Saw Handle Maker - Dougie Pope (1993)

Dougie Pope is seen producing a wide range of high quality handles in a trade that was once widespread to supply the huge number of saws manufactured in the city. He was filmed at Sheaf Bank Saw Handle Makers, Sheffield
The film is part of a series entitled 'Masters of Metalworking' commissioned by Sheffield City Council's Ruskin Gallery working closely with Ken Hawley who is the narrator on this particular film. It was originally released on no.3 of the series of films in 1993.
The film is made available by kind permission of the Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust who now manage some of the city's museums on behalf of the City Council.
To find out more about the Hawley Collection and to donate, visit our website: www.hawleytool...
See also our sister website at hawleysheffiel...

[@warwickmudge4114]

There's nothing like the feel of a traditional shaped saw handle, for beauty and ergonomics they can't be beat.

[@TalRohan]

and theyre dying out, I value even woodwormy ones to get the patterns to follow. These plastic handled jobs you can't sharpen are horrors to use.

[@Kozilak]

As a saw maker in 2022, I appreciate these videos

[@jimdavis8391]

I have made a couple of replacement handles from apple wood.

[@MisterBurtonshaw]

Fantastic to see, what was, the final stages of British made tools.... and then woodworkers wanted those products again :)

[@chrisgamester9845]

Just one little thing to add. Have you noticed on the beautiful old handles the timber is nearly always quarter sawn thus ensuring it stays flat. Now they pretty much never are. 😢

[@ef2b]

The handles aren't simply "austere." The missing details compared to earlier saws aren't esthetic. They contribute to the control of the saw. Comfort relates to being able to relax, which affects the cut. Kinesthetic sense relates to control, accuracy, and efficiency. The details on the top of the handle, which are simply gone now, actually serve a purpose when using a cross-hand grip with the off-hand (two-handed sawing). I am fortunate to have very old saws for my regular use at the bench. If I received a "quality saw" made today, I'd remake the handle. This isn't to criticize these men. I would wager they are quite capable of making the old detailed handles, but had to work to the market.

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

"Eeee, 'ark at him!" is exactly what they would have said to a know-it-all lahk thisen.

[@TalRohan]

All the old ones are the patterns to hang onto and copy if at all possible , even worm riddled ones have huge value.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I absolutely agree. What has been captured on this video is the absolute tail end of a skilled craftsman working way below his capabilities, making budget handles. They are simply third grade compared to those made up to the 1940s. Plenty still out there if you look hard and long, and today at 5am I hit a rich vein from 2 sellers at a car boot sale, coming away with 6 handsaws and 4 backsaws all with older 'proper' handles and blades in good/very good condition. All named makers, 9 from Sheffield and 2 Disstons. total cost £10 If it isn't shiny with a pretty plastic handle, folks just don't want them. I learned the skill of sharpening and re-cutting teeth in the 1960s and now I'm retired I enjoy giving these lovely old saws a new lease of life, [also scored three No.52 1/2 vices, all pre-war for £30 so came home for breakfast a very happy fella]

[@TalRohan]

@@bigoldgrizzly I wouldnt say third grade, theyre still far better than any mass produced plastic rubbich you can buy today but theyre not the top notch stuff they would originally have been

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@TalRohan
That's a fair assessment. At least you can adapt wooden handles to be more comfortable to your particular hand. I would make a distinction between traditionally made saw plates and the all too common Induction hardened teeth [hardpoint] saws. At some point in time, a few of the traditional Sheffield manufacturers did produce saws with plastic handles moulded in similar style to older handles, and the saw plates on some of these are very good. In my workshop. I prefer to replace these plastic jobs with old pattern handles from 'donor' saws. I recently got a lovely 'as new' brass back 10" tenon saw by Sorby's but with a gruesome moulded plastic handle
Hardpoint saws are handy for sawing reclaimed timber or the like, when you are likely to come across old nails or grit - generally they don't last long as the teeth get knocked off [they still make good cabinet scrapers though]

[@daveylad2]

I remember ‘Disston’ saws being top of the line

[@TalRohan]

Something I have noiticed through watching these videos is that most if not all the people involved are shall we say a little older, infact 30 years on I imagine most are gone which leaves the bearers of the knowledge with yet another older set like myself. I know some processes in these videos but they often surprise me and I worked in the industry for a while.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

Fantastic. I love my old Disston saws, interesting to see them made like that. The belt sander for getting the inside was pretty neat!

[@dalanbronnenberg]

You guys really have your shit wired tight. Great work.

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

30 years ago. None of these exist any more: only Sanderson Kayser and Tyzack, and nowhere near this quality.

[@tonywright8294]

Wanker

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

The laboriousness of the jigging process: surely a Kipp handle or a cam lockdown would have sped things up a bit? & what was the deal with the dust extraction system? Non-existent? Broken? No wonder these trades died out. & I speak as the son of a North Yorkshire carpenter and joiner, brought up on Spear & Jackson, Marples, Record, Stanley, Eclipse, Footprint and Rabone Chesterman as the epitome of all things quality in woodworking. It just makes me sad.

[@ktrak2171]

Dust control back then? what bloody dust you big girls blouse................

[@harrymason1053]

1923 technology or earlier.