Unusual Etches on Disston Backsaws

Ever see a saw etch that was turned 90 degrees from normal? I've recently restored a Disston No. 7 backsaw that has one. In trying to discover why, the saw owner and I have discovered a few more examples of these oddly etched backsaws. We've written up our observations in a short article you can read here.

The Saw

I bought me a saw at the second hand store
It cost me two bucks; wouldn’t pay no more

The handle is weathered and the horns are busted
The blade ain’t straight and it’s pretty well rusted

There’s a disk on the handle with a little brass seagull
Oops! My bad, it looks more like an eagle

The teeth are dull; some are big and some small
From their looks they were set with a splitting maul

There’s a thing near the end that a feller called a nib
He could be right, or he coulda told a fib

Don’t worry if you’re thinking that my saw sounds inferior
The storekeeper told me that it’s warranted superior

                                                       - Bob Summerfield