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This is a chain saw, also called a flexible saw. It consists of 25 links with steel teeth, and a brass ring at either end, for attaching the saw to a rope. Chain saws were used for cutting inaccessible branches. This saw was used by the estate forester at Witton Castle Mill, Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland. It bears what appears to be a War Department mark and may therefore have been used as a 'trench saw' during the First World War prior to its role on the Estate.

1 chain saw: metal

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'Saw, Flexible // Used by estate forester at Witton Mill, ? Witton le Wear, Nr. Bishop Auckland. // [pencil sketch]', MERL miscellaneous note - When examined closely this object appears to feature a War Department mark suggesting that it was originally intended to serve as a 'trench saw' [Ollie Douglas, 12 February 2016], Object research project, Madeleine Ding, December 2022 - 'How can this object be described? This chain saw or flexible saw has 25 links with steel teeth, and a brass ring at either end. The metal teeth are sharp and pointed in different angles. // What was this object used for? Chain saws were used for cutting inaccessible branches, that couldn’t be cut with a straight saw. Wooden handles or a rope was tied through the loop at each end of the saw. The saw was pulled backwards and forwards, so the teeth cut through the wood. // How old is it? If you look closely, you can see a broad arrow /|\ on one of the handles. This means it was made for the War Department and therefore probably used as a ‘trench saw’ during the First or Second World War. // Where was it used? We know it was used by a forester at Witton Castle Mill, Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. // Which other objects in the collection relate to the chain saw? This chain saw [MERL 83/73/1-6] has the wooden handles that were fitted to the loops at either end of the saw. // Modern chain saws are powered by an electric or petrol motor. This black and white photograph [MERL P 2FW PH2/493/8] from the 1980s is an image from the chainsaw manufacturer Stihl's booklet on correct preparation and economic use of wood as fuel.'

Sheffield