Take-down bow saws

desmobob

desmobob

Joined
May 5, 2003
Messages
2,494
I just got home from three days in the woods bow hunting whitetails here in the Adirondacks. I brought my Wetterlings 16" hunter's axe, but I was wanting something more suitable for cutting large diameter firewood... it was cold at night and I wanted some good-sized logs on the fire.

I'm looking at the Trail Blazer take-down bow saw (18" blade model; 15" diameter cutting capacity). It packs into one round tube and weighs 19 oz. About $30.

Anyone have any experience with this saw, or have a real favorite brand/model?

Thanks for any information,
desmobob
 
I have and use the trailblazer as a full sized bow saw. It packs nicely in a large backpack and generally works well as a replacement for a normal buck saw. I think it cuts circles around a smaller folding saw and provides a good complement to a hatchet when tackling larger diameter logs.

A few things that I don't like about it is that it uses a proprietary blade. Mine has become a bit dull over years of use and I now have to track down the company to buy a blade replacement. It is sometimes a little tricky to re-pack it into its tube as the components fit in a specific order that isn't completely intuitiive when you go to break it down. The other thing, comparing it to a standard buck saw, is that if you want to use two hands you have to place them both on the angled draw bar. Normally I like to have my left hand on the top arch of the buck to steady my strokes, but the tiny little top bar on the trailblazer isn't comfortable (or stable enough) to grab hold of. This is a very minor complaint though given that I've taken the trailblazer to places where I wouldn't have taken a full sized buck saw.

I certainly don't regret this purchase of this saw and would recommend it to others.
 
kgd said:
A few things that I don't like about it is that it uses a proprietary blade. Mine has become a bit dull over years of use and I now have to track down the company to buy a blade replacement.
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In the review linked by holeymoley, Cliff Stamp mentions the Trail Blazer blade is easy to sharpen with a file... you might want to give it a shot.

The place I found with the best price on the saw also sells the various blades. I ordered an extra wood blade and a bone blade with my 18" saw. http://cspoutdoors.stores.yahoo.net/trailblaztak.html


Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate it.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Check out the Sven saw. Dead simple and strong. The 15" rig is $25 (try REI) and 15oz.

My vote goes to the Bahco/Kershaw folding saw for hiking.
 
desmobob said:
In the review linked by holeymoley, Cliff Stamp mentions the Trail Blazer blade is easy to sharpen with a file... you might want to give it a shot.

The place I found with the best price on the saw also sells the various blades. I ordered an extra wood blade and a bone blade with my 18" saw. http://cspoutdoors.stores.yahoo.net/trailblaztak.html


Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate it.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...

Thanks for this source!
 
DaleW said:
Check out the Sven saw. Dead simple and strong. The 15" rig is $25 (try REI) and 15oz.

My vote goes to the Bahco/Kershaw folding saw for hiking.
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I had one of the Sven saws years ago. They are simple and strong, but the design severly limits the cutting capacity and utility. Your sawing hand is located so your knuckles can get smashed against the log. I remember that about the Sven. :rolleyes:

I do have three different types of folding saws similar to the Kershaw. I have a Gerber and two others I can't recall the brand of offhand. They are very handy, but not for bucking a pile of 8" diameter firewood....

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I use a 24" Swedish take down buck saw. It stores into a nice tube and is easy to carry in my pack. I also have a Kershaw for small stuff. The buck saw cuts nice size logs quickly. It has room for an extra blade - either a bone blade or another wood blade.
 
I've used a Sven saw for years now and haven't felt the need to look for anything different, though it will smack your hand up like mentioned above if your not careful.

Helle
 
Sawvivor I think is made by the same company
 
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