Age of Disston saw?

IronSpike · Sep 2, 2009

I've seen saw medallions posted and ID'ed here before :icon_thumright:

Yesterday I found my first one and the ID was kind of easy

My question is if it's possible to narrow down the age of saw, which doesn't appear possible based on medallion only?

Found a good link on the D-8 Disston saws:

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/d8page.html

It measures 26" and has 10 saw teeth per inch.

johnnyi · Sep 2, 2009

Spike, I'll bet there is a way, as this is such a collectable saw company. At any rate, your saw seems to be a model made between 1896 and 1917.
http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/medezguide.html

Woodland Detectors · Sep 2, 2009

Kenn, For some reason, I like those medallions. I have found a few and, the one you have , if I'm not mistaken is an older one. Mr. Disston was very proud of his works. They made duplicate medallions but, he didn't want his name on them if they were not a reputable saw. Disston, Made replacement's (medallions) like the ones with eagles on them W/o his name for other co's. Cool find!

IronSpike · Sep 2, 2009

Thanks for the link and ID johnnyi :icon_thumright:

The medallion was the key after all :wink:

You're right Mike the medallions are cool and I remember the eagle designs posted on here. Always thought they would be cool to find, but had no idea I would end up finding the entire saw

Bigcypresshunter · Sep 2, 2009

Here is the patent.

johnnyi · Sep 2, 2009

Bigcy, although your's isn't the patent for Irons spike's saw, the patents can occasionally be a way to date one even closer if you know the maker. In this particular case it appears the patent is for the interlocking screw, not the pattern itself, so dependig on a pattern here may not help much. The year spread is short enough now however, to date it positively from a catalogue.

Bigcypresshunter · Sep 2, 2009

johnnyi said:
Bigcy, although your's isn't the patent for Irons spike's saw, the patents can occasionally be a way to date one even closer if you know the maker. In this particular case it appears the patent is for the interlocking screw, not the pattern itself, so dependig on a pattern here may not help much. The year spread is short enough now however, to date it positively from a catalogue.

No it is no help in the ID. The green check is up. We have had many of these medallions posted here. As you have noticed, it is the patent for the interlocking saw medallion screw only. We dont know if the pattern was patented. I just thought it was related and of interest.

Great medallion link you posted.. :icon_thumright:

I have another somewhere in my files.

johnnyi · Sep 2, 2009

"No it is no help in the ID. The green check is up. Im glad you notice it is for the interlocking saw medallion screw. We dont know if the pattern was patented. I just thought it was related and of interest."

I'd doubt very much that the pattern itself was patented. Only the screw was. There was really nothing new in the design except screw placement, and probably number of teeth, neither which would demand any patent.

mojjax · Sep 2, 2009

the saw looks like it might be a Disston No. 120 Acme (Skew Back)

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/acmepage.html

johnnyi · Sep 2, 2009

mojjax, great identification of the name of the design. You've just confirmed what I suspected; that the dating was correct (1896-1917) for Ironspikes saw. What ever saw styles that went into manufacture before that date and continued beyond that date would still be specific to 1896-1917 due to the particular screw design logo.

Bigcypresshunter · Sep 2, 2009

mojjax said:
the saw looks like it might be a Disston No. 120 Acme (Skew Back)

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/acmepage.html

I think you got it. Its a Disston 26" Acme Cross Cut saw. (10 pts./inch) I dont know if it can be dated any better than Johnnyi's date range because every year made 26" Acme crosscuts.

This saw blade is used with no tooth set. My Dad was a carpenter and he explained "set" to me. Its when the teeth are bent slightly to the left and right. Does your teeth have any "set" Ironspike?

"Warranted to run without set in dry seasoned lumber only and is not for general use. Being very hard, any attempt to set may break the teeth." "An Acme 120 saw being found today with the proper filing is rare. The special files have been out of production for several decades, and the saws nearly always have been filed conventionally."