SAK saw question

O

ocnLogan

Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
3,488
I've been looking around at getting a SAK to keep in the pouch on my BK9, and as a general camping tool (awl for striking the firesteel, etc). I've done a bit of searching around on here, and I believe the one that I am most interested in is the Alox Farmer.

The farmer has a saw on it (one of the reasons I was looking at it), but in reading through some other threads about SAKS recently (a few last week or so it feels like) I saw someone mention that they didn't feel that the saw was all that useful. Because the size of the saw on the Farmer would only allow you to cut through pieces that you could probably already break by shear force. This caused me to think about the SAK idea a bit more.

So here is my question. What do you guys think of the Alox Farmer, and specifically, how useful do you think the saw on it is?
 
i would look into a leatherman, much better multitools. if your buying a SAK for a saw i suggest you go out and purchase a folding camping saw instead of a small SAK. a camping saw from most stores will run you no more than 15$ also
 
I don;t have any experience with the alox farmer, but the saw is pretty good. It's one of those things you can live without but if you have it you'll use it. Ive use it to make nice tent stakes and to square of the end of an walking stick.
 
The saw on a SAK works well as respective to its size. It's short and saws work best long. If I could find a SAK with a 36" saw, I would fell a mature white oak. The saw cuts small stuff great but small stuff usually doesn’t require a saw. Just my opinion. The saw is, however, extremely effective as a firesteel striker. Even more so than the awe, again just my opinion. If you need a saw get a Gerber Sportsmans Saw. Just be careful that you don't forget you're carrying it.


By the way, a SAK isn’t a multi-tool. It's a knife with some tools on it. A Leatherman is not a knife. It's a tool with a knife on it. They are both outstanding implements but it’s still an apples and oranges situation (IMHO).
 
Last edited:
I use a Gerber Multitool at home and in the city, so I appreciate the leatherman suggestion, but its not quite what I"m looking for. I also have a Corona folding saw that I take to the camp site most of the time, and it would do most of the wood processing.

The SAK would be used for little jobs around camp, and also in a worst case scenario it would be with my in my BK9's sheath if I got separated from everything else. Hopefully that helps clarify things a bit.

I guess I could always just try finding a little folding saw to stick in the pouch, but we'll see how other people view the SAK saw for now :D.
 
Get the Farmer. You won't regret your purchase. The Trekker (non-serrated) is also nice. You can do a little more, a little safer with a lock blade. The saws are the same. The Farmer is a true classic though. My first SAK as a matter of fact. Good luck.
 
Wooly Bugger said:
Get the Farmer. You won't regret your purchase. The Trekker (non-serrated) is also nice. You can do a little more, a little safer with a lock blade. The saws are the same. The Farmer is a true classic though. My first SAK as a matter of fact. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help, I'll take a look at the Trekker :D.

And at least I know that the saw is a good one, even if it is a bit small. Thanks for the heads up.
 
I'm a fan of the Farmer, and the SAK saw. I've used them on larger pieces of wood, you just have to saw around the limb in question, in order to weaken it so you can snap it. That being said, TOPS makes a small folding saw that I just got my hands on. I have yet to get it out, but I'll try to do a write up when I do.
 
I personally think the saw on the Farmer is great. I have 2 farmers and I've used the saw to easily cut some branches that are 1 or 2 inches in diameter. Now I wouldn't use it as my primary saw to cut through larger lumber, but it works great when you need it for small stuff. I also have a Victorinox Spirit multitool and it has a similar saw but it's about an inch longer and it works great as well.
 
I've used the saw on the Hiker. I believe it is the same one used on the Farmer. I've also used the saw on the big Fireman. The big SAKs have a bigger saw blade but the small saw will serve you fine. It will take down a 2.5" sapling easily. It cuts at about 1" per minute in my hands. That's through hard wood. It's very sharp and of high quality.
 
Great tip on the sawing all the way around, makes perfect sense. And I agree, I'll never use the saw on the SAK as a primary wood processing tool, but it for sure would be used.

Does anyone know of a SAK that has just the blade and the saw? The other tools would be useful, but I don't really ever bring bottles or cans when camping, and the less layers the better :).

Thanks for the help so far everyone.
 
I've had a camper & Huntsman - same size saw as the farmer, and found it very useful -- especially for fast notching for trap building and tent stakes.
I also have a german military knife - the old style that was slightly longer than the standard red SAKs, it had the same saw only longer.
recently I traded into a Forrester - same size as the trekker, with a 3rd size for the saw -- this I would consider useful for helping section up to 3" branches if I didn't have a hatchet or chopper sized blade handy. (would likely work on up to 4" if you had the time and energy to spend)

edit to add: the NATO knife or German Army Knife (GAK) is a 2 layer knife. the saw also has a bottle lifter and flat driver tip to give you 4 tools in a snug package.
GERMAN-KNIFE-NEW.jpg
 
Last edited:
ocnLogan said:
Does anyone know of a SAK that has just the blade and the saw? The other tools would be useful, but I don't really ever bring bottles or cans when camping, and the less layers the better :).
Click to expand...

I don't know of a SAK in that configuration off of the top of my head, but there have been a lot of designs over the years. There very well may be one. You may be surprised at how the Farmer will disappear in your pocket.
 
I find the saw on saks very useful. I love the farmer also. I have used the saw for many things camping wise and find it very useful. I would highly recommend getting one. :thumbup:

1000997p.jpg
 
Sounds like everyone loves the Farmer. I haven't used a SAK in ages, but it sounds like I might be giving this one a try sometime.

I'm pretty new to SAKs, which is why I asked if there was one with only a saw and the blade, but I figured the chances of that were slim. And from what I can tell, there aren't any two layer saks with a saw. Can anyone confirm that?

Once again, thanks for the help guys. I really appreciate everyone willingly letting me ask my little questions here.
 
the GAK I posted is made by Victorinox -- 2 layers, 5/8" thick by 4 1/2" long.
my 4 layer huntsman is 3/4" x 3 1/2" -- IIRC, the farmer is slightly smaller/thinner than that.
 
I have the Huntsman and I find the saw works great . I'm pretty sure the Farmer is the one with the least tools that has a saw .


...............................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
While I find the saw on the Vic Farmer and the Vic Huntman useful (I always EDC one or the other), I REALLY like the saw on the old Vic Safari Trooper and GAKs, stronger/thicker with a saw cover. There's even one that has just a main blade and a saw, but I like the ones with awl (longer than other Vics) and corkscrew (also longer and great for loosening stubborn knots). Out of production, but still reasonably available here and there.

By the way, the new Forester is also great, with the right tools and a locking main blade - too bad the saw doesn't lock as well.
 
Last edited:
I carry a Farmer every day.

The saw has come been handy several times.

You definitely can't look at it as your main saw but for most jobs it is quite adequate.

Hiking stick, fishing pole, shelter poles and notching are perfect jobs for it.

You get a nice clean cut on green wood faster than most other methods.

I could be wrong but most, if not all, of the single and double layer SAKs' with saws are discontinued.

You can still find them several places though ... including Ebay, if you keep looking.

Currently VIC makes limited runs for SwissBianco(+B) of the double layer Bushcrafter.

It would be foolish for you to try and snap this Alder sapling that my daughter cut down with Her +B Bushcrafter.

I'd say they are a lot more useful than some might realize.

IMG_6054.jpg


IMG_6055.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top