Good folding saw???

S

savageman

Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
149
I am in need of a good quality light weight folding saw for backpacking and canoeing trips. I want replacement blades to be easily available for it aswell. What is a good model to look at for these demands at not too high of price?? Thanks
 
I don't have experience with them but you may want to check Opinel's offering of 2 sizes of folding saws. They are pretty cheap but I don't think you can replace the blade:

The smaller one is recommended for branches with a diameter of up to 8 cm:
A-OPINEL-165126-0002.jpg


The bigger one is recommended for branches with a diameter of up to 12 cm:
A-OPINEL-001198-0002.jpg
 
I would just say be sure to do some checking around before you buy if you will use it a lot. There was an excellent comparison write-up in one of the mags a couple years back, and there was a pretty wide variation in performance due to differing tooth designs.

I will see if I can dig up the article, but I doubt it because it was quite a while ago. Even if I can, it is likely that offerings have changed in the meantime.
 
Check out both the Bahco folding pruning saw and the Tajima "G-saw", Both are light weight, and have good ergonomics. I have used the "g-Saw" Large version for a couple of years now, and have no hesitation in recommending it. This blade has had a lot of hard use and abuse, all it's teeth are still intact and only now is getting a little bent up and rusty. At least I can just go and buy a new blade
From memory the Bahco saw is bit smaller.. but just as good ( was going to steal my brother's one ...he get's issued them in the army), cant remember if the blades are replaceable though.

Here's a link to the G- Saw http://www.tajimatool.com/products/saws/contractor/view.php?page=all

Cheers Bo.
 
gerber did make an excellent folding saw, i dont know if they still do though, a bud has one and uses it when dressing deer out and it works pretty well at it.
 
I have used many folding saws in various exploits...the one you need is the sawvivor..this is by far the best quality and most usefull folding saw I have ever seen. I dont really care for the ones that fold out of the handles...I have sawed countless logs and trees with my sawvivor and would not trade it for anything...it is the only hard use folding saw that I have found...lighter and stronger than many of the models already suggested...I cant tell you enough how happy you will be if you elect to go with the sawvivor...I have had mine for close to 8 years and have only replaced the blade once...check it out, I think you will be glad you did.
Patrick
 
This has been discussed many times, in considerable length, in the Wilderness & Survival Skills forum. The Bahco (now imported by Kershaw, I'm told) gets good reviews but I personally prefer the Silky Super Accel 210 (w/large teeth). About an ounce and a half heavier than their Pocketboy 170 but a 40mm longer blade that is over 18% thicker.

DancesWithKnives
 
My supplier supplies Silky and Barnel. His professional opinion is that the Silky will cut very clean - more suited for fruit and nut tree pruning. The Barnel is tougher and better suited for general forestry and wilderness use. Both have a range of sizes and teeth counts. I can personally attest to the performance of the Barnel which I used for 2 season professionally for pruning Eucalypt stands - up to 450 trees per day - ground to 2.5m. Touched up the teeth a couple of times with a diamond hone but never had to replace the blade - still have it on the shed wall - no wait a minute - just remembered -my daughter's boyfriend's borrowed it for his last pruning contract
 
The Opinel does not have a replaceable blade, but they are so inexpensive that you would just replace the saw instead of the blade. And you would not need to do that for a long time.

July09.07011Medium.jpg
 
The Silky Pocketboy saws are awesome. They are smooth and agressive cutters.
 
I have a gerber folding saw. It came with two blades... one for wood and a fine tooth bone saw. I'm sure there are better quality ones out there but the gerber has been all I've ever needed in a small saw. It was well worth the purchase. I think Buck makes one too. When I went to buy the Gerber they had a Buck there and it came down to a choice between the two. This was years ago though so both might be out of prouction by now.
 
I would recommend any of the Silky saws over anything else on the market. They cut cleanly and very quick. I've cut quite large trees with mine. If you want to keep it on the light side go for the plastic handle model.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top