"Rob Gray" wrote in message
...
I'm not real familiar with exactly how they cut beams back then by hand
and was just curious about it. Does anyone know of a website that shows
the tools and methods used?

There are some hand hewn beam and post listings on eBay at the moment...

Colonial Williamsburg, VA is another living history museum where they make
hand hewn posts and beams, and pit sawn lumber. A couple of the former
carpenters at CW were making new hand hewn posts and beams as a commercial
venture--unfortunately I lost track of them over the years. Perhaps
contacting the carpenters at CW might give you a lead to some new beams.

CW's contact information: http://www.history.org/ or 1-804-229-1000 -- ask
for the carpenters in the crafts department.

John