First- here is a video of the saw being used and showing the toothline.
The Idea:
Leave a section of the toe without teeth. Two benefits...the saw starts very smoothly with very little chance for chatter, if the layout line is marked with a knife and square, the chance of a square cut is very good.
This was not my idea. I saw it on the Glen-Drake joinery saw. It is being utilized differently on his saw but the idea is the same.
What do you guys think? I didn't know what to expect before building the saw- now, I really like it. I don't struggle to start a saw smoothly but I like knowing that my first cut is perfectly square to the face and full width.