Disston Saws are part of a company which is now known as
Disston Precision Inc and is owned by RAF Industries in the
USA. However the company was started by an English man
called Henry Disston who was born on the 24 May 1819 in
Tewkesbury, England. It was his father who originally put
him on the path to making saws as he had invented a unique
machine back in England which was able to produce a very
rare but fine type of lace and with his family he immigrated
to the USA in 1833.
Then at the age of 21 Henry Disston began his career as a
saw maker in Philadelphia and 10 years later he had found
the Keystone Saw Works which would become one of the largest
saw makers in the world. Then in 1855 Disston began rolling
steel but did not actually advertise that he was producing
it until after the American Civil War had broken out in
1861. Also the production of domestic steel in the USA was a
necessity at this time because the price of foreign steel
had increased exponentially. Luckily for Henry Disston as he
was already in the business he was able to produce and sell
goods quickly from his own steel.
By 1906 the company now known as Disston and Sons was able
to cast the first crucible steel using an electric furnace
in the USA. It was this company which contributed heavily to
the World War II effort by producing large amounts of armor
plating for the tanks.
However, although they produce more than just saws but are
certainly more well known for the Disston saws compared to
many other things. Certainly you will find that in the USA
some of the older styles of Disston saws command a very high
price when they come up for sale at auctions etc. Certainly
some of the more well known versions of the Disston saw
include the SA70367 which is a nice straight 14" brass
backed saw and includes some of the most beautiful etching
on a saw blade that you are ever likely to find. Then there
is the SA70311 which comes from the 1840's and is a 16" saw
with a double eagle mark placed on it.
So when looking for saws of distinction for using when
woodworking then not look no further than purchasing
yourself one of the Disston saws.
