This kind of a gloat so forgive me. A while back, I mentioned a road trip where I found myself in saw wonderland at Wenszloff & Sons Saw Makers.
First, there was no quid pro quo involved in this. Second, I’m not a saw freak, just a user of tools for an end result. I ordered the saw a while before I ever met Mike. Well it arrived today,
This one took a year but was worth the wait.
One of the first run of approximately 100 of the reproduction “Early Kenyon Dovetail Saws”.
Of course I had it “in dust” within seconds of opening the box.

The balance is flawless as it lies down on on the grain, It’s weight, just right for thin dovetails on thin stock, which is what I ordered it for. Tried Joel’s flat, level initial draw, Cosman’s opposite edge and the standard near edge cants (how I learned 40 years ago).
First on pine. Although my need is for 1/8 to 3/8″ drawer stock, this was on 3/4″. Not one grab with any method and a straight line drop after that. All in one smooth motion, both ripping and crosscutting. No silly micro starting teeth. Tried same thing with Walnut. Like butter and no grab. Finally on some really brutal really twisted Claro and some wild fiddleback rock maple. Both stuff that chews chisels to a whimper. Again, like a laser with minimum effort. And in all tests, no coarseness that you usually have to wait for a couple hundred cuts for the teeth to “bed”.
Just flat out smooth.

The blade width along the length of the blade varies from about 1.25″” at the toe to about 1.5″ at the heal. It’s attack angle just naturally drops you to the line on both sides. It appears to have a blade thickness of just over .0205 – 1/8″ below the teeth (20 tooth,rip) but the blade measured at 1/2″ above teeth measure at .018 – .019. Apparently it has been taper ground – no metal to bind in the kerf after the teeth. The kerfs in both hard and soft woods measured with a feeler gauge came in at .021.
The thick, heavy 5/8″ brass back gives a good heft and draw weight as it slides down through a tail. If this dovetail saw is any indication of the yet to be produced Early Kenyon Carcase Saw, I may have to order one soonest.
I’m not a writer for any woodworking magazine and I don’t get free samples to crow over. I gain nothing by writing this. I have had an LN and an Independence. Both good saws and well made – almost identical(almost). When I’m not using a very much modified Adria or an old Disston, lovingly ground and re-cut, I’m using a Dozuki and a Zona. All have their place. But, for me, it all comes together for smaller thickness woods with this one.
Mike and his family and crew produce beautiful and more importantly, really functional tools.

Well Done Sic Monkey!

Oh, I forgot. It’s a handsome looking tool also.

Boiler