Howdy,

I came to the word "spring" because it's a pretty common
descriptor on saws.  Spring steel was different for the
higher carbon (about 1%-1.5%) content and other elements and
compounds in the alloy.  It could be tempered to a good hardness
for tools while having a quality of elasticity (as opposed to brittleness).
This grade of steel was good for carriage springs, hence the
name, and top-grade handsaws.

The letters USE mean don't let it hang on the wall of a Cracker Barrel
restaurant.  ; )

snip from Brent Beach:

>On Sat, 31 Jul, "D. Screen" wrote:
>>Can you tell me what the USE stands for on my newly acquired
>>R. Groves and Sons sash/tenon saw?
>
>
>Which seems to imply that the SPRING is added to steel during
>tempering, as opposed to indicating that the steel has a
>different composiiton.
>
>Is this a valid inference?