This 26-inch Disston No. 7 came out of Pete Taran's collection, and it's in superb condition. The etch is strong, the plate is bright, the nib is still there, and the handle has no chips or cracks. I sharpened it 8 PPI crosscut, so it's ready to cut on its first day in your shop.
At a glance
| Maker | Disston |
| Model | No. 7 |
| Approximate era | ca. 1896–1917 |
| Length | 26 inches |
| Plate | 6-5/8" at the heel, 1-5/8" at the toe |
| Points per inch | 8, crosscut |
| Medallion | Pre-WWI "H. Disston & Sons" keystone, ca. 1896–1917 |
| Etch | Strong and legible |
| Nib | Present |
| 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
Superb. The plate is shiny, the etch is strong, the nib is intact, and the handle has no chips or cracks. One note: the PPI stamp at the heel looks like it may read 9, but the saw is filed at 8 PPI.
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. Disston saws were the standard against which every other maker was measured for nearly a century. The No. 7 came before the D-7, which arrived with Disston's 1928 product line change. The No. 7 had a nice lamb tongue detail. The D-7 had a much more plane handle.
Who this saw is for
Someone who wants an excellent example of a pre-WWI No. 7. It's a handsome saw and a very good user. 8 PPI crosscut is the standard setup for cutting boards to length and general shop work. It would also sit nicely in a collection as an example of a Disston No. 7.
Questions about this saw? Email me at aaron@benchandchisel.com — I answer them all.
— Aaron, Bench & Chisel
