Saws....

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
So, I have a little saw in my Swiss Tool.

But what are your experiences with bigger ones?

I am looking at a Sawvivor.

Folds up, accepts different types of saws.

Hhhhmmmm???

------------------
Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
For when you're travelling with more than just whats is in your pockets, a Sven saw or one of its clones is hard to beat. Blade and frame stack into a 1" by 1/4" by 16" package that protects your pack frow the teeth. Its quick to assemble and easy to use. It is also sufficiently popular that replacement blades are widely available.
 
I have a folding pruning saw made by Felco that I am very fond of. I have also used the "Saber Cut Saw" from Ultimate Survival and the "Pocket Chainsaw," they both work pretty well, although I'd hate to build a log cabin with any of these.

I can also vouch for the saw blade on the Leatherman "Supertool." I had to use this once upon a time to cut off a limb that someone was impaled on. I've also had to use a hacksaw blade to perform a field amputation. I hope none of you ever have to do something like this!

 
I tried some different saws many years ago and found them to be of poor quality, too large, or not sturdy enough. After that I migrated to other tools and learned to rely upon them, then found the pocket chainsaw which has done about everythign I want an easily portable saw to do. Maybe I should look at some of the new designs, but first I will have to pry this new Cold Steel Shovel out of my hands.
smile.gif


------------------
Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
One thing you might want to consider is workworking groups. Last year a couple of my uncles when to Japan on a construction deal and when they came back they had very positive comments about the saws used - unfortunately they didn't bring any back with them.

-Cliff
 
CLIFF: Funny you should mention the Japanese handsaw! I've seen them and considered buying one just for the "survival" applications. All have the teeth facing backward for a PULL STROKE! American handsaws cut on the PUSH STROKE! The Japanese saws are smaller and more versatile for all uses. Also, I've seen many with BOTH sets of teeth, meaning that they have teeth on both sides of the saw. The one side is coarse and the other fine. One for crosscuts and the other for ripping. What an awesome tool!
biggrin.gif


I use to get a woodworking catalog and they had them for under $25...I wish I had bought one now! (I just thought I was the only 'fool' to imagine using one for a survival pack! LOL)



------------------
Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
The Wyoming Saw if very sturdy but a little heavy at about one pound. Its folding capability makes up for the weight though.I think the sawvivor would be a little better than the Wyoming but I dont believe it is as sturdy but it is lighter. The choice is yours. I had the same delemma not too long ago and I chose the Wyoming. I would rather have more weight and a sturdy saw than a lighter one and a broken saw.

------------------
 
Marion,

I have owned the original Wyoming saw for many years and have found it to be ideal for butchering game and just being plain handy around camp. It is well-made and the blades last a long time. All of my friends want to borrow it when they harvest a deer!
 
Plainsman, I doubt the Japanese saws would make good survival saws. I'm a woodworker and all of my handsaws are of the japanese style. They cut with greater efficiency and ease than western saws, but the large TPI (teeth per inch) lends itself to clogging when cutting fleshy or green woods. The blades are very thin which is great, but they do tend to buckle sometimes. Also the saws all have "broom-stick" handles which are not easy to slip in a backpack, although I suppose you might find one which unscrews, and some allow you to remove the blade, so same thing. They're great in the workshop, but I've got serious doubts about in a back-pack. BTW the double sided saws are called ryoba. Hope this helps.

------------------
"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Thanks for the input, JOHAN!
smile.gif


I've only SEEN them, handled one once, but never actually got to cut with one. Glad to hear from somebody who has hands on experience with them!

Thanks!



------------------
Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
I like the Corona 'razor saw' blades that are made in Japan but the handles aren't very durable. I have a 13in blade on a home made hickory handle of about the same length which is the saw that I usually grab for pruning around the house and when car camping. A 13in folding model with that blade length would be nice, and Corona does offer a 7in folding model. For a smaller saw I've been playing around with a Fiskars model available at Sears for less than $10, although Gerber offers the same model as a saw for sportman at a higher price. The 6in blade slides out of the handle and locks in place with a locknut, it's very light, and the blade has a nice triple grind on the teeth kind of like the Corona saw. A pocket chain saw looks like a nice tool, although I haven't picked one up yet. In each car I pack a small handle that holds the sawzall blades, with two each of larger wood saw, general purpose, and hacksaw blades. I've been looking around for an older 'timber saw' at a good price, the longer 4ft to 5ft saws designed to cut trees, as it seems like a fun type of saw to play around with.
 
I guess it depends on what you are planning to do with it. Do you want to buck logs for fire or clear a little brush. If the latter, my favorite is a Sandvik folder. This little puppy is really handy and cuts green wood pretty well. But I wouldn't use it for bucking logs. I like my Wyoming saw but also find it less useful on green wood.

I bought my Sandvik primarily for clearing shooting lanes for bowhunting and for this, it excels. I doubt I would want to cut up a lot of wood bigger than say 4-5" diameter, though.


------------------
Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu
 
Marion,

Don't believe I have ever seen any pics of the Wyoming saw on the net......when put together, the saw has 4 pieces and that includes the blade. IMHO, it is a great little saw, good for wood and bone cutting.
 
Another downfall to the japanese saws is the blades are really flimsy. Most of them are designed to cut dowels off flush without marring the wood. So there isn't much set to the teeth, and the blades flex like crazy. Not having set to the teeth means it could get pinched or stuck pretty easily if your trying to cut down hanging limbs or anything like that.
Anoyone tried gerber's folding saw? I haven't ever handled one but they don't look to bad for cutting small stuff, or bones in big game. They come with 2 blades, fine and coarse, and a belt pouch.

------------------
Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
I've used the gerber folding saws, mine only have one blade, looks almost like a chainsaw blade, they work really well if the wood you're cutting is small diameter stuff, I wouldn't want to cut anything much over 3 or 4 inch diameter.

------------------
"Actions speak louder than words"
 
I just bought the CUTEST little saw! It's the Mini-Hack by Stanley, purchased for a whopping $4.95 at Ace Hardware.

It holds a standard 10" hacksaw blade, half of which is held inside a slot in the handle. The other half is supported midway by an extension that clamps onto the back of the blade.

This saw won't fell any saplings, but we all know chopping is much more expedient for such work. This little tool is just the thing for precision work like cutting slots and notches. It weighs practically nothing, and the blades can be changed.

I passed up the flimsy 8" folding saw for this one. Much more sturdy, and much better saw blade.


------------------
-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top