The brass back of a hand saw from the 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition led by Sir John Franklin. The brass strip has the maker's name of Shaw & Marshall in the centre.

The brass strip was recovered by the US expedition under Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka between 1878-1880. It is described as 'Item 49. Brass probably from the back of a saw from Irving Bay' in the 1881 catalogue of items that he sent back to Britain in 1881 [TNA, ADM 1/6600]. It has the remains of a paper bordered label attached, corresponding to the labels attached to items sent by Schwatka.

Schwatka's expedition possibly found this in the possession of Inuit camped west of Stewart's Monument, Hayes River around 15-17 May 1879. Gilder records 'We obtained from them a few trifling relics of the Erebus and Terror, in exchange for knives and needles.' [Gilder, pages 77-78]. Klutschak's account notes 'Among them we encountered the first relics of objects which once were either parts of the two ships Erebus and Terror or otherwise belonged to the Franklin expedition. Arrow tips, lances, show shovels, in brief everything made of wood, copper, and iron...' [Klutschak, page 64]. If the 1881 catalogue is correct then the other potential location is the abandoned material at 'Crozier Camp' near Irving Bay. Gilder records that around 28 June 1879 they found 'iron and brass implements' in the area of the grave [Gilder, page 124].

The brass saw back is painted with a white number '(2)', indicating it was displayed in the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, 'Case 6. Native tools &c, obtained from the Ookosiksillik Esquimaux at Hayes River, and made from parts belonging to H.M. ships "Erebus" and "Terror". It had the original designation of Case 6, No. 2 before the catalogue entry was amalgamated into one for the final published version.