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Old Disston Saw

3K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  Lazyman 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Several years ago I found this old Disston saw at a yard sale in central Washington. Unlike the rest of you here, I'm not necessarily a wood worker, although I dabble some. The main reason that I bought this saw was because of it's tone. I play the musical saw. I could tell immediately when I picked it up, did that slight "S-bend", and tapped it with my knuckle that it had a clear, beautiful tone.

After I paid my $3.00 and brought it home, I took off the handle, did some very gentle rust removal, removed the old finish from the handle (once again, gently because I didn't want to remove any of the wheat patterns or change the shape) polished the brass hardware, and reassembled it with a fresh coat of satin clear on the wood.

Recently I learned that these saws only had brass hardware in the ones made pre-WWII. I just thought that some of you here would appreciate what it is. Comments are welcome.

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#5 ·
Nice find! That saw plate is in excellent condition for its age. I have acquired a number of hand saws and restore them. My two D-23s are very similar. Google the disstonian institute for dating of the saw medallions. I actually use saws like that frequently. Can't beat them for sizing rough lumber as you cut project parts from large or long boards.
Regards, The Kentucky Toolsmith!
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
Nice find! That saw plate is in excellent condition for its age. I have acquired a number of hand saws and restore them. My two D-23s are very similar. Google the disstonian institute for dating of the saw medallions. I actually use saws like that frequently. Can t beat them for sizing rough lumber as you cut project parts from large or long boards.
Regards, The Kentucky Toolsmith!

- KYtoolsmith
I took your advise and went to the web page you suggested. Between the model (D-23), the shape of the handle, and more precisely…the medallion, the saw was produced in 1940. The reason that it's so precise is because this particular medallion only appears on the 1940 Special handsaw that marked the 100th anniversary of the company. It measures 13/16" across, is brass instead of zinc coated steel, has the same side profile, and says U.S.A. instead of the city, which are all specific only to that series and year.

Could that have any bearing on it's value?
 
#8 ·
Ripper… i m curious.
Is there a particular sound a saw should make when sawing maple?
I m serious, almost want to go buy some maple to check.
Seriously.
Jon

I bet it sings though.

- MrWolfe
Nah. I was just making light of the fact that torx managed to steal a magnificent saw for all of three bucks and his only interest was how it worked as a musical instrument. I love the fact that he scored an 80 year old Disston, a saw that so many fellow LJ's would kill for, just so he could play music on it.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Nah. I was just making light of the fact that torx managed to steal a magnificent saw for all of three bucks and his only interest was how it worked as a musical instrument. I love the fact that he scored an 80 year old Disston, a saw that so many fellow LJ s would kill for, just so he could play music on it.

- Ripper70
Trust me, Ripper…I love the fact that I scored it as well. It just goes to show that the quality of a fine tool can resonate (pun intended) in more ways than it's intended purpose. Unfortunately, since the saw is presently being used as a musical instrument, it isn't sharp enough to use for "cutting through a slab of maple". I'm grateful for that considering the fact that, when playing it, it's wedged between my thighs with the business side just inches away from a very tender area. However, you can rest assured that I will never need to modify it in any way for it to be played. What I use it for will never spoil it. It will always remain as the fine, vintage tool that it is.
 
#12 ·
Well, heck torx. Then I'll have to second Candy's request for a command performance. I'd love to see and hear how a great ol' Disston resonates when in the hands of a master player!
 
#14 ·
Torx, In my opinion your saw is from the late 40s or early 50s, post WWII. The pre-WWII medallion does not have a rim with a half-round cross section like yours does, it has a quarter-round cross section. Also post-WWII hardware was brass for a time, it is just that some of it was plated so it did not look like brass until the plating wore off.

No Disston saw is worth that much unless it is pre-1896, as the Disstonian Institute states that ninety-percent of the Disston saws you will find are gong to be post 1896. Disston was the largest saw manufacturer in the world, and hand saws were most popular before the 1950s when cheap electric circular saws started to become affordable. The only exception to the rule are dovetail and back-saws and mitre saws which are much more uncommon than regular carpenter's hand saws, and very rare models of saws like the Acme 120, a special saw for cutting with zero-set through dry hardwood. The other thing that gives an old saw value is if it is in nice original condition. Any saw in nice original condition is always going to be worth more than one that has been "restored", that is no different than in any genre of collecting, furniture and automobile collectors would rather have nice original unrestored items instead of those that have needed complete rebuilds, coin collectors do not want coins someone polished etc…

I have about 150 hand saws, half or more of them are Disstons, most of them made from 1896 onwards as the website suggests. Even with the later 20th century saws the ones that are pre WW1 are worth more than later saws because their build quality is higher, and the pre-1940 saws with the "Phila" on the badge are better quality than the later saws with badges marked "USA".

What you paid for your saw is what most all Disston saws sell for at yard sales, estate-sales etc. anywhere between $0-$3. The later Disstons are so easy to find and there are so many of them that once a collector has a few of them they will usually not want to buy any more of them, especially at any sort of premium, the only saws they will pay a premium for are those dated from the 1840s through the 1880s, especially the Civil-War and earlier models.
 
#16 ·
+1 on gben's comments. Half of my woodworking hobby is restoring old tools for use. Hand saws are a big part of that. You would be surprized at how many woodworkers want a clean, well sharpened pre war Disston D-8, D-12 or even a post war D-23. In buying candidates for restoration, I occasionally find very old, very scarce, unique, or like new condition tools. These are never restored! They belong in collections or museums. It is important to not damage original finishes, factory grinds on blades or markings. These are the valued tools for the physical record. My home has become one of these museums! The restoration of tools starts with research to determine scarcity, condition, and the historic value of a tool. I cringe when I see rare tools that have a wire wheel and rattle can restoration being sold on flea bay for ridiculous prices. When I have a scarce tool I pass them to collectors instead of restoring for use.
OK! Enough of my digression rant!
Regards, The Kentucky Toolsmith!
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
The first half of my adult life I spent what seems like a large part of it at auctions. I was a woodworker back then too, but didn't have time for those old hand tools. Instead I was gung ho on burning electrons to get as much dust as possible, quickly.

I've slowed way down, and sadly auctions aren't what they once were. An opportunity to buy folks old items for a few bucks, and everyone was happy. Now I call them retail plus, because most of the bids zoom past retail so fast as to make your head spin, and for the most part, finds of old valuable items are now just a collection of junk.

I now have slowed, and can really appreciate the fine finishes, and crisp joinery some well used hand tools can deliver. Not to mention the satisfaction you get using them. Sadly hardly any old tools at auctions anymore. Still yet I have a pile of old saws from the few auctions I have attended with old tools. I still can't forget the table saw, and bandsaws I have, and how I don't have to kill myself to cut a board up. :)

I probably should sell off the handsaws…... :)
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Torx, In my opinion your saw is from the late 40s or early 50s, post WWII. The pre-WWII medallion does not have a rim with a half-round cross section like yours does, it has a quarter-round cross section. Also post-WWII hardware was brass for a time, it is just that some of it was plated so it did not look like brass until the plating wore off…
Thanks for the info. Since you posted this, I've gone back to the website to have another look and make more comparisons, and I see what you mean now. Its value isn't really that important to me…like I said, I just like the way that it plays. I wasn't deluded into thinking that I was sitting on some kind of expensive antique because I've already searched to see what these old saws sell for.

Anyway, It serves the purpose well for what I use it for, and at least it isn't just sitting around in a cluster of a bunch of other old stuff doing nothing now. It'll come out most weekends when I join my partners in our little bluegrass ensemble when we go make noise for local events.
 
#20 ·
I don't get the appeal of playing a saw. I tried playing a Milwaukee circular saw once. Lost three fingers on my left hand before I squeaked out a single note. I'm done trying to make music with woodworking tools.
 
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