Saw ethics

Re: OK...I give up! What's a nicker?

Marv

>It's commonly referred to as a NIB, why? Who knows...Now if the designers of saws meant it to be used to start a cut wouldn't you think, from a practical stand point that they would have made it so it would actually slice the fibers of the wood instead of just ripping through it? Seeing many many saws with a NIB, it is obvious to me that there was no definitive standard that they used to file it's shape. There's no two that are the same. Some are so flimsey you have to wonder why they didn't just fall off. Others are much bigger and rounded off to the extent that there is no way you can start a cut in cross grain. Ripping, it might work ok because it is going to find a soft spot. But the soft spot might not be precisely where you want to start the cut. If the makers of saws really wanted it for that purpose don't you think they would have just filed in a small tooth or two? And if it is such a great idea why didn't they put it on all their saws? Starting in 1928 Disston stopped putting them on their saws altogether. Atkins never put them on their saws. Simonds used it because they were just trying to compete with Disston. Atkins no doubt considered it a waste of good labor. In my opinion they are a silly looking thing and useless, just one more thing that can be easily damaged and effect the value of an old collectible saw.

Ok, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Marv

My theory is...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>that Henry Disston was truly prescient and foresaw the day when people would be arguing about minor features of his saws, so put the nib on to generate questions about its use.

I think the modern purpose of a nib is to make it easier to spot possibly interesting saws quickly at garage sales.

They're also kind of graceful looking. Not everything needs a function.

Re: Curious

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>Just my speculation on the subject, but I think the nib was nothing more then a decoration/sales gimmick. My contention is that if it was intended to be a kerf starter than why put way out on the this, floppy end of the blade instead of up near the handle where the user would have more control when making the notch?

Ahhhhhhhh well, who knows, but either way, the saw painters love 'em as they make an ideal place to put the chimney of the log cabin.

T.O.

Re: Curious

MikeW

>Well, my own warped sense is that the thing we know of as a nib today is but a vestigial decoration of what may have been either more elaborate decoration, a functional "something," or perhaps a bit of both of times (and places) long past.

In yet further rampent speculation, I would surmise the advancement of the nib as being from Egypt, up through Turkey and on to what we call the UK, being brought with the Romans. So take that ...

Take care, Mike

Re: Curious

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>I would surmise the advancement of the nib as being from Egypt, up through Turkey and on to what we call the UK, being brought with the Romans.

WOW, you ARE warped, but then again.....you never know, you could be closer then you know. Sounds like it would make for a good Connections* show. Mike, remind me never to debate with you which came first, the chicken or the egg. ;~)

* for those unfamiliar with Connections, it was a British show that showed how totally seemingly unrelated things where in fact "connected" thru a series of, well, shall we say inventions. It was a very fascinating show.

T.O.

Re: My theory is...

Kevin French, Antrim, NH

>Bill H. wrote: 'I think the modern purpose of a nib is to make it easier to spot possibly interesting saws quickly at garage sales.'

Exact-a-Mundo! That's how I found my D-9, I turned to see a guy ready to drop it into the metal hopper. I spotted the nib and pleaded with him not to drop the saw.

Makes me wonder....

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>I turned to see a guy ready to drop it into the metal hopper.

-How many old saws and tools in general have been dropped into the hopper.

-What the heck is going on up in N.E. these days. Don't seem that a true Yankee would do that. What with all the stuff you're finding at the dump it can't be all out-of-staters doing it all. Sad, sad, sad. When a society as a whole sees tools as mere trash--well, I just fear the worst.

T.O.

Re: Curious

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>Hey Todd, you and I. That show was always fascinating to me.