Sawcut scales

eisman

eisman

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Sep 9, 2009
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Why is it that the only pattern that offers sawcut scales any more is Barlows? Other patterns used to come with it. Schrade even used the "pattern" when they offered up the Delrin on Old Timers back in the 1970's. But nobody does now. And I think it looks good on a larger knife, certainly better than the repetitious machine "jigging" some companies have offered up.
 
Good question. I guess traditions change (or is that an oxymoron?) ;)

I always assumed (and we know the risks of assuming) that the sawcut marks on old knives were actually the marks left by the saw when the bone was cut into slabs for handles. These marks might be left on the cheaper knives, like Barlows, rather than finishing by either jigging to imitate the texture of stag, or to polish smooth. When companies switched to Delrin, they molded the material with a sawcut texture to imitate the bone slabs that people liked and were used to.

If you look at the covers on this Camillus, and compare it to other examples, you can see the exact same irregularities in the grooves because they are from a mold, rather than having been cut by a saw:
CCobs3n.jpg


What I've been wondering, is if the sawcut texture on knives made today, like this Case Barlow, are actually made by the cuts of a saw, or are merely another jigging pattern applied to flat bone. The direction of cuts doesn't have that diagonal curve that the old ones do. In the New Case Barlow thread, there's quite a variety of cut textures going in all different directions, and some that look more like parallel jigged lines than sawcuts.
FXYEEvO.jpg


At any rate, I agree with you, and if Buck ever offered knives in their 300 series with black sawcut bone, imitating the sawcut Valox handles that were designed to imitate sawcut bone, I'd have to buy some. :D
 
I wonder if cost and ease of production or tradition are also factors. As you visit the GEC factory, one of the greatest guarded secrets is the bone jigging room.
 
I would definitely love to see more saw cut options in bone from knife makers. Especially if they could imitate the early Schrades before Delrin became the standard. Charlie posted a picture of a sawcut 8OT(I believe) in the last couple of months that I’d be willing to commit crimes to acquire :eek: It’s spectacular for sure.
 
This little OT is my only non-Barlow with saw cut scales. I just naturally associate saw cut scales with Barlows, because that's the only kind of Barlow I ever saw or carried when I was a kid back in the 1950s. I guess that's why I'm attracted to them.
DSC00264-X2.jpg
 
Case still offers a variety of patterns in addition to barlows with sawcut scales. Not sure why GEC hasn’t offered more, I think they do a better job than Case does on recent patterns.
 
Was Sawcut bone ever readily available on knives other than barlows, traditionally? I also wonder about its cost and ease of production on bone. And with working knives, like barlows, a little “Ragg bone” was probably acceptable if it didn’t work out quite right.
I would love to see more Sawcut delrin today. It would be great on the farm and field line. But I think delrin probably sells a bit slower than other materials.
 
r8shell said:
The direction of cuts doesn't have that diagonal curve that the old ones do.
Click to expand...

Different types of saws. Older cut bone used round saw blades as those were best for mechanical devices. Parallel lines indicate band saw blades and those are more modern and both easier to automate and safer.
 
A few years ago, Rough Rider had a sawcut brown bone series of knives in various patterns, including Barlows, of course. The only one I have is a canoe, but I checked one of my usual RR vendors and they have sawcut copperhead and peanut still in stock. This series also has fluted bolsters, which are a little fancy for my tastes.
canoe.sawcut.mark.2open.jpg
(ETA: Just checked another of my RR go-to vendors and discovered that, more recently, RR has offered several patterns in sawcut strawberry bone (including at least congress, moose, trapper, folding hunter, sowbelly stockman) and another series with amber sawcut bone and black stonewashed blades. I don't currently have any examples to post, but the sowbelly is calling to me. ;))

Here's a comparison shot of an old delrin Belknap Blue Grass Barlow and a new Case brown bone Barlow that reinforces r8shell r8shell 's point about "directional" changes in sawcut patterns over the years :
pair.mark.closed.patio.jpg

- GT
 
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You can still get the "SAW CUT" Delrin and (real) Bone (OTB series) on the BTI Old Timer 7OT, 6OT, 858OTB (large) stockman, 8OT/8OTB stockman, and I think the 34OT (I don't know if there is a 34OTB) stockman, along with several Old Timer pen and jackknives.
I know you can still get Saw Cut Delrin on more than a few of their fixed blades, as well. :)

It is not "Critically Endangered" or "Extinct" on everything but the Barlow. :)

Since you specifically expressed interest only in Old Timer, I won't mention the Buck 301 and 303 ... oops ...
 
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Misplaced Hillbilly Misplaced Hillbilly
I really like my 858OTB. the "Perfect" size, at 4.5 inches closed, IMHO for an EDC stockman. :)
Too bad the pulls on mine are such that I have to fight with the knife to open it. I'd guess between an "8" and "9", so I'll never carry it. :(

I am going to try and get the pulls lighter. Or maybe I'll just order another, and try again.
In the mean time, I'll just have to "get by" with my Rough Rider 4.25 inch closed stockman's with a near "perfect" Buck 301-ish pull of around a "4" on all three blades.
 
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eisman said:
Different types of saws. Older cut bone used round saw blades as those were best for mechanical devices. Parallel lines indicate band saw blades and those are more modern and both easier to automate and safer.
Click to expand...
That makes sense. I sure do like the look of the old circular saw cuts though.
redcanoe said:
I am afan of saw cut handles.whether they are real bone or synthetic.Most that I have handled were some sort of plastic.View attachment 1267763 View attachment 1267763
Click to expand...
Nice! You need to find one of the Buck Barlows next. :):thumbsup:
 
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