This Disston D-8 came out of Pete Taran's personal collection — a saw he set aside over his decades of collecting because it was worth bringing back. Disston made more D-8s than any other model in the line, and this one is a solid example: sharpened, ready to work, and priced to be a real user rather than a shelf piece.
At a glance
| Maker | Disston, Philadelphia |
| Model | D-8 |
| Approximate era | ca. 1947–1953 |
| Length | 26 inches |
| Plate | 7" at the heel, 2" at the toe |
| Points per inch | 8, crosscut |
| Medallion | Disston medallion, consistent with 1947–1953 production |
| Etch | Decent, legible |
| Sharpened by Aaron | Yes — ready to cut |
What I did to it
- Disassembled and inspected. Every part came off the saw and was checked before cleaning.
- Cleaned to preserve character. Handle and hardware were cleaned in a way that keeps the saw's age visible — no over-polishing.
- Plate cleaned. Cleaned properly while preserving the etch.
- Jointed and shaped. Toothline jointed and refiled for crosscut work.
- Sharpened to 15° rake, 20° fleam. Standard general-use crosscut geometry.
- Set. Minimum set applied — just enough to let the plate glide in the kerf without binding.
Honest condition
The plate has some staining, and the handle shows minor wear — both consistent with a saw of this age that's actually been used. The etch is decent and legible. Nothing structural to flag.
About Disston
Henry Disston founded the company in Philadelphia in 1840, and by the late 1800s Disston was the largest saw maker in the world — the standard every other maker was measured against. The D-8 was Disston's best-selling hand saw: the same quality plate and construction as the fancier models, priced and built for carpenters and cabinet makers who used it every day.
Who this saw is for
Someone who needs a good quality user that won't break the bank — a genuine Disston, sharpened and ready to cut.
Questions about this saw? Email me at aaron@benchandchisel.com — I answer them all.
— Aaron, Bench & Chisel
