Bad Axe Tool Works - 14-inch Large Tenon Back Saw

Bad Axe Tool Works™ Saws, Products & Accessories

Bad Axe 14" Sash Back Saw

Bad Axe 16" Large Tenon Back Saw

Bad Axe 18" Large Tenon Back Saw

The Roubo Beastmaster

Bad Axe 20" Miter Box Saws

Bad Axe Bench Hook Sets

Bad Axe Fasteners

Bad Axe Tool Care

Bad Axe Accessories

"I could not be more pleased with the nest of saws Mark hooked me up with. Four original Bad Axe back saws in two sizes, each in a rip and xc version. Customised to my taste, how cool is that? Plus two vintage hand saws that got the Bad Axe treatment to complete the collection. For now that is... These Bad Axe saws are so yummie I dare you to just buy one and keep it at that, just ain't gonna happen! Seriously good saws made by a seriously gifted and very nice guy. I consider myself lucky for knowing Mark and owning these saws and enjoy them very much just about every day. Wishing you all the best from Switzerland, cheers, Bob."

— Master Cabinetmaker Bob Gerritsen, Geneva, Switzerland, Menuiserie Bob Sarl

I'm lucky to own some very nice hand tools, both new and old. I can say without reservation that Mark's Bad Axe saws are by far the finest tools in my shop. The saws perform perfectly--they are easy to start, cut quickly and smoothly, and track perfectly. The fit and finish of these saws, and the attention to detail is simply unmatched by any modern sawmaker. Everything from the blade etch, saw nuts, the look and feel of the handle, even the packaging Mark uses are all first class. It will be an honor to hand these saws down to my children or grandchildren some day.

— Galoot Josh Clark, Purveyor of Fine Vintage Tools

I often get emails from people asking that age 'ol question--"If I only buy one saw then what should it be?"--well let me honestly say that this is the answer. A back saw filed crosscut but rips as good if not better than some of my dedicated rip saws from other manufacturers. I'm certainly not trying to slag or disrespect any other hand saw manufacturers out there but the proof is in the pudding. These saws are filed so sharp and cut so straight that once you finally get them in your hand you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The models I have been using this week are filed 12 and 13 tpi respectively and one came tricked out in walnut and the other in cherry. Whether you're a cabinet maker or a boat builder, a luthier or a timber framer, I can't imagine why anyone serious about wood working hasn't made the investment. It'll be the last saw you'll need but I'm damn sure you won't stop at just one.

— Master Craftsman Tom Fidgen The Unplugged Woodshop, and author of 'Made by Hand'

Hi Mark . . . the sash saws are awesome. I tried out the crosscut saw first on a 2" thick chunk of white oak. Went right through it, and what amazed me the most was the end grain on the piece after the cut--it was literally smooth as glass. Could not tell it apart from a cut using my forrest blade on the tablesaw, except for the fact that mine was crooked. Then tried the rip on some maple I had laying around, tracked right to the line and cut FAST. These saws have already made me a better hand tool woodworker, and they are also the best-looking tools I own. Thanks again.

— Ken Blais, Foster, Rhode Island

Bad Axe Tool Works 14" Sash Saw, $225

Customize Your Saw:

Handle Preference

Back Preference

Points Per Inch

Filing Preference

Plate Thickness

Fastener Preference

Make a Deposit

This will be the most versatile saw in your arsenal: my new 14" Sash saw, or medium-range Tenon Saw. Heck--it can also be a larger carcase saw! It's just a great all-around size, and that's why Disston made so many back saws in this size well over a century ago still floating around on eBay today.

My sash saw features a 3 5/8" deep x 14" long premium-grade Swedish spring steel sawplate; a firearms-grade, hot-blued carbon steel or optional brass, stainless steel and black pearl nickel-plated carbon steel backs; cherry or optional walnut or mesquite handles; and standard brass slotted fasteners or an array of optional slotted and split nut fasteners in three alloys: brass, gunsmith-blued steel and stainless steel. Be sure to check out my bench hooks to accessorize this great tool if you'd like it filed in crosscut mode.

This is a great size, a truly versatile saw that will handle most general-purpose work in the medium dimensions of the wood you work with a lean toward large and fine dimensions, and certainly a saw that those new to working wood by hand should put first in his or her nest of saws. The key thing is to tell me about your upcoming project, the most prevelant wood species you intend to use, and typical cut dimensions you think you'll encounter. That way, I can custom-file your saw to best suit your needs, given the way I employ my saw sharpening techniques.

So how do I want this puppy filed? You might notice a new category in the specifications choice block to the right. I've decided to offer three filings you can designate with your order, for rip-cut, hybrid-cut and x-cut. What's hybrid-cut? You may have heard that my x-cut saws can rip, and that my rip saws can x-cut. I've decided to let you decide whether you want a dedicated rip or x-cut saw, which has mostly to do with the angle of rake and fleam I put on the tooth. Many people just starting out in the world of hand tools (read--free-falling down the slippery slope of hand tools) prefer my 12 ppi hybrid-cut, which gives you the quality of a dedicated rip or x-cut saw, but enables you to switch modes on the fly. It's a great choice for those of you just starting out in hand tools, and want the most flexible saw for your buck before adding more Bad Axe weaponry to your arsenal.

New for 2011 is the black pearl nickel-plated finish available for the sawback. Nickel-plating is particularly durable, on par with stainless steel in its ability to withstand the corrosive nature of humidity and coastal air on carbon steel. You'll find this finish on high-end firearms, and on other applications where form and substance converge. And on that note, it looks just great--the deep black pearl lustre of this finish on carbon steel polished at 400 grit not only looks fabulous, but serves a completly practical role in scratch and corrosion resistance. With proper care, this saw will look just as good a century from now as it does today.

What's up with the .02 'thin-plate' and .025 plate options? A thinner, .02 plate will undeniably help one saw more easily and smoothly than with a traditionally thicker plates at .03+, and for that reason I have decided to make the standard plate for my 14" saw with a .02 'thin-plate.' Those of you purchasing this saw at 13 ppi x-cut will love the way it cuts in that fashion--it's quick, smooth, and deadly for virtually any crosscutting requirement. That said, too much of a good thing is not necessarily a good thing, and that's why I still offer this saw in the .025 regular plate for those who want a dedicated rip saw or a saw filed in hybrid-cut, capable of ripping with the grain all the way up to the back.

The reason I offer two thicknesses in plates is rooted in simple physics: All sawplates build up friction deep in a cut, and as such, the metal along the toothline expands. This creates warp in the metal and promotes drift in the cut. While friction can be mitigated by increasing the amount of set, it defeats the purpose of using a thin plate. So the bottom line here is that if you want to go deep, which is usually the case for most ripping requirements, get the thicker plate--that tad bit of extra mass goes a long way as a heat sink--and besides, a .025 plate is still a pretty thin plate, compared to the .03 Disston, Simonds & Atkins plates of yesteryear (and those saws are still just as viable today as they were in the 19th century!).

At the end of the day, you build your nest of saws akin to how you build your bevy of planes: you determine what kind of use you typically want out of a saw, and you build the saw (or have me build the saw) in accordance with the kind of cuts you want to make in the species of wood you typically work.

So with that in mind, here are my recommended filings along with associated plate thicknesses: 13 ppi dedicated x-cut with thin-plate (.02), 12 ppi hybrid cut with regular plate (.025), or 11 ppi dedicated rip with the regular plate (.025).

Right now, I'm running a 10-12 week backlog with orders, so the best way to lock your place in the queue is to select your options now and click through the PayPal process on the right to make a deposit. After paying the deposit, you will populate my queue, and I will advise you of the delivery date in my follow-up email. Hate making you wait, but this winds up being an easy, two-part transaction that won't drain your wallet up front while you're waiting for your saw.

And on a final note: if you change your mind about the options you select today when making your deposit, don't sweat it. I will shoot you an email the week before I'm ready to build your saw to solicit any changes you wish to make at that time, and there will be no penalty for changing those options around.

All Bad Axe Tool Works Saws Feature the Following:

Custom filing available at same price per request
Highly-figured 19th-century patterned cherry handles
Flush-face slotted or split-nuts sawbolts/nuts in three alloys and four finishes with a 13/16" deep-dish decorative medallion
Firearms-quality hot-blued finish on traditionally-folded steel back
Optional bright-polished stainless steel back
Premium-grade Swedish Spring Steel, RC50-52
I personally guarantee that these saws are SHARP out of the box, with appropriate joint, set and rake. Every tooth does its duty. I fully guarantee this saw for one year after purchase.

Learn more about my material choices and rationale.

Other Top Selling Bad Axe Tools: