Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Bishop Saw

  1. 03-10-2018, 7:28 AM #1
    Brandon Speaks
    Brandon Speaks is offline [OP] Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Forest Lake MN
    Posts
    340

    Bishop Saw

    Hi Guys,

    Just wanted a quick opinion on Bishop saws. I have been looking for a thumb hole rip saw in 5 or 5.5 for a bit and have had trouble finding one. I have had mixed results with ebay saws and all the ones I have bid on are going higher than I want to pay. I wandered into an antique shop yesterday with my wife while waiting for a table at a restaurant next door and found a Bishop saw that seems to check all the boxes for what I need. Saw plate is clean and in good shape, tooth line is dead straight and teeth all look good. It seems reasonably sharp although I will certainly sharpen it, should not have to do any reshaping though. Handle is very solid and in really good shape. It is marked a bit higher but I know based on negotiating with this shop before that I can have it for about $60. More than I wanted to pay, but on the other hand just having to do a quick sharpen and then using it with no more work is worth something.

    I probably would have bought it last night but I didnt want to take it in to the restaurant with me, so now I have to decide if I am going back today to get it. The trouble is I really know very little about Bishop saws even though I did try and research a bit, the medallion shows it being from Cincinnati, I am not 100% sure if this dates it before they moved to Indiana in 1899 or so or not, but either way they only produced to about 1920. I have found a couple references to them being a more brittle saw plate although all seem to really be referencing back to a post here where a guy mentioned that "old timers in southern Ohio" said they were slightly more brittle than disston. That guy happened to love Bishop saws though.

    Anyway if any of you have any experience with Bishops as a user please let me know, otherwise I am tempted to wander back down there around lunch time and pick it up.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 03-10-2018, 7:53 AM #2
    Gerald Schram
    Gerald Schram is offline Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    N Illionis
    Posts
    49
    brandon i have a rip and a cc hand saws made by george bishop i like them very much. they sharpen well and stay sharp a long time for me anyway. i think disston bought them out at some point. jerry
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 03-10-2018, 8:26 AM #3
    Stanley Covington
    Stanley Covington is offline Guest
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    1,550
    I have a couple of GWB's backsaws. Excellent saws. The steel is great, the plates run true in the cut, the handles are very nice and the logo is cool. I have 20 or so Disstons, but the Bishop's have a special place in my toolchest.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 03-10-2018, 9:45 AM #4
    Phil Mueller's Avatar
    Phil Mueller
    Phil Mueller is offline Friend of the Creek
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    3,225
    I have one Bishop backsaw. Sharpened to perfection by Mike Allen. It’s now my go to. Excellent saw.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 03-10-2018, 10:48 AM #5
    Jim Koepke's Avatar
    Jim Koepke
    Jim Koepke is offline Contributor
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Longview WA
    Posts
    27,453
    Blog Entries
    1
    My only Bishop saw is a #10, a dual edged saw with a spine. It is a good saw.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 03-10-2018, 2:13 PM #6
    Brandon Speaks
    Brandon Speaks is offline [OP] Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Forest Lake MN
    Posts
    340
    Well I got the saw, at even a little better discount than I thought.





    Seems to cut ok as is, will be sharpening it and putting it to work this afternoon though.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 03-10-2018, 2:28 PM #7
    Pete Taran's Avatar
    Pete Taran
    Pete Taran is offline Contributor
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Broadview Heights, OH
    Posts
    714
    The aftermarket wheat carving is interesting.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 03-11-2018, 2:52 PM #8
    Brandon Speaks
    Brandon Speaks is offline [OP] Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Forest Lake MN
    Posts
    340
    Well it took a bit more tooth shaping than I thought but is now very sharp and cutting well. I try to keep most saw purchases under $20 but I think this one was worth the bit extra.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 03-11-2018, 8:53 PM #9
    Joe Bailey's Avatar
    Joe Bailey
    Joe Bailey is offline Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    635
    Bishop saws don't seem to get the respect they deserve.
    Worse still, there's a dearth of information regarding models, manufacture, etc. -- when compared to Disston, Atkins or Simonds.

    And now, a gratuitous pic of the handle of my Geo Bishop B 80 (check the figure in the closeup)

    GB 013.jpgGB 036.jpg
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 03-11-2018, 9:01 PM #10
    steven c newman's Avatar
    steven c newman
    steven c newman is online now Contributor
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    twomiles from the "peak of Ohio
    Posts
    12,181
    IMAG0215.jpgIMAG0214.jpg
    Had one of Bishop's Panel saws come through the shop...maybe 3 years ago...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 03-11-2018, 9:32 PM #11
    Jon Wolfe's Avatar
    Jon Wolfe
    Jon Wolfe is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas
    Posts
    48
    I've only started acquiring old hand tools. I intend to use them.
    My first handsaw is     a Geo H. Bishop adjustable back saw/tenon saw. You can change the height of the "back" which is really a split bar with a bolt that lets you set a depth stop for dados and tenons. I had never seen one before. Going to restore it and try my hand at sharpening.


    Geo H Bishop adjustable tenon saw.jpg
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 03-11-2018, 10:16 PM #12
    Stanley Covington
    Stanley Covington is offline Guest
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    1,550
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Wolfe View Post
    I've only started acquiring old hand tools. I intend to use them.
    My first handsaw is     a Geo H. Bishop adjustable back saw/tenon saw. You can change the height of the "back" which is really a split bar with a bolt that lets you set a depth stop for dados and tenons. I had never seen one before. Going to restore it and try my hand at sharpening.


    Geo H Bishop adjustable tenon saw.jpg
    I have one exactly like it. Does anyone ever use theirs?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules