Saw use in Bushcraft vs Knife

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Jan 12, 2014
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While a knife is indispensable in many applications, a saw does many tasks with more efficiency in my opinion. While clearly this is a knife forum, why is there very little discussion on this issue?.

Speaking from experience, when I need a significant amount of brush, branches, even limbs cut or trimmed quickly, a portable saw like a Schrade, Gerber or other is the best option. There is less time taken, less energy exerted in the performance of these tasks. It is quiet too, when in the field , hunting and I need to set up an ambush blind. Knives no matter how sharp do these tasks as efficiently. In terms of weight, the survival type saws are also lightweight, easily carried in a pack or by belt. So, in my experience, while they are not as cool as knives, they should be carried n tandem with them for task efficiency.

Opinions? Thoughts? Disagreements?
 
Posted this in the general forum, which I hope is alright , but this could be a better place for the discussion.


While a knife is indispensable in many applications, a saw does many tasks with more efficiency in my opinion. While clearly this is a knife forum, why is there very little discussion on this issue?.

Speaking from experience, when I need a significant amount of brush, branches, even limbs cut or trimmed quickly, a portable saw like a Schrade, Gerber or other is the best option. There is less time taken, less energy exerted in the performance of these tasks. It is quiet too, when in the field , hunting and I need to set up an ambush blind. Knives, no matter how sharp, do these tasks as efficiently. In terms of weight, the survival type saws are also lightweight, easily carried in a pack or by belt. So, in my experience, while they are not as cool as knives, they should be carried n tandem with them for task efficiency.

Opinions? Thoughts? Disagreements?
 
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sometimes...

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A number of threads have duiscussed saws. Have tyou tried a Google search of saw bladeforums ? I got 81,000 hits.
 
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A number of threads have duiscussed saws. Have tyou tried a Google search of saw bnladeforums ? I got 81,000 hits.



The short answer is "no". I am not really interested in a "saw-blade forum" rather various topics involving all manner of cutting tools, with their specific uses through experience. Is the suggestion offensive for some reason?
 
The short answer is "no". I am not really interested in a "saw-blade forum" rather various topics involving all manner of cutting tools, with their specific uses through experience. Is the suggestion offensive for some reason?

I think you missed the point.
He was trying to say that 81000 results of saw discussion returned for Bladeforums.

People do discuss saws here from time to time, and the general consensus seems to be that they're pretty good for sawing wood. :)
 
I think you missed the point.
He was trying to say that 81000 results of saw discussion returned for Bladeforums.

People do discuss saws here from time to time, and the general consensus seems to be that they're pretty good for sawing wood. :)


Um , yes clearly. Hence the term "saw". They're a much better option for that task than say , roasting a turkey......

Perhaps this is not the environment for this discussion though it is clearly an "outdoor" sub forum. While I've done a search , I've seen no specific thread on knives vs saws and their specific use on BF - yet
 
There is a ton of talk around here about using a folding saw instead of a chopper.

Read around more.
 
Saws are better at processing wood. You won't see too many knives and axes in a forestry outfit or sawmill. Heck you won't even see too many on building sites.
 
I like a saw along with a chopper knife. I want a saw to cut logs to burn and I want a saw to cut down trees. Once the tree is on the ground I use my chopper knife to de-limb the downed tree. Once I saw some logs I may use my chopper knife to baton a few small slivers off the side of the log for kindling.

You are correct and will find no argument here. I like a folding saw while in the wilderness. I use a Corona folding saw as it is good in price, easy to carry and it can saw the heck out of logs and I am talking 10 inches thick not just little 3 and 4 inch branches.

The reason you do not see talk about the saw on here that often is because it is a knife forum and not a saw forum and most guys here collect knives and are into pocket folding knives. Not everybody but I would say the majority are good simple knife collectors and have no need for a saw. There are also guys here who collect fixed bladed knives and sometimes they do talk about saws but this site is mostly for knives and that is what most post about.

Try the outdoors thread area.

Maybe you could suggest to the owner to add a saw thread forum. I am sure it would be posted on often.

Agree +1000. Thank you for your comments. They reflect my experience with them. Your comments about the forum inclination are well taken. Perhaps being an outdoorsman has slanted my perspective a bit because I view knives as tools for very specific use. Which is probably like many on the board. I just wanted to see a discussion on the matter and consider differing perspectives and experience.

I've never tried the Corona but have a Schrade folding saw and a gerber with interchangeable blades. The work very fast because of the aggressive tooth pattern. The corona looks great too


BTW- I tried the "outdoor " sub forum and it did not seem to be received too well. Thank you for your comments.
 
BTW- I tried the "outdoor " sub forum and it did not seem to be received too well. Thank you for your comments.

It was received just fine.
People just said it had been discussed in the past, because it has.
Just like it's being discussed right now in various threads.

In fact, just about every single time a chopper knife is mentioned, someone brings up the subject of axes and saws.
 
Saws are better at processing wood. You won't see too many knives and axes in a forestry outfit or sawmill. Heck you won't even see too many on building sites.


I agree. Yet my purpose in starting the thread in the Great Outdoor sub forum was to illicit responses regarding their use in outdoor/bushcraft situations. specifically the portable folding types for , as you state "wood processing". As one individual stated saws cut wood efficiently for burning, though they are also purposeful for cutting branches for shelter and so forth whereas the knives like choppers are more utilized in finer tasks like batoning, wood shaving for kindling, carving and so on.

Those were just a few of my observations on the matter.
 
It was received just fine.
People just said it had been discussed in the past, because it has.
Just like it's being discussed right now in various threads.

In fact, just about every single time a chopper knife is mentioned, someone brings up the subject of axes and saws.

I stand corrected. Apparently I should have qualified my purpose a bit better and tried the search function more .Though I still haven't found many threads listed by it. So I'll keep looking
 
I stand corrected. Apparently I should have qualified my purpose a bit better and tried the search function more .Though I still haven't found many threads listed by it. So I'll keep looking

A lot of times the discussion comes in threads that aren't originally about saws, so that makes it harder to find during a search.
 
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