Whether you are making a new saw from scratch or rehandling an existing one, the handle is one of the most important parts. The handle is your connection to the work, and its comfort, geometry (and even aesthetics) play a vital role in your sawing experience.
Covering the full range of backsaws, and With handles sized to fit nearly any hand, this will be the most comprehensve library of handle templates available. These are the same templates I use for my saws, but can be easily modified to fit your needs.
Each template includes a scale for reference. To ensure accuracy, please verify that the pdf printed out at the correct scale. The templates need to be printed at actual size; how you do this will vary with your printer and pdf viewer, but usually involves something along the lines of selecting "Actual size" or deselecting "Fit to page".
Saw nuts and bolts are can be purchased here;
blades and slotted spines are coming soon.
These templates are for personal use only. Any commercial use or redistribution is prohibited. You are welcome to share them with others, but please do so by linking back to this page.
If you make a handle using one of these patterns, and would like to share it with others, email pictures to [email protected] for inclusion in the reader's photo gallery.
This handle is based on a ca. 1840 Thomas Tyzack (an English maker) backsaw. The blade is 9" long, and tapers from a 1 5/16" depth of cut at the toe to 1 1/2" at the heel.
This handle is based on a mid to late 19th century Taylor Brothers (an English maker) backsaw. The blade is 10" long with a 2" depth of cut (except for the XL handle, which has a 2 3/16" depth of cut because of the size of the handle).
This handle is based on the carcase saw shown in Smith's Key (an 1816 catalog from which retailers could order merchandise). The blade is 12" long with a 3" depth of cut at the heel (2 3/8" at the toe).
This handle is based on an 1840's Disston backsaw, one of the earliest saws made by Disston. The blade is 12" long with a 3" depth of cut.
This handle is based on an 1840's Disston backsaw, one of the earliest saws made by Disston. The blade is 14" long with a 3 3/8" depth of cut. Also suitable for 16" and 18" backsaws.
This handle is based on a late 18th century Kenyon handsaw found in the Benjamin Seaton tool chest.