Keen Kutter saw?

[Jacob Nothstine]

I picked up this Keen Kutter saw at an estate sale. Not sure why it was rusty real bad , but straight and cheap $4.00. keen handle.jpgkutter.jpg. Cleaned it up no pits, and I can still make out some of the etching but no number. Anyone have any information on this saw? It's 26" cross cut and 5 TPI.
Any good web pages for Keen Kutter saws? Was this made by Disston or it's own company?

I did a test cut and it cut slow. With 5 TPI I thought it would cut fast. It does need a good sharpening. When it is sharp should it cut faster then a saw with larger teeth count?

[David Weaver]

It looks a lot like a disston #16 but with a skewback.

[Joe Bailey]

Fairly certain that's a No. 88

[Chris Vandiver]

Yup, that's a Keen Kutter 88. It is the same saw as a Disston D8 only it has a wheat carved apple handle instead of the plain apple handle that the Disston D8 has.

Yes, the lower tooth count means that your saw will rip faster than a higher tooth count. It does need to be sharp to accomplish that, though.

[Jacob Nothstine]

Thanks for the information.
Did Disston make saws for Keen Kutter?

[Jim Koepke]

Yes, the lower tooth count means that your saw will rip faster than a higher tooth count.

It also requires a bit more effort than a saw with more teeth.

jtk