The above are before and after photos of my Grandfather's saw. This week I spent some long overdue time refurbishing the saw, which entailed a new handle and restoring the blade. As I began surfacing and preparing the walnut to be sized for our friend's table, I caught a glimpse of my Grandfather's old saw. It has hung in the shop for years... archaic, a symbol of my heritage.
My thought was to use the saw to make the first cut on the table. As I took the saw apart and started removing the rust from the blade, my mind started racing with questions. I wondered about the saw, what kind, when was it made, what did my grandfather build with it, where did it come from? With each hour that I worked on it, I kept wanting it to speak to me... man, if this saw could talk what stories it could tell.
My first memory of the saw was in a shed out at the ranch, hanging lazily like a forgotten soul. It was as rusty and worn then as it is today. The shed was full of tools, rolls of barbed wire, horse tack and the occasional mouse along with memories from my childhood. As I began to remove the rust and grime from the blade, the smell brought me back... back to the ranch, back to the aroma of breakfast being cooked by my grandmother with Paw Paw sitting at the table reading yesterday's paper. Back to the dew covering the ground as my cousins and I began a busy day of play and shenanigans. Back to the image of my grandfather, one of the strongest men I have ever known.
This was Paw Paw's saw and it needed a place of honor in the shop... some new stories to tell. I replaced the cracked handle and polished up the blade and brass hardware, making the impression on the medallion legible. Discovering more about the saw led to lots of reflection, a few Google searches and chats with my mom. So here is what I know, the saw, to the best of my knowledge, was made around 1918 by the E.C. Adkins Company and its first owner was more than likely my great grandfather. Historic.
The finality came with sharpening and setting the teeth, giving the saw a starting point for a new story after more than a twenty year hiatus. Oh the sound of the teeth cutting into the walnut as the kerf becomes deeper and deeper...
