Charlie Smith and seven foot saw
Photograph taken by Norman Davidson and saw courtesy of Charlie Smith, Ord Brae, Huntly. Charlie, his brothers and his father before him were saw millers and timber workers. Charlie never saw this saw being worked but it has been about as long as he can remember. Most likely well over 100 years old, the manufacturing marks have long since gone and by the look of the well worn lance pattern teeth had been used for quite a number of years.
Its dimensions are interesting as also the general shape of the blade and blade thickness.
Front of blade where teeth are formed – 2.3mm thick at mid point
Front of blade where teeth are formed - 2.3mm thick at both ends
Back of blade at mid point – 1.1mm thick
Back of blade at both ends – 1.8mm thick
Width of blade at both ends – 89mm and 87mm across
Width of blade at mid point – 145mm across
Width of blade at mid point when new – 160mm estimated
Width of gullet – approx 16.5mm
Length of blade between the two handles – 2135mm (7 feet)
As can be seen from the image the saw has a straight back and the measurements show that blade has been Crescent Taper Ground indicating that this is likely to have been an American made tool. Some American saw manufacturers were Simonds, Disston and Atkins.
Charlie maintains that if you could get your thumb into the base of the gullet it was likely an American saw.