A tenon saw is a type of back saw, or a hand saw that makes use of a stiffened edge to give stability to the blade while it’s cutting. The stiffened edge may be made of metal or wood and also give the blade weight. The tenon saw is the most commonly used of the back saws.

A tenon saw is mainly designed to cut across the grain. The teeth are rip filed which means the saw can be used for rip cutting: cuts made parallel to the grain. Tenon saws usually have about 13 teeth per inch of blade. The handles, called pistol grips, are sometimes open, but mostly they are closed.

The tenon saw is just one tool used in furniture joinery. It can be used for tenon shoulders, sliding dovetails, mitre box cuts, and housing dados. Other types of saws used include; the mitre saw, the dovetail saw, razor saw, and sash saw. These are all types of back saws and they are used in woodworking for detailed cuts.

A tenon saw is specifically used for making mortise and tenon joints. Mortise and tenon joints are commonly used in furniture making. The tenon joint is a smaller piece of wood that fits inside the matching mortise joint; the original tab A and slot B style of construction. This sort of joint has been used since ancient times. Some basic types of tenon joints include; open tenon, tusk tenon, joint tenon, and top tenon.

While the basic style of the joint is the same, there are some subtle differences. The joints can be simple with just a small piece of shaped wood extending from the larger piece to fit inside the mortise. Or they can be complex with a mortise joint cut into both sides of the joint. The cut can be circular, square, or a groove. The tenon then acts like a key, filling in the hole, to keep the two pieces together.

If you find yourself in the market for a vintage tenon saw, the name to look for is Henry Disston. Henry started selling his saws in the 1840’s. From a basement in Philadelphia he would go on to build a saw empire. Mr. Disston set the standard for quality saws and his competitors struggled to keep up. His tenon saw is distinctive for its curly handles.