> 
> At 4:10 PM -0600 2/12/97, Jerry Russell wrote:
> 	[snip of bio part]
> >I recently found a Disston D-23 at a junk shop.
> >....I'm trying to find out how old it is and if
> >it's worth sharpening and hanging on to.
> 
> Jerry:
> 	That thing is not only junk (you got it in a junk shop, right?),
> but it is a dangerous embarrassment.  You should send it to me immediately,
> and I will make sure of it is disposed of properly.
> 	You're lucky we caught this in time.  The accumulation of old
> Disstons with fancy logos and scrollwork, especially if they have 5 nuts,
> can be a serious affliction.
> 		Tom Holloway
> PS--welcome to the porch. You *probably* have a nice saw.  ;-)

I took a look in my Disston 1932 dealer catalog, and here is what it says 
about the D23:

No. D-23 Lightweight Pattern Straight-back

The Disston No. D-23 Lightweight Pattern Straight-back Saw - the largest 
selling lightweight, straigt back saw.  Thin back, true-taper ground by
a new Disston process.  Tooth edge is the same gauge throughout: blade
tapers evenly from butt to point and from tooth edge to back.

Blade of Disston steel, hardened and tempered; high polish; striped back.

Cover-top handle, applewood: full carved; large hand hole; Disston 
weatherproof finish; five brass screws in 26-inch length; four brass 
screws in 24-inch lengths.

Length of  Points to inch  Points to inch  Weight per  Price per
  Blade      Cross-cut         Rip            doz.       doz. 
---------  --------------  --------------  ----------  ---------
24 inches   7, 8, 9, 10     ............    18 lbs.     $42.00
26 inches   7, 8, 9, 10      5 1/2, 6       21 lbs.      42.00

The D23 came only in the lightweight pattern.

The D8, on the other hand, came in both lightweight and regular
patterns, but in 1932, the handle was not full-carved.  The difference
in weight between lightweight and regular saws was: a dozen
26 inch lightweight pattern saws weighed 21 pounds, and a dozen
regular pattern 26 inch saws weighed 24 pounds.

The D8 also came (regular pattern) in 20, 22, 24 and 26 inch lengths,
and came with crosscut teeth in 6,7,8,9,10 and 12 points per inch,
and rip teeth in 5,5 1/2, 6 and 7 points per inch!

Not all lengths and points per inch combinations were available.

If anyone has other Disston models they would like similar information
on, just ask...

Dave