Who SAWs their way to Survival?

I always have a Swede saw behind the seat of my truck. It is a far more efficient cutting tool than an ax. Even so, I carry ax too!
 
I keep a saw in my pack, a SAK w/saw in my belt fire kit and had a Swedish army bowsaw in my truck, but somebody ripped it off.
 
I love the saws in the Swiss Army knives, they cut great and fix in your pocket :D
 
saws are better than an axe when you need alot of firewood like in long term survival and I know some people that carry a bow saw blade taped to the inside of the belts and some that make their own belts to carry one then make their own frame in the woods.
 
RickJ said:
Who out there puts alot of value in Saws as part of their Wilderness Kit?
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I do! Since saws use less energy than swinging an axe and are vastly less likely to damage an untutored user (me ;) ), they are my tool of choice for busting up larger wood for firemaking. In the soggy NW USA where it can rain for weeks, cracking open bigger wood to get tinder & firewood is a consideration. After sectioning out larger branches or other wood chunks with the saw, I use a camp knife & a baton to split it down to size. As a personal preference, I recommend a minimum saw blade length of about 8".

Search on the word "Tashiro" here on BFC to find a saw review I did and other comments on the Pocket Saw from Tashiro Hardware in Seattle. It is a folding Japanese style (cut on the pull stroke) pruning saw that is lightweight, handy for sticking in a pack or pocket, and has good durability & long life due to its locking blade angle adjustment. That pruning saw is the one I keep in my "grab 'n go" bag, as well as one in my woodworking tool bag. Likewise, there have been quite a number of threads about saws here in BFC Wilderness & Survival forum that the search function can bring up.

Folding pruning saws in the 8"-14" blade range can be found in the $10-$50 USD range. So cost need not be a show-stopper on getting one to stash in your kit. Some of the more common saw brand names you may see at home centers, hardware/gardening stores, or online sporting goods vendors are Corona, Felco, Sandvik (Bahco), Gerber (Fiskar), or Silky.
 
For the past several years I've had great luck with the folding Gerber saws that are made by Fiskars. You can get them at Target for 9.99 and are very light weight, and blade slides up out of handle. The cut fast in green and aged wood. I keep one in my kit and another in the emergency bag behind the seat of my truck.

Saws are great.
 
A Gerber/Fiskars push-out saw is a regular part of my backpacking kit (along with a SAK and a stout 3.5-4.5" sheath knife). When it comes time to gather firewood, that saw more than justifies its (slight) weight.
 
Thomas Linton said:
A Gerber/Fiskars push-out saw is a regular part of my backpacking kit (along with a SAK and a stout 3.5-4.5" sheath knife). When it comes time to gather firewood, that saw more than justifies its (slight) weight.
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I've got the same one. It's really amazing how capable it is for the weight... Plus it's very compact when the blade is retracted.
 
I am currently useing the Bahco LapLander as well, The color scheme is perfect for me since I am in the Army.

I am looking at two Silky Saws, The PocketBoy 170 to be carried on my person and a BigBoy for the RuckSack.

Besides a folding Saw, I have the Saw on my Leatherman and my SAK Outrider has a Saw as well. The smaller ones for small work of course and the Laplander for cutting bigger stuff.

I think a good Saw is one of the most important pieces of your Kit!
 
Saws can be used under extreme conditions better and with more safety. We're talking about survival now, not aweekend of minimalist camping. Just try using an axe much less a big knife and chop away it cut a splint for a broken arm or leg (yours) and it wont take much to understand the value of a good, compact saw. Or make shelter under the same circumstances. I've been there and done that.......I had a good hatchet, hunting knife and compact saw. Given a choice, I ditch the chopper in a NY second.
Dan
 
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