Vintage Oak Leaf 28” Hand Saw – 5 TPI Rip, Carved Handle – Working Shop & Wall Decor

Stout vintage Oak Leaf hand saw with a straight 28” blade and coarse 5-tooth-per-inch rip pattern, freshly sharpened and waxed. Original carved handle with worn top horn and stabilized age cracks, plus heavy but even patina on the plate gives this one a great “been-there” look for either the shop or the wall.

Tool details

Maker: Wm. Enders “Oak Leaf” line, likely supplied through E.C. Simmons Hardware of St. Louis.
Type: vintage carpenter’s hand saw
Blade: approx. 27” long, about 5 TPI, filed rip
Handle: original carved hardwood handle with oak-leaf motif, brass fasteners and Oak Leaf medallion

Based on Oak Leaf brand history and design, this saw is most likely from the 1910s–1930s, but exact year is unknown.

Condition

Blade is straight with no kinks or bends.
Steel shows heavy, uniform pitting and dark patina on both sides from many years of service; pitting has been de-rusted and is now stable.
Teeth are all present and reshaped to a coarse rip pattern; existing light set retained.
Handle is solid in the hand. Small age cracks near the cheeks have been stabilized with thin CA.
Top horn is slightly shortened from old wear/knock; it has been smoothed and rounded for a comfortable grip rather than rebuilt.
Brass hardware shows age and wear; Oak Leaf medallion is worn but still legible.

This is not a collector-grade, polished showpiece – it’s a well-aged working/decor saw with a lot of honest character.

Restoration work performed

Loose rust and grime scrubbed off by hand with abrasive pads and lubricant.
Plate treated with a controlled Evapo-Rust soak to convert remaining active rust, then flushed with mineral spirits.
Steel finished with light oil and a coat of paste wax for protection and a dry feel.
Handle cleaned, cracks near the plate wicked with thin CA and leveled, then lightly sanded to preserve the original carving.
Handle finished with boiled linseed oil and wax for a warm, satin feel.
Teeth jointed and sharpened with a Nicholson slim taper file to a 5 TPI rip pattern; no additional set added, original light set retained.
Final coat of paste wax on the plate and handle for storage and shipping protection.

You’ll also receive my printed care sheet with basic tips for using and maintaining vintage hand tools.

How to use it

Great as a working rip saw for rough carpentry, firewood, general shop work and demonstrations.
Not tuned as a precision joinery saw; the heavy pitting adds a bit of drag compared to a smooth, high-end Disston.
Also perfect as rustic wall decor in a shop, farmhouse, man cave or cabin – the carved handle and dark patina look fantastic hung on a wall rack.

Bullet highlights

Vintage Wm. Enders Oak Leaf hand saw
27” blade with coarse 5 TPI rip pattern
Blade is straight, no kinks or bends
Heavy, even patina and pitting – fully de-rusted and waxed
Original carved hardwood handle with oak-leaf motif
Small age cracks at cheeks stabilized with CA
Top horn worn from long use, smoothed for comfort
Teeth jointed, sharpened and ready for light work
Excellent shop tool or rustic wall decor
Includes printed care and maintenance sheet
Carefully packed and shipped from Missouri