Esteemed Society of the Nib, (and GG's)

Steve Reynolds writes:- 
>=09In that spirit, I want to say that the images of very early nibbed
>saws seem to be more decorative than even Disston's saws. Look at the
>examples that have been linked to in this thread. Those are some
>artistic metalworking, for instance:

>=09Except for the images which have unclear indication that there are
>holes at the end of the blade, none of them seem to a purpose, in my
>opinion. What those holes are used for, I will gladly admit that I
>don't know for sure. Attaching a handle seems to jump right out at me.
>Perhaps not for attaching a second handle, but reattaching the the one
>at the other end for switching from push to pull strokes.
>


Sorry, I scanned at 72 dpi, originally, here are higher resolution scans
of the relevant bits. These are at 300 dpi and a lot clearer.

This shows a hole at the toe end, also it's a straight blade, and
rivetted handle http://www.backsaw.net/pics/1600sSwedishSawLarger.jpg

This one, a thing of beauty. Later than the first.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/1700sSwedishNibLarger.jpg

Nice bit of Dutch craftsmanship.
http://www.backsaw.net/pics/1698DutchNibLarger.jpg

I see no conflict between the "it's decorative, and can we now please
move on" camp, and the "let's re-discover the long lost secrets of the
past" camp.

At a time when all saws were hand-made one off's it isn't surprising
that the local smith would embellish his work with a bit of a flourish,
it's pretty evident on all one-off tools, (I even do a bit of it
myself!), that doesn't mean however that the particular embellishment
didn't arrive from some earlier forgotten function.

The fact that it was forgotten, however, might mean it's a idea
who's time has passed, like having a blade that can serve in either
a frame saw or a hand saw. Functional, but not needed when you can
have two saws. Or the hand saw blade gets much wider and not
suitable for the bow saw.

Function and beauty are not mutually exclusive, beauty can be in
the graceful lines and appreciation of function. Functional doesn't
mean ugly.

Take a look at Mike Wenzloff's saws, to my eye, that's beauty.
Embellishment is not a pre-requisite for beauty.

Regards Ray Gardiner
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