Hacksaw

Date1750-1820

MediumIron, steel, and wood

DimensionsLength: 20 1/8" Height: 4 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1997-115,2

DescriptionCrude hacksaw of usual form with a cylindrical wooden handle. Its heavily worn and re-sharpened blade is tensioned by a prominent "ram's horn" nut.
Label TextSome smiths made their own saw frames, like the one on this example. Since blades tended to come from specialized makers in far-flung places like Sheffield, they were kept in use through repeated sharpening, resulting in a curved row of teeth, as seen here.