Dear GGs

Found a different kind of saw in the land where there are no trees.

This is an old nibbed saw.  Etching on the blade reads as follows:

           SPEAR & JACKSON   (arched over a crown)

            (small picture
              of a crown)

            S (5 arm Maltese Cross) J
               SHEFFIELD
         CAST STEEL WARRANTED
        PATENT  NO.24  MACHINE
                GROUND

Blade has some surface rust.  Handle is missing upper horn and is
attached by four split nuts (including medallion).  Medallion is similar
to blade etching up to the word "Sheffield."

Any info is appreciated.

Tom McCluskey- Member in good standing of the Ancient and Honorable order
of Bottomfeeders (AHOB). (By permission)

Tom McCluskey wrote:

>Found a different kind of saw in the land where there are no trees.
>
>This is an old nibbed saw.  Etching on the blade reads as follows:

>
>           SPEAR & JACKSON   (arched over a crown)
>
>            (small picture
>              of a crown)
>
>            S (5 arm Maltese Cross) J
>               SHEFFIELD
>         CAST STEEL WARRANTED
>        PATENT  NO.24  MACHINE
>                GROUND
>
>Blade has some surface rust.  Handle is missing upper horn and is
>attached by four split nuts (including medallion).  Medallion is similar
>to blade etching up to the word "Sheffield."
>
>Any info is appreciated.

Tom,

What you have seems to be a S&J#24,, " the leading all-round carpenter's
hand saw"  (to quote from the entry in the S&J section of the Astragal
Press's Handsaw catalog Collection.

The #24 in the book is shown with the logo of S&J's "Leapfrog Brand" but
the logo you describe is also shown on the catalogue cover.  The Leapfrog
trademark is listed as a " New Trademark " along with the "Mermaid brand".
The catalogue dates from 1915, so your #24 is possibly earlier when the 5
point star may have been used, but I only surmise, whereas Erv on the other
hand will probably know that answer.

Available in lengths from 16 - 40", in assorted points per inch.  Should be
English beech handled (the English is underlined : so whats the matter with
US beech?), straight backed with a nib, but the nibs seem to have been
dropped somewhere along the line.

Made of "Best Warranted Cast Steel" which judging by the prices was
considered a lower quality than Silver Steel / Warranted London Spring
steel, which was in turn consideredof lesser quality than Vanadium Alloy
steel  (at least that was the thinking in 1915).

We seem to see equal numbers of S&J and Disston in this part of the world.
Both work fine IMHO  ;-)

Regards,

Tony B

Hobart Tasmania

In a message dated 99-01-02 00:25:53 EST, tonyb@h... (Tony Blanks)
writes, in commenting on Spear & Jackson saws from early in the century:

<< Should be
 English beech handled (the English is underlined : so whats the matter with
 US beech?),  >>
     I'm not sure what the distinctions are, but the S & J folks make a very
big thing of the superiority of English beech in that 1915 catalog.  Looks
much like American to me, but may be tougher and less likely to split, or is
that hype out of Sheffield?

                                                  Lloyd Henley