A Gents Saw, also traditionally known
as a 'Gentleman's Saw', is a small versatile woodwork saw useful for
many smaller precise cutting jobs from joint work such as dovetails
and small tenons, cutting mouldings through to model making.
A Gents Saw usually traditionally has a brass or steel spine, a straight
chisel like handle and a blade that typically is 6" - 10" long however
shorter and longer gents saws can be found. The handles are usually
shaped to fit the hand and sometimes include decorative designs to
give the saw extra grandure.
This type of saw has a narrow Kerf and a high number of small teeth
per inch (TPI), 15 - 20 TPI is a common number of teeth per inch on
a Gents Saw. The high number of teeth and narrow cut allows the saw
to cut delicately and precisely.
Traditionally from new, a gents saw usually has a similar depth saw
blade as a
Dovetail Saw.
If secondhand saws / old saws are used then the depth of the saw is
determined by how much it has been sharpened during its life.
The spine on a gents saw is there to give the blade strength and rigidity,
it also gives the blade an element of weight and balance.
The spine can be a position where manufacturers advertise their name,
it was a practice seen on some old gents saws, it is not a common practice
today from what I have observed.
Advertisement is usually etched on the blade, some of which are/have
been very artisitic. This etching often gives extra details beyond
what is stamped on the spine including a company logo and sometimes
a company slogan.
The Gents Saw is traditionally a Western saw used on the push stroke.
There are different varieties of gents saw with Thomas Flinn of Sheffield
producing the following types of gents saw:
The Gents Saw is a useful tool for cabinetmakers, joiners, carpenters, DIY'ers and hobbyist's.
There have been a number of gents saw makers in the past, with a few present makers. Below are a list of a few well known gents saw manufacturers:
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