Antique-shop.com

Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: NastyNate on August 14, 2010, 01:11:04 pm

Title: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on August 14, 2010, 01:11:04 pm
I picked up a pair of what I believe are Japanese back saws from 1940 or so.
The date is mostly a guess.

Other than that, I have no other information on them.
Pictures below.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your time!

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00582.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00583.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00585.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00586.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00587.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00588.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00589.jpg)

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00594.jpg)
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: waywardangler on August 14, 2010, 04:09:59 pm
I believe the value in Japenese saws lies with the maker.  I cannot read Japanese but I assume the symbols on the handle would be the maker?  I do not think they are backsaws, as American/European/Japanese backsaws have a stiff spine of brass or iron opposite the cutting edge.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on August 14, 2010, 05:46:59 pm
well thanks for the insight. (Hoping someone reads Japanese here) HA If you were to find these at a garage sale what would you pay for them?  

EDIT wonder if I should go to a Japanese steak house near where I live and see if someone could translate..... 
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: sapphire on August 14, 2010, 06:01:35 pm
Would this possibly be a bonsai or pruning saw? Haven't found anything on a triple (or even double ) blade one yet, but certainly looks similar to the newer single blade ones I've come across.

Will keep an eye out for you.  ;)
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on August 14, 2010, 06:07:08 pm
I really do appreciate you all taking the time to look into this for me. I normally don't pick up stuff like this. I stick to what I know, this however caught my eye and couldnt resist. If you stumbled across this as I did what would you pay? Just a shot in the dark?
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: sapphire on August 14, 2010, 06:10:10 pm
Well, not really knowing their true value........but knowing they'd look good on the wall next to my fan, I'd likely hand over $30 - 35 for them (for both) .  But that's just me, no expert.....just gravitate towards stuff I like.  Believe me, they've had a few laughs at me here over what I have gravitated towards.  :D
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: waywardangler on August 14, 2010, 08:23:56 pm
I agree with sapphire on $30 for the pair at a sale.  Without knowing their quality, sharpness, etc., I think that would be the max I would pop for the pair (I would really be happier at $5 apiece) as I know nothing about Japanese saws.

So, what did you pay?
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on August 14, 2010, 10:06:54 pm
Believe it or not, I actually recognize the two larger charactors. I know them from the wind tiles in the game of Majong. The upper one is "east" the lower one is "south"

(http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/mahjong/img/mahjong6.gif)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00587.jpg)
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: fancypants on August 14, 2010, 10:08:27 pm
Nice little pair of folding saws , NastyNate .

I'd date them (without a hands-on inspection) to be 50-60yrs old , max.

I'm really curious to know , on the triple-blade folding pull-saw , if one of the blades is toothed for ripping wood (along the / with the grain) , since that would be a bit more unusual for a saw of this type (it would not be the thin keyhole saw) .

Looks like maybe they could use a little cleaning & a coat of mineral oil (I wouldn't be afraid of lessening their value by doing so) .

These were folding general purpose saws , common in Japan & used for things like us Americans would use larger hand-saws .
Looks like they were hanging on/in someones' work-bench area .
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: KC on August 14, 2010, 11:42:50 pm
I would tend to agree with fancy!

Look really nice!
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: cogar on August 15, 2010, 06:07:12 am
My guess is that your saws were brought “back home” by a US Military man.

My older brother Jim, who is retired AF Sgt., spent many years in Japan and Okinawa, even married a Japanese gal, showed me the “folding backsaw” he brought back to the States with him.  He preferred it 200% over any American made saw because it was so much nicer to use in that one can more easily control the cutting by “pulling” the saw teeth thru the “cut” rather than trying to “push” the saw teeth thru the “cut”. Hand saw blades tend to “bend” or “jump” when being “pushed” through the “cut”, and that is why most everyone using an English made saw starts their “cutting” by dragging the blade backward to create a “starting groove”.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on August 15, 2010, 07:25:50 am
I picked the up for $10 for the pair. If anything I figured I could get that much back out of them. Like I said before I normally stick with what I know, too many times I pay to much for something worth nothing. Its been a while since that's happened. I talk to the guy I bought them from an he said he has used them recently to make a few cuts. He said he hated to use them but they were a better cut than his "new" pull saw.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: KC on August 15, 2010, 09:59:56 am
I agree NastyNate (LOL).  You should be able to get your investment back and then more!

I agree cogar.  Hate to have the push part of sawing and having a starting groove.  I had to go take a look see...and the one that I use is in fact from overseas as well.  Was my dad's and I am sure he brought it home when he was in the Navy!  It is one of those items that is a pass-it-down when I leave this earth and go to the antiquing heavens!
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Skinny on August 15, 2010, 11:41:13 am
As a former tree trimmer I can tell you that Japanese blades are still the thing to buy for saws; hand saws or pole saws either one. I can't tell about this saw, but the modern ones have teeth that are angled out to the side slightly, one going to one side and the next to the other and so on. It's a design that allows for maximum cutting. Compare side by side with a regular hand saw and the difference is amazing.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: cogar on August 16, 2010, 06:42:46 am
I believe all "tree trimming" saws are "pull" saws, just like all "chainsaws" are.

Quote
have teeth that are angled out to the side slightly, one going to one side and the next to the other and so on.

All the things ya really don't need to know about "saw blades".  ;D ;D ;D

The left/right angle of the saw teeth is called the "set" of a saw blade and the "set" is determined by one or more of the following "purposes" for which the saw is going to be used for: (1)cutting - cross-cut, rip, miter, etc.; (2) hard or soft wood; (3) thickness of the wood; and (4) finish or rough cut. A "finish" or "rough" cut is also determined by the "# of teeth per inch".

For the "weekend wordworker", just buy yourself a "cross-cut" handsaw, a "pruning" saw and/or a "combination" blade for your electric powered saw.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: KC on August 16, 2010, 08:25:38 am
Wow....I just got educated!  Thanks!!!!!!

Just to keep the roll that he started going..........
We need to mention a very important part that goes hand in hand with the information that cogar gave.....it is the kerf!
Width of the saw cut. On majority of saws the kerf is wider than the blade because the teeth are flared out sideways (set). This allows the blade to move through the cut easily without getting stuck (binding). :O
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Omega Entity on August 16, 2010, 08:08:50 pm
Believe it or not, I actually recognize the two larger charactors. I know them from the wind tiles in the game of Majong. The upper one is "east" the lower one is "south"

(http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/mahjong/img/mahjong6.gif)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Refused6009/DSC00587.jpg)

Actually, the lower one isn't 'south' but you have the top one correct. I've been trying to locate the lower character in my kanji dictionaries, but I've been coming up blank. If these are old enough, it's possible that the lower character has been transposed into something easier to write/recognize. I'm still looking up the top two, and I'll post when I have something more definitive.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Skinny on August 16, 2010, 10:01:29 pm
I believe all "tree trimming" saws are "pull" saws, just like all "chainsaws" are.

Quote
have teeth that are angled out to the side slightly, one going to one side and the next to the other and so on.

All the things ya really don't need to know about "saw blades".  ;D ;D ;D

The left/right angle of the saw teeth is called the "set" of a saw blade and the "set" is determined by one or more of the following "purposes" for which the saw is going to be used for: (1)cutting - cross-cut, rip, miter, etc.; (2) hard or soft wood; (3) thickness of the wood; and (4) finish or rough cut. A "finish" or "rough" cut is also determined by the "# of teeth per inch".

For the "weekend wordworker", just buy yourself a "cross-cut" handsaw, a "pruning" saw and/or a "combination" blade for your electric powered saw.

I was refering to a Pole Saw, as in a saw on the end of a pole. Trust me, eighty feet up and doing a difficult cut at some wierd angle with a sixteen foot Pole Saw, you want the best blade you can get :P!


Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Omega Entity on August 16, 2010, 11:21:43 pm
The smaller characters above the 'North' kanji, together are 'touroku', meaning 'Registration'. Still looking for that large bottom kanji.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: cogar on August 17, 2010, 07:54:47 am
Quote
I was refering to a Pole Saw, as in a saw on the end of a pole. Trust me, eighty feet up and doing a difficult cut at some wierd angle with a sixteen foot Pole Saw, you want the best blade you can get !

Skinny, I wasn't trying to up-stage you or hijack your post or whatever, just being a little "mouthy" for the potential benefit of the dozen's n' dozens of "guest viewers" of this forum, most of which probably don't know as much about "tree trimmin" and/or "sawing wood" as you and I do. I guess it is just an old habit I can't seem to "break" given the fact that I was educated as a HS Teacher of the Sciences .... but only taught for 3 months after graduating.

Anyway, I have a "pole saw" hanging somewhere on a couple nails that I haven't used for a few years. Used it for trimming my fruit trees. And I know several guys, including 2 of the wife's nephews, who are truly "experts" at tree trimming. They all work or worked for Asplundh Services for years n' years, primarily trimming electric utility right-of ways.

And I know whatcha mean, I have watched several of those boys, at different times, swinging on a rope like a trapeeze artist, 80 to 100+ feet in the air, with a small chainsaw tied to their belt, and the limbs n' branches a falling like bowling pins as they "cut their way toward the ground". The wife's nephew Pete, once cut a Walnut tree, clear to the ground, that sat about 15 feet from the edge of my deck and which musta been 120 feet high. I sat there on the deck drinking beer and watched him do it.

Skinny, there are oodles n' oodles of trees to be trimmed and/or cut down iffen ya live in West Virginia.  Cheers
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Skinny on August 17, 2010, 06:27:15 pm
Hey Cogar, no offence taken. My Dad's the real Arborist anyway, he's 61 now and he's been climbing since he was 16. I'm a pretty good tree trimmer, but I've never made it to the level of doing any really tough takedowns. Scary, and potently very costly if you make a mistake:o.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: antiqueslover on August 18, 2010, 07:54:43 am
is that for sale?
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: KC on August 18, 2010, 03:03:18 pm
Just sent a pic off to some of my friends in hopes they can help out!
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on August 24, 2010, 08:42:13 am
is that for sale?

They are not for sale at the moment. I need to decide if I want to start selling on ebay or not. I have tons of stuff but don't know if its worth the time.


Just sent a pic off to some of my friends in hopes they can help out!


Thanks, again any information would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: NastyNate on September 23, 2010, 08:19:20 pm
Bump for this, I have been looking around and still couldnt find anything.
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: KC on September 23, 2010, 08:26:00 pm
All the pics are gone!
Title: Re: Japanese back saws
Post by: Omega Entity on September 23, 2010, 11:05:06 pm
The pics show up fine for me...