Disston Backsaws

Backsaws have two uses, to cut joints and to cut in a miterbox. Backsaws for joinery are smaller than saws meant to be used in a miterbox. Disston made their basic model No. 4 for the entire history of the company. The No. 4 changed little, except for the handle becoming boxier and changing from applewood to beech sometime in the 1930's. Handles for miterbox saws started to change over to beech sometime before that, while still retaining a graceful shape until all the backsaw handles became plain and somewhat ugly by the late 1940's.

Disston offered backsaws in lengths from 8 to 18 inches, with the 8 and 10 inch saws having a thinner gauge blade and two sawnuts on the handle. Saws 12 inches and over had three sawnuts, including the medallion. While not marketed as such, the 8 and 10 inch saws make respectable dovetail saws when filed with 14-point rip teeth. Disston also sold proper dovetail saws with 26-gauge steel, models 68, 70, and 71.

	These photos show changes in the stampings on Disston backsaws over time. This backsaw is one of the earliest and features eagles flanking the Disston name.
	This example is also from the pre-civil war era. This particular saw was probably made in the late 1840's or early 1850's, but stamps on the spine of most early backsaws look like this.
	Disston and Son stamps appear on backsaws manufacuted between 1865 and 1871, the time when Hamilton Disston was in partnership with his father.
	This logo is found on backsaws produced after 1871 until about the turn of the 20th century. During the 1870's and early 1880's, Hamilton Disston's four younger brothers joined in the family partnership. Disston and Sons became a corporation in 1886.
	This logo is stamped on early 20th century backsaws. Backsaws started appearing without stamps on the spine sometime in the 1940's.

Backsaws can be filed either crosscut or rip, depending on the sort of work being done. Miterbox saws naturally are filed crosscut. Disston did not sell the miterboxes, but sold their saws to Stanley, Millers Falls, Goodell-Pratt, and others to be marketed with those companies' miterboxes. The first saw shown below is a 26" long saw with 4" under the back. The monster below it is 30" long and fits a 6" miterbox.

This unusual saw has an eagle medallion, putting in the 1840 to 1865 era, most likely 1850's. The handle is similar to the No. 8 half-back saw, another oddity.

The No. 8 half-back saw was a hybrid design. It was a bench saw designed for cabinetmakers and other woodworkers requiring the accuracy of a backsaw with the depth of cut and pointed toe of a short panel saw. The blade on this example looks too short to be original to the saw. The No. 8 model was made in lengths of 14 to 20 inches, according to catalogs. The No. 8 is rarely found, despite being manufactured from the 1870's, or possibly earlier, until the early 1920's.

Here is a Cresson half-back saw, strikingly similar to the Disston model No. 8. Cresson was a Philadelphia saw manufacturer in business until 1862. It appears Cresson made the half-back saw before Disston. I have not found evidence that the Cresson factory was bought by Disston, thereby enabling Disston to inherit the saw's design. On the other hand, there are no patents associated with the design, so nothing would have prevented any saw manufacturer from using the design.

The No. 9 backsaw was designed for cutting in tight spaces where the end of the spine would interfere with the work. You could call it a four-fifths backsaw.

The handle also features a hollow area for the thumb. This would not be useful to a left-handed sawyer. This is a collectable saw, because it's not commonly found. This particular example was manufactured in Toronto. The medallion reads "Disston Canada".

This handle is typical for a 12 to 18 inch Disston backsaw. Actually this one was manufactured by Disston for E.C. Simmons and is labeled "Keen Kutter" with chromed hardware, but the apple handle is a good example of Disston's quality before WWII. Compare the detail and ergonomic shape of this to the boxy handle from the 1940's and later.

	This turn-of-the-century oddity shows up often. The backwards name stamp "Henry Disston and Snos" is too common to have been an April Fools Day prank. Disston must have used the faulty stamping die for a significant length of time, based on the number of them in existance.
This is the etch from the 1940's backsaw. Most older backsaws are not found with an etch. Perhaps the etches were done lightly because of the thinner gauge of the steel, thereby making them more subject to wear and disintegration from surface rusting. Just a theory.

Crucible Steel Blade, Apple Handle, Polished Edge, Steel Back. The following prices are for saws measured the full length of the blade. The peculiar shape of butt or heel in these saws makes the toothed edge about 2 inches shorter than the full length of the blade. Mitre-Box Saws are regularly made 11 points to the inch.

Information taken from Disston 1918 catalog:

Disston Back Saw, No. 4

Crucible Steel, Apple Handle, Polished Edge, Brass Screws, Blued Back.
Made with Rip Teeth when specially ordered at the same price.

8	10	12	14	16	18	inches
$13.00	14.00	16.00	18.00	20.00	22.00	per dozen

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No. 5. With Brass Back.

8	10	12	14	16	18	inches
$18.00	19.00	21.00	23.00	26.00	30.00	per dozen

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No. 7. With Polished Steel Back.

8	10	12	14	16	18	inches
$14.00	15.00	17.00	19.00	21.00	23.00	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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Disston Mitre-Box Saw, No. 4

Crucible Steel Blade, Apple Handle, Polished Edge, Brass Screws, Blued Back. The following prices are for saws measured the full length of the blade. The peculiar shape of butt or heel in these saws makes the toothed edge about 2 inches shorter than the full length of the blade. Mitre-Box Saws are regularly made 11 points to the inch, 19 gauge in thickness.

	4	5	6	inches under back
20 inches	$24.00			price per dozen
22	26.00	28.50	31.00
24	28.00	31.00	34.00
26	30.00	33.50	37.00
28	32.00	36.00	40.00
30	34.00	38.50	43.00
32	36.00	41.00	46.00

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Half-Back Bench Saw, No. 8
Brass Back

Apple Handle, Polished Edge, Brass Screws, Brass Back. Combining the advantages of a Hand Saw and a Back Saw.

14	16	18	20	inches
$18.00	21.00	24.00	27.00	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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Improved Back Saw, No. 9

10	12	14	16	18	inches
14.50	16.50	18.50	20.50	22.50	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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Trade mark Registered U.S. Patent Office.

"Jackson" Backsaw, No. 1

Beech Handle, Polished, Blued Back.

8	10	12	14	16	18	inches
$9.00	10.00	12.00	14.00	16.00	18.00	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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"Davis" Back Saw, No. 0

Beech Handle, Polished Edge, 10 and 12-inch made with open Handle, 14-inch with closed Handle. All sizes made 12 point only.

10	12	14	inches
$8.00	9.00	10.00	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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Back Saw, No. 14

Nickel-Plated Lever Tightener and Wing Nut
Patented Jan. 27, 1914

Cherry Handle, Carved and Polished. Disston Crucible Steel blade. Warranted. One edge toothed 9 points for cutting with the grain; the other, 13 points, for cross-cutting. The slotted, heavy steel back, by means of the wing nut and lever tightener is quickly adjusted to cut any special depth required. Adapted for tenoning, shouldering, dovetailing, cog cutting, or any purpose where a definite depth of cut is desired.

8 x 3	10 x 3	12 x 3 1/2	14 x 3 3/4	16 x 4 3/8	inches
14.50	15.50	17.25	19.00	20.75	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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"MECHANICS' OWN" Back Saw, No. 77
To Run Without Set

These Saws are particularly adapted for fine cabinet work, sawing mitres, and where rapid and smooth cutting is required the use of a plane can he dispensed with, as they will cut a joint sufficiently smooth to glue without planing. Regularly made 8 points to the inch, except for about 1 1/4" at the front where the teeth are 12 points to the inch. In filing use a 4 1/2-inch slim taper file.

8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	inches
$16.00	18.00	20.00	22.00	25.00	28.00	31.00	34.00	37.00	40.00	per dozen

Packed one-third dozen in box.

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Information taken from Disston 1923 catalog:

Page layout is same as the 1918 catalog and prices are same as the 1911 catalog.

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Information taken from Disston 1932 catalog:

No. 4 Back Saw

The Disston No. 4 Back Saw has been improved with an extra heavy bright steel back to give greater stiffness to the blade and bold the teeth in the cut.

The back and blade extend well into the handle, which brings the hand close to the work and gives perfect control when sawing.

For cabinet work, cutting mitres, grooves, mortises, moldings and other small work requiring accuracy, the Disston No. 4 is the best back saw made.

The Disston steel blade, which is hardened and tempered, has carefully filed, sharp teeth which will cut cross grain, rip or mitre. The shorter the blade, the finer the teeth.

Beechwood handle. weatherproof finish; fastened to blade with brass screws, one of which is embossed.

Length of Blade	Width under Back	Thickness Gauge	Points to Inch	Screws	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
8 inches	2 1/4 inches	23	16	2	10 lbs.	$28.45
10	2 1/2	22	15	2	13 lbs.	30.40
12	3	22	14	3	18 lbs.	34.20
14	3 1/2	22	13	3	22 lbs.	38.05
16	3 7/8	21	12	3	26 lbs.	42.85

Packed 1/3 dozen in box.

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No. 4 Mitre-Box Saw

The Disston No. 4 Mitre-Box Saw is a high grade tool in every respect-the best mitering saw made. All lengths and widths are made 11 points to the inch. Blade rests deep in handle, which, in addition to the stiff back, supports the blade and assures a smooth, clean-cut mitre. Blade of Disston steel; heavy steel back; bright polished. Beechwood handle, weatherproof finish; brass screws, one embossed.

Width of Blade, 4 inches under back

Length of Blade	Number of Screws in handle	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
18 inches	3	32 1/2 lbs.	$45.00
20 inches	3	36 3/4 lbs.	52.20
22 inches	3	40 1/2 lbs.	56.10
24 inches	3	45 1/4 lbs.	60.60
26 inches	3	48 lbs.	65.10

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Width of Blade, 5 inches under back

Length of Blade	Number of Screws in handle	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
28 inches	4	57 1/2 lbs.	$75.90
30 inches	4	61 1/2 lbs.	83.10

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Width of Blade, 6 inches under back

Length of Blade	Number of Screws in handle	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
30 inches	4	65 3/4 lbs.	94.00

Packed, l/12 dozen in box.

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No. 1 Back Saw

The No. 1 Jackson Back Saw is used for mitering, tenoning, dovetailing and all small work. Blade of special steel; stiff, blued back; set and sharpened. Closed hardwood handle; varnished edges.

Length of Blade	Width under Back	Thickness Gauge	Points to Inch	Screws	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
8 inches	2 inches	22	12	2	8 1/3 lbs.	$19.50
10	2 1/4	22	12	2	10 lbs.	21.60
12	2 3/4	22	12	3	12 3/4 lbs.	25.70
14	3 1/4	21	12	3	15 3/4 lbs.	30.00
16	3 3/4	21	11	3	22 lbs.	34.20

Packed 1/3 dozen in box.

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No. 0 Back Saw

The No. 0 Davis Back Saw has special steel blade which is supported by a stiff, black-finished back. The teeth are carefully set and sharpened, 12 points to the inch. Hardwood handles with varnished edges. The 10-inch length has open handle, fastened to blade with two screws; 12-inch and 14-inch lengths have closed handles, fastened to blade with three screws.

Length of Blade	Width under Back	Thickness Gauge	Points to Inch	Screws	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
10	2 1/4	22	12	2	9 3/4 lbs.	17.70
12	2 3/4	22	12	3	12 1/2 lbs.	19.90
14	3 1/4	21	12	3	15 3/4 lbs.	21.60

Packed 1/3 dozen in box.

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No. 14 Back Saw

The Disston No. 14 Back Saw is toothed on both edges; used for tenoning, dovetailing, patternmaking, etc. Depth of cut is regulated by heavy steel movable back. Blade of Disston steel -- one edge toothed 13 points for crosscutting; other edge, 9 points for ripping. Cherrywood handle, weatherproof finish; screw, cluster bolt and wing nut nickel-plated.

Length of Blade	Width of Blade	Weight per dozen	Price per dozen
12 inches	3 1/2 inches	18 lbs.	$37.50

Packed 1/3 dozen in box.

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