Saw use in Bushcraft vs Knife

TheJeepster said:
To me the Corona is the best thing going on in the folding saw department. The only other saw I really want in my backpack is a Sawvivor but they are not being produced right now.

The Corona only cuts on the pull stroke but man does it cut. If you like a saw it is the one to get. I have seen a few post to this thread that states that they do talk about saw's often. Not compared to other survivalist sites I visit but yes on occasion they do talk about them as I have posted on 3 or 4 of the threads.

I notice they have a axe, hatchet, and tomahawk (or something like that) forum here but that does not include saw's, maybe in the future.
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It seems like only cutting on a the pull stroke would be a bit limiting, but that is without trying it. Needless to say, you've got me curious.

Based upon the price point, as I stated, the Schrade and the Gerber cut tremendously, both ways and are lightweight too boot. Add in the fact that they can be carried in your pack or on your belt with a chopper and you have the tools necessary to make a relatively comfortable, cozy camp anywhere , any time.
 
I never carried a saw much though I own a couple. I always carried and used good rope saws though. I still keep a couple cans in my kit.
 
I just got back from a 3 day backpacking trip out in Desolation Wilderness near Emerald Bay. I brought my Bahco and Benchmade Bushcrafter to process any needed wood. Since there are fire restriction I figured that's all I needed. The Bahco came in handy when clearing the area underneath my Hennessy Hammock, so in the event it fell for whatever reason I wouldn't be impaled by a large branch. The knife came in handy when it came to making the tent stakes. I could have probably done it all with the Benchmade, but the saw made easy work of cutting off branching and limbs.

I also have a Corona as well, which definitely cuts faster than the Bahco, but it's a little larger and heavier. If I was planning on processing a lot of wood I would have brought that one, but there are fire restrictions right now. I actually saw the King fire last Sunday heading back from our trip and it didn't look good. Anyways, a saw is definitely something I always bring with me along with my knife. I plan on picking up a GB hatchet to go along with me for winter camping trips.
 
in google, try this...

site:bladeforums.com saw vs knife wood processing

This will limit search results to the forums.

It's been discussed a lot. My pref is the Silky Boy saw. But I only carry it in the winter.
 
waveone said:
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.
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If your bushcrafting requires a lot of crosscutting of wood a saw is definitely good weight. It isn't really an either or questions. Bring both. If you intend to saw wood bring a saw. The longer the saw the quicker you'll get through the wood so something like the bob dustrude buck saw is definitely worth having.
[video=youtube;vEdCN0lwieM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEdCN0lwieM[/video]

Now not every style of outdoorsmanship requires you to cut a bunch of wood. Many people here get by with sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads, and alcohol or canister cooking stoves.
Carry what you use and use what you carry.
 
I absolutely love my Laplander. I only started carrying one last year but find it hard to imagine I went without one for so long now.

I'm not much of an axe guy. They're just so heavy to carry and frankly I'm not all that handy with them, which makes them a dangerous tool for me to use in remote areas. But I can do so much work with just a folding saw that I don't really feel I need an axe or hatchet anymore.
 
Here is the saw I take on over 90% of my winter trips...

Svea 123 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Different locations demand different solutions and allow for different possibilities.

This said, destructive wood harvesting, shelter building and fire building is forbidden in the high peaks I go to, discouraged in the low lands and entirely unneeded given the availability of reliable stoves, modern clothing and light tarps.

The only place I regularly carry a small saw is on XC day trips in the backcountry where I'm not carrying a full camping kit (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag). In this scenario, a simple leg injury could strand a party over night but at the same time, carrying full camp gear won't allow you to have enough speed to complete the objective. In this case, I'll carry an Emberlit, a fixed blade and a Silky Pocket Boy, which is more than enough to feed the stove. The advantage here is that I can keep the Emberlit going through a long night with minimal pack weight. For normal camping, there is no need for a long duration fire, since the clothing and bag is the warmth. The Emberlit also brings ash and harvesting impact within acceptable limits.

My take aways..
1) There's no need for a saw in nearly all situations. Light weight camping techniques tend to be lighter and produce less impact.

2) Use of a folding wood stove generally drive the need for a saw to nil since they can be operate with hand processing of wood in most situations.

3) Use of anything bigger than a small folding saw is always optional and always only legitimate if the land can sustain the impact of wood harvest and if the regulations allow it.

<aside>
This thread was started with a question about the lack of discussion about saws. I find it more interesting that there is even less discussion of what I call "stove craft". IMO, being expert with the use of multiple types of stoves is an infinitely more important backcountry skill than wood/bush/fire craft.
</aside>
 
Pinnah speaks the truth.

Burning large amounts of wood and improvising shelters is
- destructive
- illegal pretty much anywhere but on private land and if you are building you might as well make a proper cabin
- largely unnecessary and inefficient because of the gear choices available today
 
I've always felt the terrain helps one decide what to carry, and as stated above, saws being nice to haves may not be the most ecologically sound to get about.
 
I have 2 Corona saws, one folding and one fixed blade.
Used the fixed blade just yesterday while scouting the property.
The folding one is a staple in my bush bag.
 
stabman said:
I think the word you were looking for after this was fun. ;)

(fun seems to be something that many folks have an instinctive aversion to)
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Sure. But fun for who?

I'm not a leave no trace zealot. I don't believe it exists. If you camp there, you leave an impact. Repeated impact over time makes longer lasting impact.

My approach is to minimize and localize impact.

The problem with high harvest impact and fires is how long they linger. Burned rocks. Scorched earth. Ash. A lack of dead fall. Abandoned slash. Scarred trees and saplings.

If I could bushwack through public lands and not see these things on a regular basis, I would be more tolerant of high impact techniques. But, it's not the case. I'll freely admit this may depend heavily on where you live and camp. Parts of Ontario are so big and broad.... What does it matter? I dunno. I'm not saying it can't be done. Just noting that it's never really needed, always optional and only legal and right in certain circumstances. That's fun for the first guy doesn't mean squat when the only reasonable camp site near that remote pond is totally trashed. Fun for him maybe, but not for me.
 
pinnah said:
If I could bushwack through public lands and not see these things on a regular basis, I would be more tolerant of high impact techniques. But, it's not the case. I'll freely admit this may depend heavily on where you live and camp.
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It sure does.
Some areas regenerate quite quickly, or are vast enough that impact is minimal.

I've seen pictures posted here of areas where there aren't really any trees around, or comprise some sort of extremely delicate ecosystem.
Or where a single spark will burn down half the county.
Those aren't places I want to camp.

I like fire.
I like forests.
I don't like having to lug lots of stuff, and I absolutely refuse to go places that require one to pay for firewood.

One must make a decision about how they enjoy the outdoors, and then decide upon where to go. :thumbup:
 
pinnah said:
Here is the saw I take on over 90% of my winter trips...

Svea 123 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Different locations demand different solutions and allow for different possibilities.

This said, destructive wood harvesting, shelter building and fire building is forbidden in the high peaks I go to, discouraged in the low lands and entirely unneeded given the availability of reliable stoves, modern clothing and light tarps.The only place I regularly carry a small saw is on XC day trips in the backcountry where I'm not carrying a full camping kit (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag). In this scenario, a simple leg injury could strand a party over night but at the same time, carrying full camp gear won't allow you to have enough speed to complete the objective. In this case, I'll carry an Emberlit, a fixed blade and a Silky Pocket Boy, which is more than enough to feed the stove. The advantage here is that I can keep the Emberlit going through a long night with minimal pack weight. For normal camping, there is no need for a long duration fire, since the clothing and bag is the warmth. The Emberlit also brings ash and harvesting impact within acceptable limits.

My take aways..
1) There's no need for a saw in nearly all situations. Light weight camping techniques tend to be lighter and produce less impact.

2) Use of a folding wood stove generally drive the need for a saw to nil since they can be operate with hand processing of wood in most situations.

3) Use of anything bigger than a small folding saw is always optional and always only legitimate if the land can sustain the impact of wood harvest and if the regulations allow it.

<aside>
This thread was started with a question about the lack of discussion about saws. I find it more interesting that there is even less discussion of what I call "stove craft". IMO, being expert with the use of multiple types of stoves is an infinitely more important backcountry skill than wood/bush/fire craft.
</aside>
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The first part of your statement is spot on, the subsequent bolded part is just not true. I appreciate strong opinion, but I disagree mightily with yours. The earth is resilient, global warming is complete hokum and I do not subscribe to any nanny state conditioning which appears to pervade your thinking. Here in the US we have restrictions in National Parks, in other areas, thankfully not so much. Regardless of that fact there are situations where packing a stove is not practical, nor conducive whereas a fire steel , portable saw and good knife are.

I've been in back country areas where no human foot has been in a couple of years in sub freezing temps, hunting elk and the only thing that saved me was those tools and a radiant heat blanket. IF a certain action saves, preserves,improves or sustains human condition or life, I find it totally necessary.

EDIT: The one caveat to my perspective is always be responsible, take what you need, and attempt to leave the area as close to or better than the condition you left it in. I hunt and have done so for most of my life. Hunters are the original conservationists who respect God's Great Earth. We simply do not worship it.
 
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I really like folding saws. Lightweight, not at all bulky, very efficient... A Laplander lives comfortably in my pack pretty much anytime I venture outside the city limits. And that's coming from a guy who makes knives both large and small for a living :)
 
james terrio said:
I really like folding saws. Lightweight, not at all bulky, very efficient... A Laplander lives comfortably in my pack pretty much anytime I venture outside the city limits. And that's coming from a guy who makes knives both large and small for a living :)
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This is a great exclamation to the point of carrying a folding saw. I've been doing so , in my pack for a the last 20 years or so. Being a bow hunter and outdoorsman, I find them compact, very efficient and indispensable.
 
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