When is a Disston saw not a Disston saw?

[Bod]

Having just acquired 2 Disston D-8 saws, both with problems.
One has been sharpened to the end of reasonable use, but has a Thumbhole handle.
The other is a 1950-55 horrible handle.
The blades won't swop, first is (was) a 28 inch rip, the second a 20 inch panel saw.

If I replace the first blade, with say a 26 inch cross cut, unmarked blade, would I still have a Disston?
Same with the second, replace the handle, possibly homemade, not following a Disston style, is it still a Disston?
Value wise, they both cost less than a fiver.

Bod

 

[marcros]

no, but you would have 2 usable saws. To be honest, you aren't going to negatively affect the value!

 

[D_W]

It's whatever you want to call it. The golden era disstons had good taper and tension. Something from the 1950s may not have. The thumbhole rip handle is designed for a heavy plate with a lot of tension, and even a crosscut saw of almost the same size will have a thinner plate and maybe less tension (save the thumbhole rip handle for a plate of similar type.

When you say "unmarked blade", what are you going to use?

It'd be my suggestion to set the thumbhole rip handle aside until you see a thumbhole rip with a broken handle, and reprofile the handle on the second saw. In my opinion, the plate is the valuable part of a saw, the core part that takes skill that's not common.

 

[PAC1]

if you intend to use the saw once re handled/bladed then I see no problem. If you intend to sell it on as a pucka Disston then that raises questions which end up with you are at risk

 

[Bod]

Update.
The second saw, after reading the FAQ's on the Disstonian Institute website, it appears its even worse than I thought!
The blade is etched Henry Disston D-8, but the medallion is HK Porter era, post 1955, explaining the very poor handle shape.
Old stock blade fitted to new handle, I can do nothing that will not improve it!

Bod

 

[heimlaga]

To me the name follows the critical part of a tool. The part that makes a difference between good and bad. That is the saw blade on a saw. Handles tend to break and new replacements may be made once or twice in the life of a good saw.

I would not dismiss an old saw blade until I have tested it. It seems like the old time makers had a pretty uneven steel quality to start from and occasionally a low end maker could yield a good batch.

As others have said the thumbhole handle was intended for a long and wide blade. 28 or 30 inches long. A coarse crosscut saw of that size is very practical for log building and timber framing. I use a 28 inch Disston number 7 and I would never want to be without it. A coarse rip saw of that size is practical for the occasional odd riop cut that would be unpractical to do on a machine.
Either you need to find an old blade with a bad handle. You are not likely to find one and if you find one it isn't likely to fit. Or you could try to find a suitable piece of steel and make yourself a new blade. The saw won't be a Disston anymore but if you do your homework properly and manage to find a good piece of steel to start from you will get a migty fine saw!