Bit/Shank ID?

[Bullheaded]

Help me out. The bit/shank combo on top shows a box tab of style 3 teeth, 8/9ga. I trust that. The bit/shank combo shown below is off my 30" blade. The insert "circle" of this shank is 3". What do I have? The shanks are Simonds and say 5 7.

[Ron Wenrich]

The top shank looks more like a B or F pattern.  The bottom shank looks like the numbered pattern like a 3 or 3½.  That's probably not much help.  Numbered pattern shanks have 2 holes in the shank, lettered patterns have 1.

I don't know what the numbers are on the shanks.  Are you sure the 5 isn't a 3?  I've blown up your picture, and I'm not sure its a 5.  Are you sure they're Simonds?  There were many saw makers, and some had different numbering patterns for the inserts.  Diston had a 33 and a 66, for example.  

[Bullheaded]

Ron, thank you for the reply. 


 

 

 Attached are pics showing the shank...clearly Simonds and 57. I did note a vee key in the bit and making v-groove in the shank. I have 2) emails into Simonds customer service with no response.

[Ron Wenrich]

They should know a lot more about it than I do.  ;)

[Bullheaded]

Al at Rice Blacksmith Shop has identified this bit/shank combo as one that was somewhat popular on the West Coast. Hopefully, more info to follow!

[Bullheaded]

Well darn. Al told me he has no No.5 bits and has checked all his normal sources. So, the marking on the shank "57" is exactly that, No.5 style and 7ga. Guess I have a wall-hanger.😢. Maybe one of you West Coast mill owners might know of a small stash of bits?