Disston D8 Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Hand Saws
Manufacturer: Disston
Tool Type: Hand Saw
Model No: D8
The Disston D8 hand saw was the most widely produced saw out of the
range of Disston saws. There were many variations of the D8. The main
variations included:
- different shaped handles
- different types of wood used for the handles
- different markings on the handles
- different amounts of buttons
- different positioning of buttons
- different types (materials) of buttons
- different types of medallions
- different markings on the blade
The handles on old D8 saws were usually made from Apple wood (as shown in the first image below).
Later D8 saws were made from selected hardwoods, usually Beech.
The D8 saw was made in many different lengths and various teeth per inch (tpi).
The Disston D8 was made with a skewback blade design.
The saws in section 1, 2 and 3 are of the same period, the variations between 1
and 2 are due to the section 1 saw being a panel saw and the section 2 saw being
a hand saw. The saw in section 3 is also a hand saw but made in Canada. The rip
saw version of these saws at that time was made as the Disston D8 Fingerhole Saw.
Handle: Apple
Number Of Buttons: 4 / 5
Type Of Buttons: Brass
Medallion Markings: Disston Phila
Blade Markings:
Manufacturing Date: <1874 - 1933>
Handle: Apple
Number Of Buttons: 4 / 5
Type Of Buttons: Brass
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Henry Disston & Sons Inc, Philadelphia USA,
D8, Established 1840, For Beauty, Finish and Utility this saw cannot be excelled,
Henry Disston'.
Manufacturing Date: <1874 - 1937>
Handle: Apple
Number Of Buttons: 5
Type Of Buttons: Steel
Medallion Markings: Disston, Canada
Blade Markings:
'Established 1840, Henry Disston & Sons Limited,
D8, Toronto Canada, For Beauty, finish and utility this saw cannot be excelled,
Henry Disston'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Handle Markings: Carved Foliage
Number Of Buttons: 5
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Disston Established 1840, D8, USA.
For beauty, finish and utility, this saw
cannot be excelled, Chrome nickel alloy steel, full taper ground, precision set
bevel filed, Disston Inc. Danville, VA, USA. Established 1840 D8 USA'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Handle Markings: Carved Foliage
Number Of Buttons: 4
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Disston Established 1840, D8, USA.
For beauty, finish and utility, this saw
cannot be excelled, Chrome nickel alloy steel, full taper ground, precision set
bevel filed, Disston Inc. Danville, VA, USA. Established 1840 D8 USA'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Number Of Buttons: 4 / 5
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, Canada
Blade Markings:
'Disston for beauty finish and utility this
saw cannot be excelled, Henry Disstons. Established 1840, D8, 10 point, H.K. Porter
Company Canada Ltd Acton. Ont. Canada'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Number Of Buttons: 4
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Established 1840, D-8, 8 points, USA, Disston
For beauty, finish and utility this saw cannot be excelled, Chrome nickel alloy
steel, full taper ground, precision set bevel filed, Henry Disston'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Number Of Buttons: 5
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, Canada
Blade Markings:
'For Beauty, finish and utility this saw cannot
be excelled, Henry Disston, Chrome Nickel Alloy Steel, Full Taper Ground,
Precision Set-Bevel Filed'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Number Of Buttons: 5
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Established 1840, D-8, 8 points, USA, Disston
For beauty, finish and utility this saw cannot be excelled, Chrome nickel alloy
steel, full taper ground, precision set bevel filed, Disston Division, HK Porter
Company Inc, Danville VA USA'.
Manufacturing Date: ? - ?
Handle: Beech
Handle Markings: Carved Foliage
Number Of Buttons: 4
Type Of Buttons: Alloy
Medallion Markings: Disston, USA
Blade Markings:
'Disston.
For beauty, finish and utility, this saw cannot be excelled, Chrome nickel alloy
steel, full taper ground, precision set-bevel filed. Henry Disston.
Disston Inc. Danville, VA, USA. 24541'.
'Established 1840, D8, 7 Points, USA, Reg US Pat Off. MDEF, M Ind Rgtrada'
Sleeve Markings:
'Sandvik, Disston, Philadelphia Pattern, The Original Disston, D8'
Manufacturing Date: 1976 - 1989
<1874 - 1989
For information on dating this saw and other British saws, see the
'British Saws and Saw Makers from c1660' book, written by Simon Barley.
The book is the most comprehensive saw directory to date listing makers, makers
marks and manufacturing dates. There is also a whole host of additional information
on the history of saw making, how to date a saw, in depth details
on each of the large makers and much more, making for the most interesting read
and leaving you with a slight desire to buy an old British saw.
....
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