Store Lee Valley Bad Axe Stiletto Dovetail Saw

Made by a small employee-owned firm in Wisconsin, Bad Axe saws are crafted from premium materials, with designs modelled after classic late-19th-century American saws. Though finely made, they are anything but delicate, with a heft that permits a powerful stroke.

Designed for cutting dovetails accurately and efficiently, this saw has a hand-filed, hammer-set Swedish spring-steel blade and a quartersawn white oak handle secured with slotted nuts. The folded back is made of thick carbon steel for rigidity and added mass, finished with the same black-oxide treatment used in firearms to provide lasting protection against corrosion.

It has a 12″ long, 0.018″ thick blade that cuts a 0.027″ kerf with a cut depth of 1 7/8″. It weighs 1 lb, with an open handle mounted at a noticeably lower angle than traditional dovetail saws. The 14 tpi rip pattern has 4° of rake and 5° of fleam to help reduce tear-out.

Impeccably finished, this is a well-made, superbly balanced tool.