This 28" Simonds No. 8 comes out of Pete Taran's personal collection — a genuinely early Simonds, dated by its crescent-moon medallion to roughly 1885–1905. It's an uncommon combination: 28" is a long handsaw, and 4-1/2 points per inch at the heel is an aggressive, hard-to-find rip filing. The handle is extremely nice, with a deep curve you can hook a thumb into for a two-handed grip.
At a glance
| Maker | Simonds |
| Model | No. 8 |
| Approximate era | ca. 1885–1905 |
| Length | 28 inches |
| Plate | 2-3/8" at the toe, 7-1/4" at the heel, skew back |
| Points per inch | 5-1/2 to 4-1/2, graduated, rip |
| Medallion | Crescent moon, "Simonds Mfg. Co. Warranted," Pat. 1885 |
| Etch | Great — strong and legible, crescent moon visible |
| 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 rip work, preserving the saw's graduated tooth pattern — finer near the toe, coarser toward the heel.
- Sharpened to 5° rake, 0° fleam. Standard general-use rip geometry.
- Set. Minimum set applied — just enough to let the plate glide in the kerf without binding.
Honest condition
There's a chip on the underside of the top horn — see photos. It doesn't affect the grip or the saw's use, just honest wear on a saw well over a century old. Everything else is clean. The etch is great: strong and legible, with the crescent moon device clearly visible. No other flaws to report.
About Simonds
Simonds was founded in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1832 — eight years before Disston — and competed as one of America's premier saw makers through the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their saws turn up far less often than Disstons today, which is why Simonds collectors actively hunt for clean examples. The No. 8 was a premium model, the skew-back companion to the No. 7, built with the crucible steel Simonds became known for. The crescent-moon medallion on this one dates to the company's earliest documented die, used from about 1885 to 1905 — a genuinely early Simonds.
Who this saw is for
A collector who wants a rare Simonds in excellent condition, or a woodworker who wants a long rip saw with an aggressive cut. Both a 28" saw and a 4-1/2 PPI filing are uncommon — most vintage handsaws run shorter, and rip filing rarely goes past 5 PPI. This one delivers both.
Questions about this saw? Email me at aaron@benchandchisel.com — I answer them all.
— Aaron, Bench & Chisel