Greetings All, I have a 14 in backsaw that was given some time ago to my father who let it collect dust for a number of years. It has found its way to me and I am curious as to its age, etc. Pics aval at: http://s770.photobucket.com/albums/xx344/beletuen/Tools/Saws/Hawksworth Backsaw/ The saw marked S. Hawksworth, Sheffield, Cast Steel on the spine and has a WS medallion so I am reasonably certain it is of English manufacture though I didn't see it listed in the directory. However, I know little else about it. Thanks in advance for any info that you can share.
S Hawksworth, Sheffield Hey Erik Nice saw. Ray and I had this discussion back in 2008. It is under "to medallion or not. The Hawksworth I asked about was a Thomas B Hawksworth so I don't know where an "S" comes into the mix and its relation to the Hawksworth line. My saw has a blank in the Warranted Superior area and it still has to be my favourite handle because of its graphic nature. Ray had some thoughts back then. Maybe more to come. Joe
Hi Erik, Welcome to the forum, and nice to see the saw being passed down through the family. Looks to be in good condition too.. S.Hawksworth is a bit of a mystery, Joe has pointed to some work I did a few years back on Wilson Hawskworth, Ellison. But I can't find an "S" Hawksworth... I think a bit more research is going to be required to track this one down, Simon might have come across this one? Always good to uncover a new saw maker... Regards Ray The earlier thread Joe referred to is here ... http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=58&jfile=showthread.php&t=11
Ray, Joe, Thanks for the welcome and the info on other Hawksworth sawmakers. This saw is perfectly straight but needs a good sharpening were it to be used. I will leave it alone as I have other hand saws to use. This one is definitely S. Hawksworth but it doesn't explain much. Maybe a brother or cousin to the other Hawkesworths that are known. I was hopeful that somebody may recognize the WS medallion and be able to estimate the date of manufacture. I am going to swag it as mid-19th century until someone tells me different. I have a few older Disston saws from the same period so it will be in good company. Regards, Erik
I wanted to revive this old thread as my first post since I recently had a once in a lifetime opportunity in that I was given a tool chest from a carpenter who passed away in the late fifties, by his grandson. In the chest was, among many other things, an 18 inch crosscut back saw made by T. B. Hawksworth, Sheffield. I hope this adds to the general knowledge regarding this sawmaker. It has four split nut screws though I think the medallion was added later as it sits in an oversized depression in the handle. The blade tapers down from three inches at the toe to four at the heel and is brass backed. the handle is original and while not pristine still in fairly good shape. I do not seem to be able to post a picture unfortunatly. At any rate I like back saws particularly those made in Canada.
Welcome aboard James. If that saw was in the picture you posted on the Canadian forums it looks to be a really nice saw. Hope you figure out how to get the pics here because I am sure a few will like to see it. It seems that there might have been a lot of Hawksworth exports as I think I have all my examples are from the North American Continent. I also don't think you are the only one here who has an interest in Canadian saws. haha.... Looking forward to seeing the saws. Joe s.
Hi James, Try reducing the size of the image and see if that's the problem. I am assuming that you are adding the pictures as attachments? Let me know how you get on, and send me an email if the problem persists. Regards Ray
Here are the Pictures of James' Hawksworth. The warranted superior medallion looks a bit lost in that oversized hole. But it's very nice looking saw.
Thanks Ray I will have to figure out how I can post pictures here in future. Any idea of the approximate age of that saw based on the markings etc.
S Hawksworth Hawksworth is such a common Sheffield name that it would be necessary to go to some of the 19th cent trade directories and see if any of them who were cutlers, silver smiths or other secondary metalware workers fitted this bill. Brass backsaws seem to have been a favourite product for these non-saw makers to get with their name on, so as to widen their market. I might be able to do this later next week. The TBHawksworth is very unusual (?unique) in having four screws - evidently because it's an 18in tool. I have seen 4-screw butcher's saws, but not one which seems to have been for woodwork (am I right?).
SHawksworth In the library today - worked through all the available trade directories from 1852-1932 - the only S Hawksworth was called Susan, who ran some lodgings... Reckon we can count her out. But there was column on column of Hawksworths, in every conceivable trade, so I think that we'll have to conclude this saw is a brand, not a maker. Or maybe one of the real Hawksworths, as it were - such as TB - had an infant son called Sidney who he planned to hand on the business to, but who died in childhood. Unless someone can come up with a better guess. Incidentally, I've not been able to get up the original page that Erik referred to.
Hi Simon, The Hawksworth's were certainly a prolific bunch.... seems like there are hundreds of them. I found a Samuel, and lot's of Sarah's ( 15 Sarah Hawksworth's in the 1851 census alone ) but nothing relevant to saw making. The picture that Erik posted has vanished into the ether... it was on a photo sharing web site "photobucket" .. So the picture is lost unless Erik can upload it again.. ( I should send him an email ) Regards Ray
Hawksworth, S Can I add a request to Erik also? If you could email me a large (bytes-wise) close up photo of the mark, and one of the saw itself, I would hope to be able to add the dating information to my database. Many thanks Simon (barleys@mac.com)
S Hawksworth Backsaw Ray and Simon, Sorry for deleting the previously posted link. Here is a new link to the same pictures as posted earlier. http://s770.photobucket.com/user/beletuen/library/Tools/Saws/Hawksworth Backsaw Cheers,
Thanks Erik, much appreciated. Still not really any closer to unravelling who "S Hawksworth" might be... Always good to find saws that have a bit of mystery about them.. Regards Ray
I think your right that the four screws are unusual, I have a 16 inch Groves back saw and it only has three and they look crowded at that. I am really curious now about this T. B. Hawksworth item. I was wondering if maybe it had originally a large blank saw screw and the warrented Superior was a later replacement, so who knows. To my considerably less than expert eyes the handle on my saw appears to indicate plenty of age, but I am willing to stand corrected on that point. Oh and by the way I am not a collector, yeah right.