Mike wrote...."
> I recently acquired an unusual knife made by Disston that I need
> some help identifying. It is about 18" long and has a sharp edge on
> one side and a saw edge on the opposing side......
> I have seen several of these sell on ebay ....and they are often
identified as "Civil War era
> amputation saw as identified in "Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia""
> I have a copy of a book by Francis Lord with this same title, but
> can't locate this knife in it.
.....> 1) Does anyone know what the original intended use of the knife was?
.......> 2) Can anyone direct me to the correct book and page where it is
> identified as an amputation saw? (If such does exist and is not one
> of those "ebay legends")
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    This type of Saw Knife was first made and patented by W.Stillman who
according to the Book Handsaw makers of North America was around in the late
1830's I actually have one of these made by W.Stillman and it is a very well
made, nice looking saw,[or is it a knife?].Disston just lists it as a saw
knife but it is in the meat saw section in their 1918 catalog
  In volume IV of the Civil war Collectors Encyclopedia page 122 they show
one made by E.M Boynton and stamped US and which they identify  as a US
medical dept  bone saw.Boynton according to the above book made saws from
1869-87 so  would have been a good trick if this saw was used in the civil
war in any function!I suspect anyway that it was used by cooks or butchers
and not surgeons.I have to admit though that I have sold quite a few of
these on the ebay, and I always figure who am I to augured with some
"expert" that wrote a big impressive book like this " Collectors
Encyclopedia" eh? and I list them as a Bone Amputation Saws and point out
this reference material. Have sold many for over $100, and the young Miss
Jazz once found a meat saw type that had this type handle but a iron frame
that was marked Jackson and I got $250+ for her with it.Think she gave 2
bucks for it and I was very popular with her I can tell you because what it
brought.
  This reminds me of the time I saw a fellow selling a rather beat brass
back saw as a "Civil War Fuse Saw, possibly confederate" since it was from
England ! His idea was it had a brass back so it would spark the fuse and
blow you up.Of course the blade was steel which I pointed out when I told
him it was just a common dovetail saw that was in rough condition. he told
me "Well you could cut fuses with it couldn't you?"...I told him you can
wear your shoe on your head but that don't make it a hat.......Todd