Sorry that it has been awhile since my last blog.
I had some fun when I stumbled onto a couple of handsaws while traveling. Barb and I had the opportunity to do a little antiquing in Michigan this week. I was attending a continuing education class for my work as a pastor and in our free time we visited some antique shops in the Traverse City area. When I spotted the Disston D12 with an intact handle and decent blade, I got excited. You see the distinctive handle on the D12 and the professional quality of these tools continues to have great appeal to many woodworkers, including me. This one was made after World War II based on some quick research. One of the characteristics of that saw production is that it sports nickel plated brass saw nuts. At another shop I found a Disston D8 saw with an intact handle and plenty of steel left in the blade. As you can see, both saws have five saw nuts holding the handle onto the saw blade or plate and the handles are also made of apple wood. A great resource on the identification of Disston handsaws can be found here: http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/quickglance.html
The good part for me is that these saws were affordable and are without condition issues so they can be restored to workable condition. Here are some pictures of the saws. One of the saws, the D12, has an etch that is still visible and some wheat carving on the handle. I’ll make another post when I’ve had the chance to clean the blades, refinish the handles, and sharpen the teeth. Thanks for looking!