This test evaluated 11 Western-style dovetail saws, from $10 to $125. I used each one extensively in cherry, oak, and maple, making cuts with the grain and across it. I observed how fast each saw cut, the ease with which it started a cut, how smooth the saw was throughout the cut, and how well it tracked a line. I also checked the saw’s quality of construction and ergonomics.

The Lie-Nielsen saw is impeccably detailed. Its long handle is designed to be grasped through the hand, similar to how you would hold a Japanese pullsaw. The saw’s thin blade sliced effortlessly through wood, but the long handle was more difficult to grasp, drive, and control than the shorter handle styles.

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