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Interesting Documents, etc

Updated: 11:44 AM 10/18/2025
  1. None of this information is required to appreciate how unique a one, or two, man crosscut saw is designed or built. However by reading as much of this information as possible an appreciation of their unique design and their implications should become clear.

  2. When watching the five part series from "The Crosscut Sawyer Companion Video" some consideration of what happens to saws that are not currently the most used/important item in the woods can happen. They get bent, rusted and ignored. I saw one at a flea market that had been used as the edge of a cement form!

  3. Part of the demise of crosscut saws is the advent of practicable chain saws. The chain saw became practicable somewhere in the 1950s and the old crosscut saws were rapidly ignored, misused and not cared for. There have been very few new crosscut saws made since the 1940s. Part of this was caused by the depression of the 1930s and part by the slow advances of the chain saw. In addition to the rise of the chain saws, the older crosscut saw manufacturers slowly went out of business. In between during this time there were the "drag saws" which took two or three men to operate and move.

  4. There is a good on-line resource about Disston saws. It is The Disstonian Institute . Which has large amounts of information about the Disston saw.

  5. Whenever I could, I downloaded the USFS PDFs for each publication.

  6. Some of the files are quite large or the videos might be longer than expected. I have indicated the size for each with some of the items. Note that all of these values are approximate.

    • For PDF files: have their name, size in bytes indicated followed by their length in pages. i.e. (xxx.pdf 100 kb, 100 P) indicates a 100 Kbyte file that is 100 pages long for a fake PDF file xxx.

    • Video files: have an approximate run time indicated in minutes. i.e (22 min) indicates a video that is about 22 minutes in length.

Crosscut and Chain Saw Information

  1. Recent poster information about saws (1923-2M01_CrosscutSawsAndRelatedTools.pdf 6,642 kb, 4 p)

  2. Michael, David ; Vachowski, Brian. 2004. Saws That Sing: A Guide to Using Crosscut Saws 0423 2822P. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. (pdf04232822dpi300.pdf 14,209,932 kb, 71 p)

    This comprehensive guide presents time-tested techniques for using and maintaining vintage crosscut saws. It includes descriptions of different types of crosscut saws, saw handles, and wedges, as well as instructions for bucking logs with crosscut saws. Numerous illustrations and photos explain the key points.

    Keywords: traditional skill, traditional tool, wilderness management

  3. Miller, Warren. 1977. Crosscut Saw Manual 7771 2508. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. (pdf77712508dpi300.pdf 1,140,740kb, 35 p).

    Explains how to use and care for a crosscut saw, including cleaning, straightening, jointing, fitting rakers, pointing up cutter teeth, setting teeth, and testing the saw. The report includes many photographs and drawings. It also includes a glossary of terms.

    Keywords: traditional skill, traditional tool, wilderness management

  4. The Crosscut Sawyer, Companion Video (43 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdq6pdpKmoc

  5. The Crosscut Saw Filer (Companion Videos):

Saw Training

  1. Wolf, Jerry ; Whitlock, Chuck. 2006. Chain Saw and Crosscut Saw Training Course. 0667 2C01. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program.

    The 16- to 32-hour saw training course is designed to provide the technical knowledge and basic skills employees or volunteers need to use chain saws and crosscut saws safely. The training course materials include two guidebooks. The instructor's and student's guidebooks are identical—except that the instructor's guidebook also contains instructor's notes.

    Keywords: traditional skill, traditional tool

  2. Sawyer Certification Levels:

    • Trainee Sawyer (crosscut-sawyer-trainee-12-30-2019.pdf 157 kb, 2p)

    • A Sawyer (a-sawyer-12-30-2019.pdf 137 kb, 1p)

    • B Sawyer (b-sawyer-12-30-2019.pdf 156 kb, 1p)

    • C Sawyer (c-sawyer-evaluator-12-30-2019.pdf 134 kb, 1p)

  3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (personal-protective-equipment-required-for-saw-operations-12-30-2019.pdf 105 kb, 1p)

  4. Wolf, Jerry. 2006. Situational Awareness Exercise for Crosscut Sawyers 0667 2P02. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. (pdf06672P02.pdf)

    This sawyer safety training presentation can help students learn how to make safe sawing decisions and recognize common mistakes that occur during sawing operations.

    Keywords: felling, handles, hazards, PPE, saw sheaths, situational awareness, solvents, traditional skill, traditional tool, wedges

  5. National Crosscut and Chainsaw Program

Ax Information

  1. Recent poster information about axes (1623-2M04_Poster-SizeAxeDrwgs-08-09-17-All-Pages.pdf 1,843 kb, 1 p)

  2. Beckley, B. 2019. One Moving Part: The Forest Service Ax Manual. 1823 2812P. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. 249 p.

    This manual provides information about different types of axes and their historic and current usage in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Subjects covered include the anatomy of an ax, types of axes and related tools, selecting the right ax for you, the art of filing, sharpening an ax head, restoring or replacing an ax handle, using an ax, maintaining an ax, and purchasing an ax. The manual also includes a list of resources and information about ax manufacturers and suppliers.

    Keywords: adzes, ax, axes, crosscut saws, double-bit axes, felling, handtools, hand tools, heritage, logging, lumberjacks, primitive skills, primitive tools, pulaskis, single-bit axes, survival skills, traditional skills, traditional tools, trails, two-man saw, wilderness

  3. An Ax to Grind (With Companion Videos):

Saw Related Tool Information

  1. Crosscut saw Tooth-Setting Tool (pdf02232324dpi300.pdf 3,804 kb, 3 p)
  2. Crosscut Saw Guards (pdf97232341dpi300.pdf 1,459 kb, 4 p)
  3. New Tools for Old Saws (pdf05232815dpi300.pdf 5,535 kb, 22 p)
  4. Crosscut Saw Underbucking Tool (pdf02232330dpi300.pdf 1,332 kb, 6 p)
  5. Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook, 2004 Edition (pdf04232825dpi300.pdf 2,340 kb, 74 p)
  6. Hand tools for Trail Work, 2005 Edition (pdf05232810dpi300.pdf 2,505 kb, 62 p)
  7. Technical drawings for a Pulaski tool (NTDP-632.pdf 588 kb, 4 p)

Misc Data

  1. Beckley, Bob. 2011. Visual Danger Tree Indicators (poster) (pdf11672M13dpi300.pdf 51,890 kb, 1 p) 1167 2M13. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center.

    This poster shows some of the common defects that create a danger tree. By learning to identify these hazards, firefighters, forest technicians, and sawyers increase their situational awareness and know when to walk away. Danger tree identification includes assessing the work site, determining if trees in the area are safe, and deciding on a mitigation method.

    Keywords: chain saws, crosscut saws, felling, firefighting, first aid, hazard trees, personal protective equipment, PPE, safety at work, terrain