Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also tip-top sawyer) the leader in any profession, job, occupation.

1812		Oxford University & City Herald 8 Aug. 5/2: [A] cup [...] for half-bred horses [...] was won Mr. Outfield's b. g. Spear, beating Sawney, Top Sawyer, and Gameboy.
1820		Jack Randall’s Diary 25: Grant him in a thing so rare, The first of all Top Sawyers there. (*A top sawyer, signifies a man that is a master genius in any profession).
1836		Morn. Advertiser (London) 7 Jan. 1/6: MAGAZINES. The Sporting Magazine.— Though not one the tiptop sawyers, the present number of our sporting friend enters the field in very fairish style.
1838		Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 390: Wasn’t he always top-sawyer among you all! Is there one of you that could touch him or come near to him on any scent! Eh?
1845		Disraeli Sybil Bk V I 210: I should like to hear the top-sawyer from London.
1846		Bell’s Life in Sydney 3 Jan. 1/6: We had some fine fun yesterday, witnessing foot races between a few top sawyers that were weather bound at tho ‘Victoria’ .
1846		Bell’s Life in London 15 Nov. 5/5: [of huntsmen] [A] numerous and elegantly turned out field of ‘tiptop sawyers’ were in attendance.
1853		Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Oct. 61/2: Here I am Barrister, and Top Sawyer!
1856		C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 247: A top-sawyer like him looks at everything with an eye to business.
1856		Herts. Guardian 12 Apr. 3/6: [of ‘swell mobsmen’] [S]everal present were pointed out as tiptop sawyers, moving in the best society, and doing a heavy business.
1869		R.D. Blackmore Lorna Doone (1923) 288: See-saw is the fashion of England always, and the Whigs will soon be the top-sawyers.
1870		C.G. Leland ‘Breitmann’s Going to Church’ in Hans Breitmann in Church 114: Du bist ein Musikant. / Top-sawyer on de counter-point / Und buster in discant.
1872		Westmoreland Gaz. 10 Feb. 2/6: None can doubt that he has proved himself to be a ‘top-sawyer’.
1874		‘Old Calabar’ Won in a Canter II 291: ‘[W]ith such tip-top sawyers as [...] the Squire (Osbaldeston), the Captain (Beecher) and a host of others, I stand but a poor chance’.
1886		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 16 Jan. 7/2: ‘You bet ’e’s one of the partners [...] ’e’s the top sawyer of the ’old ’ouse’.
1888		‘’Arry on Competitive Examination’ in Punch 1 Dec. 253/2: The few as has bullion or brains / Is meant for topsawyers as certain as mountains is higher than plains.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 19 Feb. 2/7: Top sawyers in the business have been known to occupy very front seats in the synagogue .
1894		J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 22: Eton can boast a few top-sawyers in that line [i.e. intellect] also.
1908		Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Nov. 18/1: Sits up o’ nights that they country may rest, / Ma’s greatest statesman – the absolute best, / Quite a top-sawyer – grand at his trade, / Leader and lawyer – Gregory Wade!
1912		E. Pugh City Of The World 274: I tell you a split don’t need such optics as what a prime top-sawyer does.

2. attrib. use of sense 1.

1861

(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 316: A top-sawyer parson at Oxford, called Dr. Pussy.

3. the best of its kind; also attrib.

1840		T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 167: I have made a spec’ [...] It’s a top sawyer one, I do assure you.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor (1968) I 250/1: Eliza Cook is a favourite writer with them, and Capt. Marryatt the ‘top-sawyer.’.
1865		H.L. Williams Joaquin 130: Three-fingered Jack, one of the top-sawyers of Joaquin’s cut-throats.
1901		W.S. Walker In the Blood 139: The new pass-word of Slim Jim to his brother thieves and rogues was ‘Man of the World,’ which means Topsawyer, and up-to-date.
1915		‘Tod Sloan’ Tod Sloan by Himself 141: Lord William and Huggins had hopes of Caiman proving a top-sawyer, but [...] I never held any view about him except that he was a good class selling plater.