Hello all, I would not normally have given this saw a first look, let alone a second were it not for the rather curious disk attached to it and which I take to be a medallion. I hope that it is original to the saw and not some later addition. I have looked through the saw medallions thread and the only thing that I can find that approximates to this one is a medallion on a saw by Lockwood, Leutkemeyer and Henry but the only common features seem to be the rather badly portrayed lions rampant. I suppose that the "L" in LIFA could refer to either Lockwood or Leutkemeyer but the rest is a mystery to me, as is the inclusion of a pick into the image. Does anyone have any idea as to whom this medallion refers, if it is indeed a genuine one. Fred
This one says European continental, probably German, to me. I hope to be confirmed in the guess, but won't be surprised to be corrected.
Hello Fred I searched every German and European resurce what i know, but i did not find anything about this saw. The only thing what i can say is, that it is probably German. I would say somewhat in the 1950 - 60 from the style of the handle and the medalion. It is unusualy that a medalion was nailed, normaly they have 4 spikes on the sides which get bent 90 degrees to the back and than pressed into the wood. 1866 was probably the founder year of the company. I have a few saws in that style and they are all from the 60´s. This small saws where used like a back saw, because here in Germany a lot of cabinet makers don´t used back saws ( and they where cheaper than a back saw). Also what i can see on the photo is that the handle is riveted and this is also typical German for this era.
I wonder if it's a coat of arms, rather than a saw maker? 1865 is significant in that it's the end of the American civil war, and there was a county of Liberia called LOFA... I've not been able to find a LOFA coat of arms. Maybe some Liberian historians might be able to help rule it in or out.
Look at the top of this image. http://allafrica.com/download/pic/m...cb03c875032beef8b035d608:arc614x376:w1200.jpg
Just a wild guess, but looking at the saw as a whole, which looks quite crudely made, I wonder if you should be looking for a toymaker rather than a sawmaker? It could still be late C19th and German. Does it look like a small saw for an adult or something made for smaller hands, to be included in a kit of toy tools?