Before shop electricity, then as now, the saw was the prime tool in starting a project after the wood was milled and brought to the shop. The wood was ripped and crosscut to the appropriate sizes and then the fitting began. Also then as now a sharp blade for the saw was paramount to speed and accuracy and those characteristics began with sharpening the saw. Here is how to do the sharpening on either a ripping blade or a blade for cross cutting.
http://www.vintagesaws.com/library/primer/sharp.htmlKeep in mind "IT ISN'T COMPLICATED" ! It does take attention to detail and some patience and as with almost everything worth doing well, practice makes perfect. The payoff is crisp clean fast and accurate cuts and the hand saw can be very useful when working very small or delicate parts or when just a momentary slip could destroy a project or some personal meat