I’d like to buy a vintage American made saw

[Hay Dude]

I have way too many irons in the fire, so what’s one more?
Anyway, I’m getting a bit nostalgic in my years and Stihl saws do my wood sawing tasks.

I remember my dad’s old saws. Remington, Homelite, David Bradley, etc.

Would like to find an old larger US made saw just to have one. I’d prefer one that runs as I don’t have the time and probably the skill to get one back into top running conditions. Maybe something that could cut for “fun” once in a while. I think I’d like to focus on a David Bradley, but was open to suggestions.

 

[stevem5215]

I remember an old McCoullough saw my dad had. It was so heavy as a kid I could barely lift it. My dad used it some but I think it was killer even for him to handle and it was dangerous IMO. He finally bought a new Mac when him and my brother started a cordwood business. As it turned out my dad did most of the work and my brother just would be delivery and collect the money. lol

 

[CalG]

I've got a pair of Mac 10's

One is a Pro mac, and the other a 10-10. IIRC

My go to saw when cutting the big stuff on the pile.

 

[jyoutz]

I remember an old McCoullough saw my dad had. It was so heavy as a kid I could barely lift it. My dad used it some but I think it was killer even for him to handle and it was dangerous IMO. He finally bought a new Mac when him and my brother started a cordwood business. As it turned out my dad did most of the work and my brother just would be delivery and collect the money. lol

Those were some of the earliest chain saws made. I remember the Pioneer brand saws also. I bought one from a logger in the early 1980s. A great beast of a saw, but damn heavy. After cutting a truckload of wood with it, I was wiped out.

 

[1Mech]

I have my dad's McCulloch Mini Mac with a 10" bar. I use it for small stuff like trimming. I rebuilt the carb when I got it and it still works pretty good.
A small lightweight machine. He bought it new back in the late '60s as I recall. We used it and another McCulloch, probably a 14 or 15" bar to cut firewood every fall.

 

[JasperFrank]

Homelite made some pretty good saws in the '70s. I had a 22 Inch Bar, New Old Stock, one with the finger chain lube pump. Inherited from the Dad. He said it never worked from the day he bought it. My Dad was not very mechanically inclined. Don't remember exactly what was wrong with it, but I got it running as it was something very simple like the points needed to be replaced. It was a first pull starter, all metal construction. Really liked that saw. Damn mice got to it in storage, and chewed all the wiring. Still got $100 bucks for it at a yard sale from a collector.

 

[Hay Dude]

I've got a pair of Mac 10's

One is a Pro mac, and the other a 10-10. IIRC

My go to saw when cutting the big stuff on the pile.

I have a big saw.
I’m looking for a vintage old US made saw.

 

[Hay Dude]

Those were some of the earliest chain saws made. I remember the Pioneer brand saws also. I bought one from a logger in the early 1980s. A great beast of a saw, but damn heavy. After cutting a truckload of wood with it, I was wiped out.

1980’s is too new.

I just sold my ECHO from the 80’s and it wasn’t what I would call vintage or heavy.


I’m talking 60’s. Like this David Bradley I found on FBM.

Or this old Homelite

 

[IXLR8]

I have a Homelite Zip that was my grandfathers he bought in the early 60's. Had to update the bar/chain/drive sprocket when the original chain was no longer available. Needs carb cleaned as it is running a bit rough. Heavy beast, just let the weight do the cutting. LOUD, but don't get in it's way as it will cut thru anything, even cinder block. DAMHIK

 

[jyoutz]

1980’s is too new.

I just sold my ECHO from the 80’s and it wasn’t what I would call vintage or heavy.


I’m talking 60’s. Like this David Bradley I found on FBM.

View attachment 1406790

Or this old Homelite

View attachment 1406791

Those are cool old saws. At Northern AZ University School of Forestry, they have an old McCulloch two person saw with a four foot bar and a handle on the front for the second person. A true vintage classic that I wouldn’t want to operate. But those 1980s Pioneers were all metal and extremely heavy for the year. Probably why they are no longer made.