Wire saws?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,138
Do these work?

commandowiresaw_650.jpg
 
Yes and no.

If you work them fast, they heat up and get brittle and inevitably break.

If you get a cheap type, they will break easier.

If you do not use them in an improvised bow-saw type of setup, they will not perform or last as long.

If you bend them, as the BCB advertisements show, they will not perform as well, they will get warm or hot and take a set and break.

The three types of wire saws that I have that actually work are:

1. USGI M2 Saw
2. BCB "Commando" Wire Saw
2. USGI "Varco" Wire Saw

This article on my website has a closeup of the Varco:

http://www.donrearic.com/airman.htm

This article has a closeup of the M2 and also has an illustration on how to make a wire saw into a bow-saw:

http://www.donrearic.com/usmcskit.html

This is the company that manufactures the M2 Military Survival Wire Saw, they also make that type of saw in coping saw and hacksaw configurations as well: http://www.bestwayproductscompany.com/
 
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Thanks Don. Great information. The one I posted is a Pro Force Commando Saw. Says it's the strongest. Are you familiar with it?

Here's the description:

"The Strongest (over 100 lbs breaking strain) and most effective wire saw available. Cuts through wood, plastic, bone and even soft metals. Constructed using 8 strands of interwoven stainless steel wire, will easily reach inaccessible places. Attach rope to split ring on each end to cut higher branches 24" sawing edge."
 
No, not familiar with it unless it is a BCB Commando Wire Saw by another name. Make sure you read the Bestway link, the last link.
 
I bought one. Must have been a cheapo. It broke on the second limb. Dont know the brand.
 
Don Rearic said:
No, not familiar with it unless it is a BCB Commando Wire Saw by another name. Make sure you read the Bestway link, the last link.
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I did read the last link. The Bestway saw does look like nice quality. :thumbup:
 
Big K said:
I use one of these, works great. http://www.pocketchainsaw.com/
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The advantage of the wire saw is that you can attack it to something as small as a knife sheath and always have it with you. Pocket chainsaws are great, but they're kind of apples and oranges. Different design, different application.

I've been curious about the wire saws as well. Good thread!
 
I have a pocket chainsaw too, and it cuts great. It's in the survival kit in my bag that I carry every day. The wire saws look like they'd be great for quietly deanimating sentries in action movies. Go ahead, put your thumbs up to try and block my garrote! I'll just saw right through them! :D
 
Actually, the miscommunication, if that is the proper word, already going on in this thread is part of the reason wire saws have such a bad reputation. Partly due to stupid advertising.

They're not designed to get you a night's worth of firewood! They're tools used to make other things, including other tools and to cut things that are harder to cut with knives and hatchets, etc.

You see two people bring up "pocket chainsaws." I hear nothing but good about them! In fact, the only negative thing I have heard about them is they are heavy. But they are not a wire saw. Chuck Yeager, according to the Bestway website, was involved in an air crash and used one of these to cut the neck portion of his helmet off. While most of us don't have to worry about that particular cutting task, there are many intricate tasks that these saws can do well.
 
moonwilson said:
I have a pocket chainsaw too, and it cuts great. It's in the survival kit in my bag that I carry every day.
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OK, three people brought up the pocket chainsaw. :)


The wire saws look like they'd be great for quietly deanimating sentries in action movies. Go ahead, put your thumbs up to try and block my garrote! I'll just saw right through them! :D
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Original cheesecutters and Gigli bone saws were used as garrottes in WW2. There are two basic types of garrottes, compression and cutting. One is a constrictor and the other is more of a flexible edged weapon.
 
moonwilson said:
The wire saws look like they'd be great for quietly deanimating sentries in action movies. Go ahead, put your thumbs up to try and block my garrote! I'll just saw right through them! :D
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Didn't Robert Shaw's character in From Russia With Love use one? :D

medium_RUSSIA.jpg
 
Don Rearic said:
You see two people bring up "pocket chainsaws." I hear nothing but good about them! In fact, the only negative thing I have heard about them is they are heavy. But they are not a wire saw.
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Don, are you trying to say that a wire saw shouldn't be compared to this one either? :D

stihlchainsaw088.jpg
 
For me the trade off of weight vs. ease of use I choose to carry the pocket chainsaw hands down. I guess if you put a wire saw in your survival kit its better than nothing, good vids on showing how to properly us em.
 
Don Rearic said:
OK, three people brought up the pocket chainsaw. :)
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Guilty as charged! :)

I've tried to use wire saws in the past, and either I had a bad saw, bad technique, or both. I tried it with my fingers through the rings & with sticks through the rings, and I couldn't get it to cut for squat. It either bound up and caught, or didn't make any headway. Not to mention the rings almost giving way. I guess if you have the patience, you could cut roundish objects like bones or pvc or copper pipe if you had to.

Maybe others have better luck/skills/patience than I did!
 
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The M2 is probably the best one ever devised.

As far as weight is concerned, it's not an issue with these devices.
 
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