Vintage Handsaws

[cderalow]

Was digging through the attic over our garage and found a box of what I have to assume is my grandfather-in-law's tools. Amongst them are a half dozen old handsaws, all in serious need of TLC. used the WD40/razor blade method to reveal the etches to figure out what I was looking at.

Disston #7

Simonds #10

My guess is three of them are pre-WWII, which might mean they owned by a generation even older than my GIL. I figure I'll spend some time restoring the blades at least, then maybe hold on to one or two and sell the others.

There's what I think is a 1960's era Craftsman in there as well with a plastic handle.

 

[Packard V8]

They're definitely older than most. The condition of the handles are as important as the condition of the saw. I'd put them on eBay and let the collectors tell you what they're worth. A few of those nutso guys own thousands of saws!

jack vines

 

[cderalow]

You can age the Disstons by examining the medallion on the handle.

Check here: http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/medv2.html

I've also found a Simonds historian too. Seems that one is a pre-WWI item potentially.

 

[ZRX61]

Friend of mine restores these, some are worth BIG $$$$$ so be careful what ya do to them

 

[cderalow]

Friend of mine restores these, some are worth BIG $$$$$ so be careful what ya do to them

care to PM me his info?

I used minimal force to find the etchings with WD40, but I'd rather sell to someone who'll restore them properly and let them deal with beyond that.

I honestly have no need for them beyond the old school factor. still sorting through the rest of the stuff in said box including a couple of draw knives.

 

[ZRX61]

PM me your email addy & I'll have him contact you

 

[Jagmandave]

Good link on the Disston saws, I always learn something here!

My great grandfather built homes for a living, and I have his old hand made tool chest which I am rebuilding, the bottom got water damaged so I'm replacing those boards, but the rest was in "well used" condition and will simply get cleaned up and a new coat of black paint. I remember my father using it, and I remember it was full of old tools, saws, planes, bit braces and a number of things I haven't quite figured out the use of yet.

Once I get the box back together I'm going to start looking closely at the rest of the tools, this thread has sparked my interest. I don't know if the saws in the box were from my great grandfather's era or my father's. My grandfather was a victim of poison gas in WWI so he never used the box as an adult, and simply passed it on to my father. It will be interesting to see what all turns up!

I doubt I'll pass sit along to my son, he's into cars like me but not so much into wood and home repairs, I doubt he'd appreciate it as I do. No knock on him, he's just into other things.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I have about a dozen old handsaws - Disston, Simonds, and Keen Kutters. For some reason at the auto swap meets around here there's always one or two old saws for sale, and they always seem to be selling for a couple bucks a piece. They are good to have around, if I have to cut a piece of wood it takes less time to use one of them instead of digging out a power saw and finding a place to plug it in.

 

[Outlawmws]

Before you sell them off, you might want to consider what these might mean to your son. Having his G'G'grandfathers tools might be something he'd appreciate some day...

 

[cderalow]

Before you sell them off, you might want to consider what these might mean to your son. Having his G'G'grandfathers tools might be something he'd appreciate some day...

plenty of those all ready in my possession that have passed along from father-son through 4 generations all ready (I've got some of my great grandpa's snap on stuff from the 1920's that I don't use).

the saws are interesting to me in their origins, but not for use. I'll probably keep one of them, and let the rest go.