Got a 5.5 TPI (filed rip) saw the other day. unremarkable, but google
doesn't show much about it. I plan on using it as a testbed for
practicing sharpening but wanted to do my due diligence in seeing
what I have.

The etch is all but unreadable, but it LOOKS like a circle border, with
the words "The Guinea Saw" inside. Also inside are 2 other circles, next
to each other. In the left one is some sort of shield, like a heraldric
display, and in the right one is what appears to be the bust of a man in
profile, dressed in ... Grecian (?) garb. Like you would see a bust of
Caesar or something.

Beyond that, I can't make much out.

Any clues?

On 17 Jan 2004 at 12:22, Michael campbell wrote:

> The etch is all but unreadable, but it LOOKS like a circle border,
> with the words "The Guinea Saw" inside. Also inside are 2 other
> circles, next to each other. In the left one is some sort of shield,
> like a heraldric display, and in the right one is what appears to be
> the bust of a man in
profile, dressed in ... Grecian (?) garb. Like you would see a bust of
Caesar or something.

Sounds reminiscent of a saw I found in an antique mall in Horncastle
(East of Lincoln in the UK, Paddy). That was a backsaw, but had the
notation "Golden Guinea" and I seem to recall it did have a similar
etch. The more interesting thing about it was that it had a (fake) coin
as a medallion. Looked newish so I didn't buy it, but I was sort of
sorry I hadn't picked it up. Perhaps our UK brethren (and sistern, alf)
could shed some more light on whether these are commonly found.

Just to suggest your saw may be of English manufacture.

-Ken

Ken Greenberg (ken@c...) 667 Brush Creek Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
woodworking page: http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm Visit the
oldtools booklist at http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm