Sharpened Disston No. 16 - 24", 11 ppi, Crosscut

This is something a little different from the everyday D-8 — a Disston No. 16, a straight-back pattern that's less common on the market. This saw is from Pete Taran's personal collection. Pete spent decades sources saws for restoration. I sharpened it to 11 points per inch, crosscut, for a smooth, fine cut suited to finish work.

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. Sharpened to 11 points per inch, 15° rake, 20° fleam. The plate is stamped 12 ppi from the factory, but was refiled to 11 at some point in its working life — common for a saw this old that's been sharpened many times over.
5. Set. Minimum set applied — just enough to let the plate glide in the kerf without binding.

Honest condition

There's a crack in the upper horn of the handle. Beyond that, the handle shows only minor wear, and the nib is present and intact. The etch is faint but still visible.

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 No. 16 was Disston's straight-back alternative to the D-8, sold from about 1880 to 1928 and built to the same quality standard, with a London Spring steel blade and a chip-carved applewood handle. One quirk collectors look for: the medallion sits at the bottom of the handle rather than in the middle of the nut pattern, which is the quickest way to spot a No. 16 at a glance.

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