Harvey W. Peace Second Line Saws

Like most sawmakers in the late 19th century, Peace produced many saws that were considered second line saws. These were lower cost saws still of high quality, but lacking some of the improvements offered in their main line saws. These saws often had cast steel blades, less carving on the handles, and older style split saw screws rather than the newer improved Munger and Glover patent screws.

The most common second line Peace saws found today are the J.D. Darlington saws. Most of the Darlington saws I have found were smaller backsaws with the model no. 30 in the 10in range. Hand and panel saws with the model number 20 have been found but are less common.

Some thoughts on the J.D. Darlington brand name. The 1870 edition of "Boyd's business directory of over one hundred cities and villages in New York state" contains an entry for a John D. Darlington ,working for a Wlliamm Gunning & CO. (listed as "carvers") at 204 Centre Street. The Peace factory was located on Centre street from 1862-1867 so the two were practically neighbors. The 1870 US Census records show that John D Darlington was born in 1817 in England. He immigrated to America and was listed as a "woodcarver". I suspect that this is a connection, and not a coincidence, though I lack definitive evidence.