Spear & Jackson Brass Back Saw 10-inch
Score: 85/100
Suizan Ryoba
Score: 92/100Rankings
The Suizan Ryoba is a professional-grade Japanese pull saw featuring a 9.5-inch double-edge blade with 9 TPI for rip cuts and 15 TPI for cross cuts. It utilizes razor-sharp Japanese steel with a thin kerf to deliver clean, precise cuts with minimal effort, available in folding and fixed handle variants.
The Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 is a high-precision brass-back tenon saw designed for fine woodworking and joinery tasks. Its solid brass back ensures rigid, straight tracking, making it ideal for tenons and picture frames, though the weight may cause fatigue. It is best suited for woodworkers prioritizing cut quality over speed in small to medium pieces.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
10 inchesbest | 9.5 inches | |
15 TPIbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.27 lbs | 0.44 lbsbest |
5.9 inches | 23.62 inchesbest | |
0.7 mmbest | 0.5 mm | |
15 inchesbest | 2.5 inches |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Handle & Ergonomics(2) | ||
Handle Material | Wood | Cane-wrapped or Polypropylene |
Handle Type | Ambidextrous | Interchangeable |
Dimensions & Weight(2) | ||
Weight (lbs) | 1.27 lbs | 0.44 lbs |
Overall Length (inches) | 5.9 inches | 23.62 inches |
Performance & Usage(3) | ||
Intended Use | Precision Joinery | Woodworking |
Saw Type | Tenon Saw | Japanese Pull Saw |
Cutting Action | Bidirectional | Pull |
Blade Specifications(5) | ||
Blade Length (inches) | 10 inches | 9.5 inches |
Teeth Per Inch (TPI) (TPI) | 15 TPI | 9/15 TPI |
Blade Material | Carbon Steel | Japanese Steel |
Blade Thickness (mm) | 0.70 mm | 0.5 mm |
Blade Width (inches) | 15 inches | 2.5 inches |
Build & Durability(2) | ||
Blade Coating | None | null |
Replaceable Blade | false | true |
General(1) | ||
Warranty | Quality Guarantee | null |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Expert reviewers highlight the saw's brass back as a critical advantage for stability and straight tracking, making it ideal for precision tasks like tenon joints and picture frames. However, they note that initial performance may suffer from rough kerf and skip-starts, which typically resolve after the teeth are tuned or resharpened.
The provided data does not contain extensive user feedback or consumer reviews. Consequently, there are no recurring themes or specific praise/complaints from everyday users to summarize.
“My personal favorite for all around hand sawing”
“Razor-sharp cuts immediately; smooth, clean edges on various woods”
Professional reviewers, including Jonathan Katz-Moses, praise the Suizan Ryoba as a personal favorite for all-around hand sawing due to its weight balance, sharp edge, and thin kerf. Experts highlight the efficiency of the pull-stroke design and the durability of the Japanese steel, though they note that users must adapt to the non-cutting forward motion.
Everyday consumers commonly praise the saw for its immediate sharpness, smooth cutting performance, and lightweight efficiency compared to Western saws. Users appreciate the versatility of the dual-edge blade and the value for Japanese quality. Recurring complaints focus on the difficulty of cleaning cane handles, the initial learning curve for the pull stroke, and occasional cosmetic cracks in the hand-wrapped handles.
