back is not level. Is this a problem -- should this be fixed? Is this a reason to avoid this saw?

Thanks.

[Johnny Kleso]

The saw just needs the back knocked up off the blade some..

The blades do not fit to the bottom of the back and over time get loose or get knocked out of location..

[Don C Peterson]

There are a couple reasons this could happen, the easiest to fix is the scenario that Johnny mentioned, if that's the issue it's a very easy fix. The other possibility is that it's a sharpening issue and the blade has been filed down more at the toe than the heel. In this case you could re-joint and file the saw or just knock the toe out of the back a bit, or you could just leave it alone. If I'm not mistaken, some backsaws are intentionally made that way, so I don't think it's a "problem" regardless of the exact cause.

I certainly wouldn't eliminate an otherwise good saw from consideration because of this.

[Ray Gardiner]

Hi Joel,

I did a write up on this see:- http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=77

Regards
Ray

[Johnny Kleso]

Ray,

Thats pretty intresting, I never knew anyone made tapered blades and it enlightened me..

I do own several old Disstons, 3-4 as old as 1840-1860 and non have a tapered blade..

Thinking more I guess Joel's could have been ill jointed a few times as well has moved...

Here are most of my back saws only two are not Disstons one 16" Simmonds and one 10" open toted McCleand?(Panther Saw Maker)

http://stanleytools.home.comcast.net/saw/saw-1.jpg

http://stanleytools.home.comcast.net/saw/saw-2.jpg

http://stanleytools.home.comcast.net/saw/saw-3.jpg

http://stanleytools.home.comcast.net/saw/saw-4.jpg

http://stanleytools.home.comcast.net/saw/saw-5.jpg

Sorry for bad pics I should have used tripod :(

The one saw I refinished needs the back knoked tight at back as you can see 3/8" gap in handle where it should be..
The open toted saw is also tapered but might have been made than way as your artical stated :)

[Joel Goodman]

Thanks for all the information!

[Ray Gardiner]

Hi Johnny,

Beautiful collection of Disston's, I'm not sure but I don't think Disston ever made tapered backsaws. (maybe a disston expert can help here).

One thing that I get confused about is how do you tell a Number 4 from a Number 77. (apart from measuring blade thickness). It seems there were Number 4's with the bump in the handle as well as the 77's

Regards
Ray.

[Johnny Kleso]

Ray,
Form what I know I think the 77 Machanic's Backsaw has no tooth set, like a Acme 120 saw..

I am guessing it could have set added over the years also for sharpeners not knowing it should have no set...

All you can really do is hope for a faint etch to read..

[Ray Gardiner]

Ray,
Form what I know I think the 77 Machanic's Backsaw has no tooth set, like a Acme 120 saw..

I am guessing it could have set added over the years also for sharpeners not knowing it should have no set...

All you can really do is hope for a faint etch to read..

I have one with the tapered (thickness) blade, but the etch is long gone.
there doesn't seem to be much info around on them, have you checked the
blade thickness on any of yours.

Regards
Ray

[Don C Peterson]

Ray, that's an interesting article, but I suspect that the biggest reason that this was done was for marketing. Let's not forget that marketing-speak is not a 20th century invention. I've used saws with and without a taper and it doesn't seem to make any difference at all.