Disston · No. 68 / No. 70 / No. 71 · No. 68 by 1906–1955; No. 70 and No. 71 to about 1945
Disston was late to dovetail saws. Through the 1800s, the dovetail saws Americans used were British, and Disston's early back saws had thicker blades. The No. 68 is in the 1906 catalog, with a straight turned handle that people now call a gent's saw. The No. 70 added an open applewood handle in 1918, and the No. 71 had an offset handle for cutting flush. All three had a 26-gauge blade, about .018 inch thick, with 17 points and a brass-plated steel back, in lengths from 6 to 12 inches with 1½ to 2 inches of blade under the back. The No. 70 and No. 71 were gone from the 1947 brochure, and the post-war No. 68 had a .020-inch blade with 15 points. Disston sold them for dovetailing, tenoning, ship models and toy making, and plenty of No. 68s survive.
Identify and date it
The No. 68 has a round handle in line with the back, the No. 70 a small open grip held by two screws, and the No. 71 an offset handle so the blade can lie flat on a surface. The No. 69 looks like a No. 68 but was made for cutting brass and copper. Disston also made a few uncatalogued open-handled back saws from the 1840s to the 1890s with No. 4-style blades, and they cut like a small No. 4, not a thin dovetail saw.
If you’ll use it
Disston sold these for dovetailing, tenoning and model building, and a straight one with a sound back still does that work. The Disstonian Institute adds that an 8- or 10-inch No. 4 back saw filed 14-point rip makes a passable dovetail saw.
If you’ll collect it
The No. 70 is the scarce one, while No. 68s are relatively easy to find, according to the Disstonian Institute. The uncatalogued open-handled back saws are prized mainly as collectables.
Old dovetail saws turn up with rust, pitting along the fine teeth and kinked blades, and a sharp kink can't be straightened. On the turned-handle No. 68 and No. 71, a rivet through the ferrule and tang is what stops the handle from turning, so check it's still there.
Buying guide
Only ten Disston dovetail saws are listed, too few for the $100–180 delivered band to be a market read, and just three are titled with a Disston dovetail model number, all No. 68s. Buy a No. 68, the straight turned-handle gent's saw the Disstonian Institute calls relatively easy to find, and 10-inch ones ask $50–100 delivered here. Ask whether the handle turns on the tang, since a rivet through the ferrule is what stops it, and get a photo sighting down the blade, because a kinked one can't be straightened. Disston's catalogued dovetail saws ran 6 to 12 inches, so the 16-inch saw asking $385 delivered is a back saw with a dovetail title.
$50.44est. delivered
A 10-inch No. 68 gent's saw for about $50 delivered, half the band's low end. Ask whether the handle turns on the tang and for a photo sighting down the blade.
VINTAGE DISSTON NO. 68 DOVETAIL GENTS SAW 10" USA
$99.85est. delivered
A 10-inch No. 68 with a wooden case for $100 delivered, at the bottom of the band. Check the teeth in the photos for pitting and ask whether the rivet through the ferrule is there.
Vintage Disston & Sons No.68 Dove Tail Gents Saw 10” Blade With Wooden Case USA
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$50.44est. delivered
$39.99 + $10.45 shipping
Buy It Now$39.99
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Good buy
10-inch No. 68 gent's saw, the cheapest here.
Seller: mibrah5
100% positive
Used$99.85est. delivered
$85.00 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$85.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
10-inch No. 68 with a wooden case.
Seller: kimbcol-3369
100% positive
Used$79.85est. delivered
$70.00 + $9.85 shipping
Buy It Now$70.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
12-inch back saw with no model number. Ask whether it's a No. 68 or a small No. 4.
Seller: vegasbird11
99.6% positive
Used$114.84est. delivered
$99.99 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Titled a No. 80 cabinet saw, which isn't one of Disston's catalogued dovetail models.
Seller: jtallen83
100% positive
Used$124.50delivered
$124.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$124.50
Our take
8-inch No. 68 etched Toronto. Free shipping.
Seller: greatcatalogue
99.7% positive
Used$156.15est. delivered
$145.00 + $11.15 shipping
Buy It Now$145.00
Our take
Titled a pattern maker's dovetail saw, no model number. Ask for the length and the etch.
Seller: rosenjerom
99.7% positive
Used$142.65est. delivered
$125.00 + $17.65 shipping
Buy It Now$125.00
Check the seller
Seller at 93.5%. Disston's first catalogued dovetail saw, the No. 68, dates from about 1906, so ask what this 1865-1871 saw is.
Seller: oldetoolsandmore
93.5% positive
Used$385.00est. delivered
$375.00 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$375.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
16 inches, longer than any Disston dovetail model, at about twice the band top.
Seller: oldjunkhunter64
99.8% positive
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