File this message in the FWIW department...
I first have to say that I am not claiming foul to the maker, the reason this saw is like this is my own fault, but I realized today just why exactly it is better to have a slotted back on a handsaw which can not move from the plate, opposed to a folded back which can move from the plate.
I have been carrying this saw around in my soft nylon bag with a plastic guard over the teeth. Neither of these saws have been dropped, but I have tossed the bag around a bit, and today I was over a friend music store to get some inlays, and took these saws in my bag, along with some of my saws, and other inlay material and a piece of ebony....
I took this same bag with these saws in it to the LN Hand Tool Event in Oakland, didn't notice anything different at that time in Mike Wenzloff's booth.
However, upon getting home with more inlay goodies (see my blog), I was taking the saws out of the bag, and, whoa...what is that...????
Yes, the back has been unseated and has moved from the proper position on the plate...
Now, before someone accuses me of handsaw abuse, it is true that I didn't have them in a protected hardshell case as I would a guitar, but it's only a tool, should be able to stand up to that type of abuse, IMO.
I am convinced more than ever that having the plate secured in a slotted back where the plate and back can not move from each other is the better solution. Oh, I can fix this...that's not a problem, I will. I will not stop using these saws, they own a spot in my user quiver, Mike Wenzloff made these for me.
A folded back can always move, we see it all the time on old saws, I'm seeing it here on a fairly new saw. This back was not pushed up like that at the mortise, but it is now. A folded back can move.
I know that some folks have said that the beauty of a folded back is that you can adjust and tune it up. I honestly don't believe that matters, and in most cases you will HAVE to tune it up in the future because they can and may move. Again, this is not to dis Mike Wenzloff in any way, he makes wonderful saws, I am just showing what can happen with a folded back.
Saw on the left is my rip saw, the saw on the right is my xcut. I previously took apart the rip saw, but they were both the same when I put it back together and that has been at least a year ago. I know this is not a scientific study, being in my soft nylon bag, but...