pull saw

tool

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A pull saw is a type of hand saw designed to cut on the pull stroke, rather than the push stroke common in modern Western handsaws. This design was historically favored because it allowed for thinner blades and reduced material waste. The pull stroke also enabled the sawyer to apply more force without the blade buckling. While less common today in Western woodworking, pull saws are still used in some parts of Asia, such as China and Japan.1

The concept of a saw dates back to the Metal Age, with early saws cast from copper. The practice of "setting" the teeth (bending them alternately) to create a wider kerf and reduce friction was observed by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century CE.1

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Saw
…cutting take place on the pull stroke. In this stroke the sawyer could exert the most force without peril of buckling the saw. Furthermore, a pull saw could be thinner than a push saw and would waste less of the material being sawed.
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…cutting take place on the pull stroke. In this stroke the sawyer could exert the most force without peril of buckling the saw. Furthermore, a pull saw could be thinner than a push saw and would waste less of the material being sawed.
Read More