Question about a Tyzack saw

Re: Question about a Tyzack saw

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>I have a split nut Tyzack 12" back saw. I think from your description that mine may be contemporary with yours. I would be glad to meet you and show you the saw and let you get the specifics to make a handle.

I personally think the handle on my saw is the most comfortable handle I own. You will like it too I bet.

Just let me know where and when you can free up some time.JR

Mark Meier's beagle head saw

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I think Mark Meier's posting of his beagle head saw handle was back on Badger Pond. One of the finest saw handles I've ever seen. I'm not sure if it's in the BP articles; you might have to go to the BP archives CD for it.

Anyway, if you decide to get creative, don't limit yourself to panthers - figure out your own totem animal (or plant, I suppose).

Bill, picturing an Art Nouveau saw handle, all swirly vines, and wondering if he coud justify it on any of his saws...

I know you like to make your own...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>But, I have a extra newish handle for that saw laying around. If'in you want it let me know...

Re: Question about a Tyzack saw

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Just reread your post. My saw is a closed handle model. You are still welcome to copy it if it pleases you.JR

Heres a couple old ones

Todd Hughes

>Been a pretty good week for me finding nice old saws, heres is a back saw made by Barber & Gen a english maker that worked from 1797-1817. Haven't cleaned it up yet but looks to be in very nice condition with a near perfect handle.Got it at the flea market for $15 which I thought was surprisingly high...but i bought it anyway. The other is a Disston no. 7 from the 1840s, according to the Disstonia institute it has the earliest medalion. Found it today in a very OLD looking tool chest.Pulled it and some chisels out and got the bunch for the minimal bid of $10.Is in excellent condition with no pitting , perfect handle and nib and a great stamp with Disston in a wavy banner.Steel has a pleasing blue color ...neat saw.I sort of thought about sending it down the ebay road but think I have talked myself into keeping it.......Todd

one more

Todd Hughes

>Went to a Steam and Gas engine show last Friday, a guy I sort of know was set up selling tools.Liked to fell over when I saw this saw. This guy might have known to put $1,700 on his no.9 but he sure don't know nothing about saws as he had this one tagged at $10 !....does have a bit of rusting on the blade so maybe that lowered the price some didn't bother me though i did think a second about using it to get him down to $7 [but didn't]. Is marked on the back Dilworth Branson & Co which was a philadelphia hardware store from 1844-58. I really like this type of handle and have a few saws with it but I sure don't see many.All are philadelphia saws from about this time period so don't know if it is a regional thing or not....Todd

Re: Question about a Tyzack saw

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Joe,

It'd be fun to get together and look at saws and the handles especially. Shift work results in crazy hours and I'm on nights right now (It's sort of like 9 AM to me - got a couple of cups of coffee and the brain is starting to click - the whole morning routine at the wrong time of the day thing.) But I'm off the next couple of weekends. My wife generally works on Sunday. Email me and let me know what you want to do.

I think the point Adam is trying to make to me (and I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong) is that handle geometry varied according to the job the saw was doing with emphasis on directing the force most efficiently. (Of course the implication is that modern saw handles don't do that as well) I suspect that he's also saying that after assembly line saw construction handles started being made as a "one size fits all" sort of thing. Not that modern saw handles won't work, only that they are less efficient and less comfortable. At least that's my interpretation of what I *think* Adam told me.

Ideally I'd like to see the type of handle Tyzack used and make one close to it and see if I can figure out what type of handle Adam's hypothetical saw user of 150 or 200 years ago would have put on it. Then compare the two in use to see and feel the difference.

Skip

Re: Mark Meier's beagle head saw

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Bill,

I suppose that with my perverted sense of humor I could just see someone advertising on eBay a few years into the future: "Rare! Disston protoype made to compete with ...........", with further elaboration and pontification about same. Seeing that the Panther Head on eBay went for $950.00 a few days ago..... hmmmm. No, I wouldn't do that! :)

I've seen the beagle head saw handle a couple of times - but that was before I became obsess....., er, um, *interested* in saw handles. I might make one Panther head just for fun. Totem animal......., hummm, ferret headed saw? Weasel headed saw? Well, it doesn't have that much of a ring to it - but it does have possibilities. And don't even bring up plants - my wife loves them all - I have no idea what would come of that! :)

Skip

Re: I know you like to make your own...

Skip in Falls Church

>I know you like to make your own...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA -- Wednesday, 13 July 2005, at 4:49 p.m.

But, I have a extra newish handle for that saw laying around. If'in you want it let me know...

Hi Scott,

Yes, I like to make my own but I do appreciate the offer immensely. If it's an open handle *and* if you wouldn't mind what I would like is a tracing or (what I do a lot) is a copy made on a copy machine. I'd really like to use the same saw to compare the "modern" handle with the "premodern" handle - preferably on the same saw just to see the difference.

Thanks,

Skip

Cat head?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>No, it can't be a cat head, because cats do whatever they feel like doing, and you want your saw to be more obedient to direction. Also, they don't leave a smooth surface behind (as the saying goes, cats are God's way of telling you not to care so much about the furniture).

Re: one more

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Todd,

Wow! What really great saws! Thanks for putting up the pictures. The handles are something I can analyze a bit as well. One thing I have noticed is that older back saws appear to have grips with a more vertical orientation than modern ones. From the picture that seems to be true of the old Disston as well.

Thanks,

Skip

Re: Cat head?

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>How about a cat head with a green [expletive deleted] in its mouth? Maybe that's why I never could teach any of mine to "play catch"?

Re: Question about a Tyzack saw

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>I'll e-mail you about a time but the next 2 weekends are very bad wrt any fun time for me:-(

I will let you know when I can get together with you as soon as I check with SWMBO.JR

Awww man...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>It's a closed handle. I can still trace it and send you a copy if you would still like.

Let me know...

Re: Question about a Tyzack saw

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Joe,

Well, the weekend of the 24th suddenly started looking not so good for me. Although I will be off most of the following week - I start back on nights on the 29th. I guess we can figure it out in email. :)

Skip

Re: Awww man...

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Scott,

Well, what the heck - call it another data point. If you don't mind send me a copy.

Thanks,

Skip