Axe v. Saw?

Now, if I was going to be going out in the great untamed that hasn't been for almost a century south of the 50th parallel, I'd bring a couple of both and an adze. But this is the 21st century. If you can walk ten miles in a given direction and not see signs of humanity, you are either walking on water or in the middle of Mojave or Senora deserts. I had to pick one, for a survival kit, the saw.

More efficient in terms of energy used vs wood gathered, you can use it more easily if you are hurt, requires skill, and you really have to be egregiously stupid or really shocky to hurt yourself with a bow saw. You just have to be unlucky to do it with any kind of axe or choping blade- bad luck and borderline hypothermia beat skill every day. And a saw is a lot lighter.

Personally, I carry a saw and usually a kukri or machete. But not always do I have the big chopper; I EDC at least one saw blade.

Oh, and I really want to see someone put an axe, hatchet, or chopping blade into a PSK. (P = pocket.) I promise, I'll laugh after I've handed you off to EMS. :)
 
DaleW said:
Of course there are times when an axe is so handy....

Herrrrrrrrrrrrrres Johnny!

The_shining_heres_johnny.jpg
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Nice, what year was that? 1977. I saw it in a drive in.
I think Gerber/Fiskars makes a Ax with a saw in the handle. Gerber knives might not be what they use to be but I like their ax & saws.
 
I use a folding saw most of the time. It's lighter and more compact than an axe. I like axes, but find that I don't use one enough to justify carrying one. If I need to split wood to get a fire going I just use a baton and a knife.

Another reason I carry the saw is because it's small enough to fit in the fanny pack I use as a BoB. It's kind of hard to stuff an axe with an 18" handle in one of those.
 
If I am going to set up a base camp and need to prepare a lot of wood then both an ax and saw are useful for maxim wood cutting plus chopping efficiency. If I have a good saw then I can make due with a good hatchet rather than ax. As for a saw I like a full size buck saw. The take down saw below works well for me.

http://www.wscsurvivalschool.com/wsc/wsc_products/sos6003.html

If I am backpacking over distance then I make due with a knife and small camp stove because weight restrictions preclude the hatchet/saw and most backcountry trails that I use don't allow open fires.
 
LG&M said:
Nice, what year was that? 1977. I saw it in a drive in.
I think Gerber/Fiskars makes a Ax with a saw in the handle. Gerber knives might not be what they use to be but I like their ax & saws.
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They do, but I didn't think much of the saw by looks-- no hands-on test. It struck me as more of a hunter's game cleaning setup than a wood cutting tool. I have a Fiskars 14" hatchet that works just fine. I was looking at getting a Wetterling and found that the 14" Fiskars is actually a couple ounces lighter than the 12" Wetterling. No point in going further with that! I do like the traditional look of the Wetterling and I suspect it is better steel. I don't use it enough to make a difference though.

FYI, if anyone gets the Fiskars that comes with the molded plastic cover/handle, I found that the knock-off nylon military type axe sheaths fit the 14" Fiskars head. They come with ALICE clips which are just a waste of time, so I took them off. I carry the axe in my pack anyway-- mostly in my vehicle kit. I made a cover from milk jug and duct tape until I found the nylon one. Milk jug plastic is a great sheath liner for makeshift rigs. If you want sheets of it, check dollar stores where it is sold for food prep/cutting boards.
 
A small axe can complement a big saw.

Axe multiuse

Saw safer, no skill required. A blind man could use a saw.

I speak of a swedish saw, like a big bow saw.

Later,
Scottman
 
Vorpal Blade said:
. . . An axe can also split while a saw just cuts. But an axe is much heavier and bulkier. Also, with an axe there is more potential for really serious injury than with a saw and this is important, especially away from medical help. Accidents do happen.
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You can split wood using a saw.

Cut just under half way through the thickness of a length of wood at apx. its midpoint.

Turn the piece of wood until the cut is towards the ground (or a rock).

Strike the piece of wood against the ground (or rock) - as if using the wood to drive a nail into the ground (rock).

The cut creates a stress riser. The wood will usually split lengthways at the depth of the bottom of the saw cut. (I have tried various species found in Ohio/PA/Mich/Ky/WBGV.)

This works better with longer lengths of wood.

This works better with wood that is easier to split (as with an axe). (I wouldn't try this with American Elm. :D )

Knots and kinks create problems (as with an axe).
 
I prefer the fireman's hatchet I picked up at harbor freight. It's a little heavy (ok, a lot heavy) but the spike is great for digging fire pits and latrine holes in our difficult local hard clay.
 
swedishdwarf said:
I prefer the fireman's hatchet I picked up at harbor freight. It's a little heavy (ok, a lot heavy) but the spike is great for digging fire pits and latrine holes in our difficult local hard clay.
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Nothing a quarter stick of DyNoMight won't handle. :D
 
Dinkum said:
THE saw of choice for most Bushcraft/Survival whatever is the Bahco Laplander or Kershaw equivalent. Most people also carry a Gransfors Bruks SFA too. So, the answer is both :)
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As far as I am concerned THE saw of choice is the best one that works for me. The Bahco Laplander is a quality folding but has only a seven inch blade. It cannot compete with the power and speed that can be attained using a quality pull saw twice as long.

Axes are versatile and effective in the woods. And they can get most jobs done all by themselves. So if you prefer an axe or want a saw/axe combo; Why not?

But if you use a small saw like the Bahco Laplander it is understandable why you feel an axe is indispensible.
 
Greetings gentle men. I've been using large fb knives for chopping in the woods. I know little to nothing about saws. Can anyone point me towards a faq on saws, or can say what the different types of saws are and their uses?
Thank you in advance.
 
If you are into minimal weight.
A Japanese carpenters pull saw, with a spare blade.
They weigh only ounzes.

They have a super fast cut.
You either notch with them then break , or cut and pull the branch at the same time.
 
If I had NO other blades of any kind, then I would choose an ax.

But if I had a knife along (any knife) I would definitely choose a saw.

The saw is...
Much more quiet than an ax (so you don't scare away wild game or announce your presence to every other camper within a 10 mile range).

Safer to use (especially in the dark) and causes a much less severe injury when an accident does occur.

Easier to use with one hand.

Easier to use regardless of strength or age (in most cases).

Easier to use while injured (in most cases).

Requires less room to use effectively (in most cases).

Needs resharpened less per amount of wood harvested (and extra blades weigh very little).

Weighs less than the typical ax.

Folds up to a more compact package (in most cases).

Can cut lumber to exact lenghts (to the mm even) much better than an ax.

Can be used much more safely when climbing a tree or on a cliff-edge.

Can even be used underwater if needed!
 
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