Gettysburg bone saw

[Library Lady]

If you are interested in Civil War medical/surgical equipment, I would highly recommend Dr. Gordon Dammann's 3 volume set Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment. Dr. Dammann was one of the founders of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and his personal collection formed the beginning of the museum's collection.

 

[2ndDEboy]

If you are interested in Civil War medical/surgical equipment, I would highly recommend Dr. Gordon Dammann's 3 volume set Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment. Dr. Dammann was one of the founders of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and his personal collection formed the beginning of the museum's collection.

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[R. Porter]

I think this discussion has been helpful in a broader sense. There has been a question concerning the type of saw/knife shown in the original post ever since one was found on the battlefield at Gettysburg. All of the uses suggested by the original poster could have occurred, but they lack documentation. In addition, the one found at Gettysburg could have been a kitchen saw that was accidentally lost on the battlefield before, during, or after the battle that had nothing to do with the battle. The idea of cutting up dead horses after the battle is interesting. So far, I've only read one of the two books I have on Gettysburg after the battle. I don't remember reading about dead horses being cut up but that doesn't mean it wasn't mentioned.

 

[R. Porter]

I did find a link to a discussion on the saw/knife in the Old Tool Archive. One of the contributors actually sold them on eBay. He ended his post by saying that you could wear your shoe on your head but that doesn't make it a hat.

OldTools Archive

swingleydev.com

 

[G Low]

Of course it's a bone saw, who in the hel* would be making sandwiches at the battle of Gettysburg? Then again maybe some solder had picked this "bread knife " up and was just hoping to get home with it to make some sandwiches…..but he was killed instead.

 

[G Low]

Of course it's a bone saw, who in the hel* would be making sandwiches at the battle of Gettysburg? Then again maybe some solder had picked this "bread knife " up and was just hoping to get home with it to make some sandwiches…..but he was killed instead.

Sometimes (mostly all the time) I don't think these things through. It could be a doctor's bone/bread knife. The catalog said it was double duty, so who knows, he very well could have sliced some bread with this knife. Surgeons have to eat too.

 

[delta rifles]

Again, the Disston Saw Company who made this saw called it something entirely different.

Jim Bode--a world renown antique tool dealer who specializes in this type of item--called it something entirely different.

The Director of Research at the Civil War Museum of Medicine called it something entirely different.

These aren't passive observers/appraisers. One is the actual source of the saw in question and the other two are people who specialize in these types of things.

I do not know why the Union Drummer Boy called it what they did. I have bought many things from them in the past and will continue to do so...but that doesn't mean their opinion is infallible either especially when it comes to things on the periphery of Civil War collecting. It is also notable that the saw from their website appears to have a different TPI (teeth per inch) than the one you published which can also the intended use of a saw.

Lord's Encyclopedia was published thirty years ago, and I do not know what provenance led to publish that description. The history of one item in a book does is not evidence that all were used for that specific purpose. Also of note, it looks like the nib of the saw in Lord's Encyclopedia has been altered when compared to your saw.



I understand that there is an emotional connection to the saw since it is part of your collection, and I apologize if I have offended you. The point of the matter is that posting things on an online forum like this opens them up for debate, and there is nothing wrong with that. Without knowing where and when it was found, there is no definitive link to the actual battle or its clean up especially considering that these were still being produced for kitchens well into the early 20th century.

 

[2ndDEboy]

Again, the Disston Saw Company who made this saw called it something entirely different.

Jim Bode--a world renown antique tool dealer who specializes in this type of item--called it something entirely different.

The Director of Research at the Civil War Museum of Medicine called it something entirely different.

These aren't passive observers/appraisers. One is the actual source of the saw in question and the other two are people who specialize in these types of things.

I do not know why the Union Drummer Boy called it what they did. I have bought many things from them in the past and will continue to do so...but that doesn't mean their opinion is infallible either especially when it comes to things on the periphery of Civil War collecting. It is also notable that the saw from their website appears to have a different TPI (teeth per inch) than the one you published which can also the intended use of a saw.

Lord's Encyclopedia was published thirty years ago, and I do not know what provenance led to publish that description. The history of one item in a book does is not evidence that all were used for that specific purpose. Also of note, it looks like the nib of the saw in Lord's Encyclopedia has been altered when compared to your saw.



I understand that there is an emotional connection to the saw since it is part of your collection, and I apologize if I have offended you. The point of the matter is that posting things on an online forum like this opens them up for debate, and there is nothing wrong with that. Without knowing where and when it was found, there is no definitive link to the actual battle or its clean up especially considering that these were still being produced for kitchens well into the early 20th century.

I am not offended at all but I called it a bone saw, I did not refer to it as an amputation saw as other in here have suggested, I have cited reasons as to What this saw blade could have been used for wether durring the battle or after who knows at this point but I'm suggesting it also could have been used to anything if it was used in the battle or after i do not know no one will ever know alll we know it was picked up on the battlefield after the battle and displayed in George Rosensteels museum started in 1921, it could of been war or post war I still don't know that but from what I gathered I called a general bone saw maybe prematurely again this shows everyone can learn when items are brought up to discuss. I'm not out to prove who is right or wrong but I read books suggesting the cutting off horse limbs to make them more easy and light weight to drag into burial holes. It's all mystery who knows but all I have is the Provenance attached with this item and the rosensteel were a family in Gettysburg during the battle.

 

[G Low]

Don't see anything close in Dr. Crawford Longs surgeons box.

 

[2ndDEboy]

Don't see anything close in Dr. Crawford Longs surgeons box.View attachment 554986