The various versions of a hand saw were among the essential tools which had helped the European settlers wrestle this continent from its former inhabitants, and -- in place of a harmonious co-existence between Homo sapiens and the natural environment -- built a civilization very efficient at gradually destroying the bounty initially found here. Thus, along with the ax, the plow and, of course the gun, the hand saw could be viewed as a kind of former "accomplice in a crime".
The times have changed, however. In view of our future, the handsaw (as well as the ax; forget the gun!) may, at least by some, be appreciated as a valuable gift from the past for the morrow...
With thoughts like these in mind, I was particularly delighted to have recently made an acquaintance with Bob Dustrude -- a passionate designer and maker of folding bucksaws.
He makes them "right here" in Minnesota, in a shop heated with local self-split wood and thereby defies the widely-manifested notion that we (the "developed" nations) can no longer afford to make many of the things that we use and must therefore outsource their production to the corners of the world where labour is cheap. Thus relative to the prevalent trend, Bob does embody the concept of "regional self-sufficiency". In addition, what he also is a living example of is the previous generations' work ethic at it's extreme. At 61 he was entitled to a pension, but could not grasp the logic of quitting work that young. When I asked him how old he was now he put it in an uncommonly positive way: "in ten and half years I will be hundred". Amazingly, his hands are still making tools for others to use! My concern is that this one-man production has no apprentice... and when questioned why, Bob's answer echoed many other old men I've talked to regarding this issue -- "You know, the young people today..."
