**Originally Listed At $600**

North America, United States, ca. second quarter of 18th to early 19th century CE. A forged-carbon-steel saw used for quickly carving through bone and skin alike. The elongated blade has a rounded but sharp tip, one side lined with petite saw teeth which have alternating left and right leaning points, and the opposite side hammered to an incredibly thin edge. Two halves of the wooden T-shaped handle are secured via three narrow pins and bear a pleasingly smooth surface texture. One side bears impressed letters reading "W. STILLMAN CAST STEEL PATENT." While some Civil War reports detail the use of bone saws on unanesthetized soldiers in battlefield medical tents, this example was most likely used as a multi-purpose butcher's tool for slicing meat and dividing bony portions of meat into uniform portions. Size: 1.8" W x 17.6" H (4.6 cm x 44.7 cm)

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in March 2015; ex-private Cortland, New York, USA collection

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#153523

Minor nicks to blade and handle, with light pitting to blade, abrasions to some raised areas of handle, and minor softening to impressed lettering, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout. Saw teeth and blade edge are still quite sharp.