whit3rd wrote in news:db7461bc-8683-4d47-b918-
:

The way to tell isn't to squint at the teeth; rather, make a cut and
look at the kerf. A ripsaw makes a flat-bottom kerf, because
the teeth are chisel-like with the edge perpendicular to the cut,
while crosscut teeth have alternate bevel (makes a 'W' bottom kerf).

Well, that would work. But on a sharp saw, the difference
between a rip tooth and a crosscut doesn't need squinting,
the reflection off a crosscut tooth is pretty obvious.

John