Sharpened Disston D-8 - 26", 9 ppi, Crosscut

This D-8 comes from Pete Taran's personal collection — a genuine Disston for the woodworker who wants the real thing without paying collector prices. I sharpened it the way I sharpen every saw that leaves my bench: properly, and ready to cut. The handle has a deep, reddish tone that reads like rosewood at a glance — it isn't, and I'm not going to guess at the actual species, but it's a good-looking handle on a working tool.

What I did to it

1. Disassembled and inspected. Every part came off the saw and was checked before cleaning.
2. Cleaned to preserve character. Handle and hardware were cleaned in a way that keeps the saw's age visible — no over-polishing.
3. Plate cleaned. Cleaned properly while preserving the etch.
4. Jointed and shaped. Toothline jointed and refiled for crosscut work.
5. Sharpened to 15° rake, 20° fleam. Standard general-use crosscut geometry.
6. Set. Minimum set applied — just enough to let the plate glide in the kerf without binding.

Honest condition

Handle and plate are in good shape with minor wear consistent with age and use — no bends, cracks, or repairs. The etch is faint but still visible, which is typical for a working saw of this era that's actually earned its keep.

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 against which every other maker was measured for nearly a century. The D-8 was Disston's professional-grade hand saw, built with the same skew-back plate and quality construction as the more decorative No. 16, but priced for working carpenters and cabinet makers who used them every day.

Questions about this saw? Email me at aaron@benchandchisel.com — I answer them all.
— Aaron, Bench & Chisel