Pocket chainsaw. Will it saw through bone?

[Timmyblade]

I was wondering if the pocket chainsaw was any good for sawing through bone? I would like to have one as part of my field dressing kit.

 

[Blue Sky]

I think the teeth would be much too coarse for an effective bone saw. Look at commercial hand saws that come with multi-blades. The bone blade is always much finer that the wood blade.

 

[mete]

Coarse teeth ?, not mine . I've never tried it on bone but I'm sure it would work .But I think it wouldn't be convenient as you need two hands to operate and a third hand to hold the bone !! A folding saw like my old Gerber , 3 oz, cuts bone and wood very well ! ...BTW I used my Pocket Chain Saw last week end to prune a tree where I couldn't get to the branch any other way.Tied 1/8" rope to the ends, threw the saw over the branch as cut quickly !

 

[1894]

I was wondering if the pocket chainsaw was any good for sawing through bone? I would like to have one as part of my field dressing kit.

How big of critters are you field dressing ?
Back East here for White tails and Black bear I see no need to saw any bones, I think it affects the taste.
For bigger stuff ( and I'm just guestimating here ) If I wanted to 1/4 it , the shoulders and hip sockets could be done with a good knife. I've never tried to split a pelvis so No clue what is needed for that.

Phil

 

[Timmyblade]

I should have been more specific. I can split the pelvic bone with a knife so that is not as much the issue and neither is taking off the legs. I have no problems with these. My main use for it would be to cut off the racks of small bucks that I found dead (from car crashes, archery season, natural causes, ect. Note: Most certainly not ones that I have shot.) It seems like I will be squirrel hunting or just walking in the woods and will find a dead buck that has been there for a while. I could cut off its head and carry back the whole thing, but that is heavy, and I have a car and don't really want a rotten head in the back of the car. I know I could come back later, but often times the coyotes drag it off and I can't seem to find it a few days later when I get back.
I am probably going to purchase a pocket chainsaw for my psk anyway, but just wanted to know if anyone has used it on bone. I know it won't be ideal and I already have a bone saw, but wanted something as small as possible that I could get multiple used from.

 

[runningboar]

I should have been more specific. I can split the pelvic bone with a knife .

Why would you want too ?

I use a purpose built meat saw to cut through the sternum on hogs, other than that I never use a saw at all. If I get a bug in my butt and want chops I take the whole spine with both loins attached to the butcher, if I am willing to give a few away he will do if for free in about 2 minutes.

It seems like I will be squirrel hunting or just walking in the woods and will find a dead buck that has been there for a while. I could cut off its head and carry back the whole thing, but that is heavy, and I have a car and don't really want a rotten head in the back of the car. .

I am not sure why you want it anyway but if I did, I would cut it's head off, then tie it up in a tree limb to come back to when it is a bit less putrid. Chris

 

[Timmyblade]

Why would you want too ?

You split through the pelvic bone to get the rest of the butthole out. It can be done without doing this but is actually quite easy to do on deer if you know where to put pressure at. I really only want to use the pocket chainsaw to cut off the racks of small bucks to make knife handles from. I hardly ever use a saw to when cutting meat.

 

[runningboar]

You split through the pelvic bone to get the rest of the butthole out. It can be done without doing this but is actually quite easy to do on deer if you know where to put pressure at. I really only want to use the pocket chainsaw to cut off the racks of small bucks to make knife handles from. I hardly ever use a saw to when cutting meat.

I was taught to cut around the butthole, tie it off with a piece of string then it comes out with the rest of the guts and you don't have to risk your knife blade or dull it on bone. Chris

 

[Timmyblade]

I was taught to cut around the butthole, tie it off with a piece of string then it comes out with the rest of the guts and you don't have to risk your knife blade or dull it on bone. Chris

I have done it this way as well. I just think it is easier to split the pelvis bone. If you get it just right, it actually splits very easily and won't hurt the blade at all. Its just a different way of doing it. Some guys I hunt with like this method and others use the method you are speaking of. Both get the job done just fine.

 

[runningboar]

If you get it just right, it actually splits very easily and won't hurt the blade at all. .

I have seen lots of chipped edges that say otherwise, but I have taken bit of abuse around here lately for using small thin useless knives so that might be the main problem.....Although I have never had any problem using them.

 

[Myal]

I was taught to cut around the butthole, tie it off with a piece of string then it comes out with the rest of the guts and you don't have to risk your knife blade or dull it on bone. Chris

I cut around the butt hole and lift it up / out with some of the intestine , tie a knot in the intestine , cut the butt hole off and toss it , and slip the intestine back thru inside and out the slit in the belly so it wasnt banging around in the cavity while everything else is getting removed

Old fella showed me that , and I just copied his way .

 

[Blue Sky]

The first time I dressed a deer I didn't know any better and used the tip of my knife to score a line down the center of the pelvis. Repeated it a couple times to get it a little deeper, then pushed both legs apart and down. It cracked apart like a piece of glass, easy as pie. Pulled the intestine through the crack and cut it off. I've also tried the cut-around-the-bunghole method and didn't like it as much.

 

[Blue Sky]

My main use for it would be to cut off the racks of small bucks that I found dead (from car crashes, archery season, natural causes, ect.

Nothing wrong with having a PCS handy but for these uses I think a simple hacksaw blade (or even half a blade) would be more than sufficient. Very light and easy to carry too.

 

[fewpop]

Another +1 for the hacksaw blade; and if you need a handle, this rig works well. Made by Stanley out of aluminum (or some lightweight cast alloy). It's light and strong and makes a hacksaw blade very usable in places a regular hacksaw can't reach. Stanley part #15-809.

 

[ejes]

Timmy, I assume you are talking about this:

If so, I can see why some would say it's teeth would be too course. Plus I think some folks are actually referring to the pocket saws that I have posted below, which I think would be a better choice IMO.

NAP actually makes a pelvic/field dressing cable saw that I've used before. It is basically the same thing as the Coghlan's Pocket saws except it's handles are rods instead of rings so you can thread it between the pelvis and the guts easier and saw out away from them from behind. I've used it before and it worked very slick; cut through the pelvis of a very large buck in 3 swipes. However, the cable is not very strong and breaks easily.

I'm sure it would cut through antlers as well, however, you can get the Coghlan's regular pocket saw for about $3 that would work just as well. They have a pricier pocket saw that is a little better made with a coarser cable called the Commando and it usually runs about $7. I'd just buy a couple of those at those prices; plus they are easier to carry than the pocket chain saw.

 

[Timmyblade]

I have carried half of a hacksaw blade and it worked ok. However, Fewpop I think you are on to something. I have never seen one of those and think I may have to look into getting one. Thanks.