Which camping or survival folding saw?

A

abchopper

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Jan 15, 2008
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To those who take out, in the forests or bushes, a camping or survival folding saw, what model do you use or recommend?

Along with the usual camping gear like stove, tent (or tarp shelter), etc, I also carry a heavy medium sized knife which I can chop with (Busse CG Ash1). It's a 6.5" heavy blade that can cover the job of a light weight hatchet, knife, slicer, chopper, splitter and cutter. In a survival situation it can be relied upon if it was the only cutting tool I had. But to cut larger branches say about 4" diameter it is very time and energy consuming in constructing a decent shelter.

The knife alone will work but if I had a compact light weight folding saw also it would probably make light work of the shelter building.

I saw at my local hardware store a Bahco folding saw:

http://www.bahcostore.com/order1.jsp?code=396-JS-E&referer=folding-saws.jsp

Has anyone used one of these in the bush? Is it any good and would you recommend it?

With a folding saw, my trio of tools would also include the Ash1 and a Leatherman Charge (my small cutter/multi tool). I have thought of carrying a small hatchet or tomahawk but I feel that would just add extra weight and double up on the Ash1 which can already do similar tasks (not quite as good but good enough for me)

So what folding saws would you recommend? (Bahco?)
 
The pocket chainsaw options have both sold very well for me, and the feedback has been universally positive, so I would recommend those in a heartbeat. That said, they can wear you out very quickly and do require two hands to use.

I am actually working on becoming a Bahco dealer and have a very high opinion of their products. Their folding saw line has an interesting feature in that they have different teeth shapes on their saw blades depending on which type of wood you will be cutting. I don't just mean different size, I mean different shapes. They have blades appropriate for green wood, dry wood, and a universal blade. I have some samples coming in this week, so I should have some photos and videos giving more detail soon.
 
Fiskars
Fiskars
Fiskars
:D

I love them, simple, light very sharp and extremely effective.
 
Just needed to say "Great question." Last Spring, I picked up a Chinese-made Coleman saw from a camp store in the hills. While it got me by through the Summer and most of Fall, I knew I needed something more substantial for a keeper. Eyes/ears open.:eek:
Anyone use the Opinel saw?
 
Silky Super Accel 210 or the Kershaw (a re-branded Bahco).

DancesWithKnives
 
I have carried the sawvivor saw it is light to me and you have a 15" cutting blade as opposed to the 7" or whatever folding saw your using. It folds into itself and the blade carries in the handle along with a few other blades if you wish.
 
I've got both the Opinel and sliding blade Fiskars, and while both are good saws, the Fiskars outcuts the Opinel and is lighter and tougher built. Opinels have a little finer teeth. The Fiskars wil go through a 2 1/2 to 3 inch limb in a minute and a half to 2 minutes of easy back and forth sawing. Very little expediture of energ, and only weights a couple onces. They are so light, and low cost,( 9'95 on sale) that the better half also has one in her daypack, and I have spares spaced around in the truck tool kit behind the seat, the canoe bag, workbench.

One of these days I may try a Silky, but I'm very happy with the Fiskars.
 
I really like Silky, Bahco (sold by Kershaw here), Sawvivor and the Pocket Chainsaw mentioned by storl. Silky has a real nice selection of sizes. The Bahco/Kershaw version is very light and cuts like a demon. I like both of these smaller folders for most of my trips. The Sawvivor is really a great folding saw (you can carry a second back up blade as well); it's great for logs up to 6-7". The Pocket Chainsaw can be used on stuff up to 8-10" (from my experience..that's about as much as I could do by hand). Unless I'm backcountry packing (it's been a while), I most often take a folding Bahco/Kershaw or one of my Silky saws. I like the flush cuts on my walking sticks or overhead tarp pole.

ROCK6
 
I like my Gerber Gator Exchange-A-Blade Saw, which comes with a coarse and fine/bone blade, all of which fit into the (supplied) belt worn sheath.

It cuts like a devil, the blades change easily, quickly and without tools and its well made, with a good grip.

Given the size, weight and performance, its all that I want from a folding saw to meet camp and/or survival needs.
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I have the Bahco Laplander and use it most times i'm out in the woods. I've cut up to 5'' branches with it but it's more suited for about 3'' diameter wood. Very quick and clean cuts and the lock on the blade is solid.

If you want to know how good it is well Ray Mears uses them, nuff said.
 
I've had a sawvivor for a few years, but haven't used it much. As a matter of fact when my son-in-law tried to throw it out it took me awhile to figure out how to reassemble it. It's very compact when folded and very lightweight.
 
Hi all, I use and carry every day the seirra saw. $8.88 from walmart. over the last 25 years that I have used and carried a folding saw of some kind. Most of the ones already mentioned. I still go with the sierra saw. I carry mine in my back left pocket. I have 3 areas here on the farm that I have fire pits and as a place to camp that I walk to and saw up wood at. If I am not using my axe then I am using my saw.

Bryan
 
You can't really go wrong with any of the above suggested saws.
I personally have a Fiskars, that I paid $10 for, and it works great.
 
Thank you to all you guys for the really great suggestions. So nice to get real feedback from users who have been out in the field with this great gear!

The Bahco and Silky look like good strong compact and light weight options. One of these might be a good one to start with for short trips. The Fiskers looks like great value.

The Sawvivor looks like a good light weight larger cutter. The Sven looks like it's more compact than the Sawvivor but from the specs it's heavier.

Has anyone compared the Sawvivor and the Sven together?
Can the Sven store extra blades in the tubes?
 
I've used my Felco on many occasions in the backyard and in the wilds. Light, relatively inexpensive, cuts great and folds up small enough.

bushcraft023.jpg
 
I'll second the pocket chainsaw. I have the model that comes without handles- improvise your own. The tin takes up virtually no space, but its surprisingly capable.
 
abchopper,

The Sven can store spare blades. I've used one several times and liked it fine, but in that size range I thought the Sawvivor had a more comfortable grip. I also thought that the rectangular frame design might handle slightly larger wood---but it's a close call.

DancesWithKnives
 
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