- Archived -

Disston No. 16 26" 6 ppi rip saw (11-030-006) - $90 SOLD

This Disston No. 16 dates from 1918-1927, and has picked up a few battle scars along the way. There is light pitting near the toe, but nothing deep enough to be concerned about. The top of the handle looks like it was scorched, but the wood is still sound. Both the top and bottom horns have been shortened slightly, but they are still comfortable. The etch is fairly strong, and is 100% readable. The nib on this straight-back saw is still present. The No. 16's were similar in price and quality to No. 8's, with the biggest differences being the wheat carved handle and straight backs on No. 16's.

This saw is filed a little differently. Instead of being filed straight across (as most rip saws are filed), the teeth are filed with sloped gullets. This method used to be a little more common than it is nowadays, and is depicted in at least one sawmaker's catalog (Simonds). In practice, it seems to start and run a little easier. The speed of cutting and the cut surface is similar to that of a saw filed straight across. Because there is no fleam, the tops of the teeth are still perpendicular to the saw plate, and will not double as a crosscut saw.

The saw has been thoroughly cleaned and sharpened. The apple handle was removed, stripped, and refinished. The saw nuts were lightly cleaned, and the blade sanded to remove rust and reduce friction. Although there is a fair amount of shallow pitting towards the toe, there is little at the toothline, and the cutting action is unaffected. The plate is straight. Finally, the teeth were reshaped, set, and sharpened. The only wood these teeth have seen is that used to ensure the saw runs clean and true. Suffice it to say, this saw is ready for action.

• Blade length - 26" at the toothline.
• Blade height - 7" at the heel, 2 1/8" at the toe.
• 6 ppi, filed rip (with sloping gullets).
• Teeth are filed with 0° of rake and 10° sloped gullets. No fleam on this one.
• Lightly breasted.
• Taper ground blade.