Revolutionary War Surgeon’s Amputation Bone Saw, as in books and museums

This is another rare item being offered, it is a Revolutionary War Surgeon’s Amputation Bone Saw. It is made of forged iron with an overall measurement of 15” and the actual saw blade is 6 ¼”. It also has a brass ferrule and complete wooden handle which has a small age crack, but it is still very solid. I am not sure what the dark staining on the wood is, but it could be tested if desired.

The 1700s was a time when doctors did not understand the importance of sterilization, and surgery knowledge and techniques were very primitive. For severe wounds from musket balls or blades in arms and legs, amputation was the usual treatment. Worse, the bone saws and other implements were used on multiple patients without washing and sterilizing them between surgeries.

Anesthesia was likewise primitive, consisting of pain relievers such as opium and alcohol, and were often not available in the field. Patients were given something to bite on, such as a stick or leather strap, then multiple people held them down during the surgery. After the agony of having a limb cut and sawed off, performed with little or no pain relief, you likely had only a one in three chance of survival. Shock was the normal reaction, then there were blood loss and infection, all deadly.

There is an example of this saw in “The Revolutionary War Museum” in Yorktown, VA (see pictures). There is also one shown in “Revolutionary War Medicine” (see pictures). This is a great Revolutionary War piece that no doubt saw quite a bit of use. Overall, a very solid and complete medical instrument with no movement at all. The tightening screw is present but appears frozen in place, so I would not attempt to turn it. A rare 18^th century medical item to find.