OK guys, ever seen anything like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-COLLECTIBLE-HAND-SAW-/281092394697?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4172698ec9 I have no clue what the top part could be used for. Toby
Hi Toby, I have never seen anything like it - as I suppose no-one except the maker has. And being up for a WAG at any time, I think that it is a very, very downmarket version/adaptation of the "Thumb-hole" idea in a D8. The slot in the iron knob stiffens up/reinforces the blade to a little further along its length while at the same time allowing the user to comfortably apply a very disproportionate amount of downward pressure to said blade by pressing on the knob.. Although why anyone would want to use a blade this thin in the above described manner is the real mystery. Presuming of course that my WAG hold water. Fred