Gasoline Powered Drag Saw

Tehama County Museum announces the acquisition of an old time drag saw complete with short and long saw blades and even its Model T style ignition coil. For decades the standard saw for cutting up logs was the familiar long two-man type with a handle at each end. When relatively light, reliable gasoline engines were developed around the turn of the century they were soon put to work as a power source for portable saws to replace the drudgery of the regular crosscut saw, sometimes called a "misery whip." The result was the drag saw.
This specimen was presented to the museum by Michael Stevenson in memory of his grandfather Clifford Stevenson who used it in the Manton, California area and whose wish it was that it go to the Tehama County Museum so the public could enjoy seeing it and learn about this important part of the county's heritage. Mike recalls his grandfather saying that he had put in a half day's labor to get it from its previous owner.

Howard Cramer of Flournoy, who has spent a lifetime in the timber industry, recalled the use of drag saws in the 1930s and that they had been around for many years then, mostly used for cutting firewood though they had other uses. He explained its use for the museum.

The saw was dragged to a down log , the arms were set upon the log at the place to be cut, the pointed dogs pounded in to hold it in place, the saw blade lowered, the engine started, and the clutch engaged. Although the engine had grease cups and an oil drip bottle for lubrication the drive system required frequent squirts from an oil can. Upon completion of one cut the whole saw unit was moved and aligned for the next cut. The process was so cumbersome that many woodcutters preferred the old hand type. The advent of chain saws brought the demise of the drag saw by about 1940.

By Dick Chamberlain