This saw was purchased at auction on eBay with several others for a lot price.

I actually was after the No. 12 in the group but hoped this one would also have possibilities. Based on the handle it looks like an older No. 7 or 8 to me but until it is cleaned up, who knows?

With the handle off I did a little cleaning with mineral spirits and 320 grit wet / dry paper and was able to see a very faint etch. Looks to be a No. 7. I also looked up the medallion and screw type to date it. 1876-1877 is a match according to the Disstonian Institute website.

I was a little disappointed; for I had hoped for a No. 8 but still I think this is a special saw. It will however, have its challenges for rehab.

To keep it original I will need to find a matching screw to replace the missing one.

A light cleaning of the plate also revealed a couple plate issues but I believe I can deal with those. The etch is so light that it will not likely survive the final cleaning that this plate needs.

What really makes this saw special to me is the very thin plate with 12 point tooth line. Examining the teeth closely shows what was once a traditional tooth form with sloped or undercut gullets.

This is the saw before doing anything to it. It is still sharp enough to quickly hack off a 2 x 4 and leave a decent finish except for a little rust. I know because I couldn’t resist trying it.

Notice the nice little sets of two teeth look.

That’s actually an optical illusion. It’s also a dead giveaway of the seemingly lost art of sloping the gullets. Lost because they could only be produced by hand.