Guide To The Best Folding Saws
Bushcraft Folding saws are known by many names, some of which are, folding saw, camp saws, and even survivor saw. It doesn’t matter what you call them; but, it does matter if you don’t have one with you when needed.
Types of Bushcraft Saws
The three most common types of bushcraft saws are folding saws, folding bow saws, pocket chainsaws, and wire saws. Examples of each are shown below.
The folding saw and folding bow saw as you probably guessed, fold up, like a pocket knife. A pocket chainsaw is a handheld, human-powered, saw that works by moving the tiny blades back and forth. Wire saws are very cheap and quite portable. However, they also can be hard to hold and are generally only used in emergency outdoor survival. Examples of both are shown below.
My reviews will only cover folding saws and folding bow saws.
Bushcraft Saw vs. Hatchet
A Bushcraft saw is superior to a hatchet or survival knife in the following situations:
- Confined Spaces- They cut easier in small spaces.
- Quicker-A decent bushcraft saw cuts quicker and easier.
- Precise Cuts- Saws can cut straight notches better, which works well for setting up traps, wilderness emergency shelters, and more.
- Versatility-Depending upon its quality, a decent folding saw will serve multiple purposes. For example, typical ones can clear bush, help you build emergency shelters, cut bone, and firewood, and perform other essential outdoor survival tasks.
- Replacement Blades: You will need to buy replacement blades on some saws as they are unable to be sharpened.
Pocket Chainsaw
WIRE POCKET SAW
Best Bushcraft Saws
Bahco 396-LAP Laplander
Product Specifications
- Grip: plastic handle with leather straps
- Style: Folding
- Dimensions Folded: 7.87 x 7.87 x 11.81 inches
- Blade Length: 7″
- Weight: 7.1 oz,
- Teeth Per Inch: 7
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Can It Be Sharpened: No
- Warranty:
The Bahco Laplander folding saw is manufactured in Sweden by the same business that makes Snap-On tools. Snap-On Tools are known for their quality workmanship. So, you would expect the Bahco saw to be a high-quality bushcraft saw.
Based upon over 5,000 overwhelmingly positive ratings, it seems that this saw is top-notch. The question that needs to be asked is if the Bahco is as good as it appears, or is it overrated? I will answer this question and more in my review.
Pros
- Highly Rated-It has over 5,000 reviews, with the majority of the ratings being between four or five stars. (This is the most that I can recall seeing for any product.)
- Top-Notch- Bahco also makes the highly-respected Morakniv knives, which are known for being some of the best, lower-priced, knives.
- Quickly Gets The Job Done-Many reviewers stated that the Laplander when correctly used, cuts quickly.
- Comfortable Handling-The plastic handle, with a curve in the middle, is said to be very easy to use.
CONS
- Learning Curve-A few reviewers, who likely didn’t use it properly, complained that it took forever to cut wood. However, based upon the overwhelmingly positive reception for this saw, it seems reasonable that the Bahco saw work quite well as long as you correctly cut on the pull stroke and lighten up when pushing the saw.
- Locking Defect- The Boho lock not working and collapsing during use, which is a significant safety concern, was common among the few complaints.
Conclusion
A faulty locking mechanism, as it is a safety hazard, is a valid concern. However, based upon very few purchasers mentioning this issue, it should not deter you from buying the Bahco Laplander. In conclusion, for its price, based upon its high ratings, the Bahco Laplander cannot be beaten.
Sven Saw
Product Specifications
- Grip: Metal
- Style: Bow Folded
- Dimensions Folded: For 21” Saw, 24″ x 1 1/2″ x 5/8″-For 15”Saw-17″ x 1 1/2″ X 5/8″
- Blade Length: NA
- Weight: 14.1 ounces
- Teeth Per Inch: Not Listed
- Can It Be Sharpened: No-Replacement Blades are necessary.
Sven Folding Bow Saws, except for the steel, which is made in Sweden, is made by a 60-year-old, United States company. They come in 15 and 21-inch blades and are known for being durable, and being compact. Unlike some folding hand saws, Sven is specifically marketed to be used for camping, hunting, hiking, backpacking, fishing, etc.
The Sven Saw does cost more than most bushcraft saws. But, they are affordable for most people. Why though, pay more for something if it is not worth the extra cost? Please see below for the answer to these questions.
- Excellent Ratings and Heavily Vetted- Over 90% five-star with over 400 total participating is quite impressive.
- Outdoor Use-This saw was built to be a “Bushcraft Saw,” and not just for gardeners.
- Compact-Once you’ve got the hang of it, at around 30 seconds, you can fold it up into a compact, slim package that is perfect for taking with you on your outdoor adventure. Also, especially for the size of the blade, it is very lightweight.
- Long Blade- The longer the blade, the easier it is to cut and 15 and 21 inches is one of the largest blade lengths that I have seen on bushcraft saw.
- Durable- The blade steel is made from hardened Swedish steel, and the entire saw is made of durable metal. One reviewer even mentioned that he had used his same Sven for over 40 years.
- Results-Numerous readers praise how it cut. One impressive claim was that the saw could cut through a 12″ tree trunk with a knot.
CONS
- Assembly-Sven folding saws, to some, can be a challenge to open and close. One reviewer even noted that he bent his saw as a result of attempting to fold the saw up.
- Missing Wing Nut-A loose wing nut is used to secure it when folded up and it is removed when the saw is unfolded and ready to be used. The problem is that this loose wingnut, especially when you are outdoors in the wilderness, can be easily lost. So when using it you need to be careful, and it would be wise to carry an extra wingnut with you.
- Replacement Blades- Being able to only able to use replacement blades from Sven Saws, which cost around $15, was a common complaint. Replacements saw blades though can be purchased at a few stores, and they are manufactured by a 60-year old company. As a result, you should not worry too much about them going out of business and you not being able to buy a blade.
Conclusion
Sven Saw is made by an established 60-year-old business. Best of all though, Sven’s are known for getting the job done. (The 12″ cutting claim was especially impressive) The only real downside that I recognized was the loose wingnut issue. But wingnuts are very cheap. So, just put an extra in your backpack, and you will be set if you lose one. In conclusion, the Sven Folding bow Saw is recommended, and it is worth the additional price.
Corona Razor Tooth RS 7425 Folding Saw
Product Specifications
- Grip: Co-molding and Ergonomic Handle
- Style: Folding
- Dimensions Folded: 7.87 x 7.87 x 11.81 inches/ 8 x 17.5 x 10 inches
- Blade Length: 7″-8″
- Weight: 7.1 oz,
- Can It Be Sharpened: No
The Corona Folding Saw can be purchased for under $20, and are marketed as pruning saws. However, numerous campers have bought them, specifically for bushcraft and camping.
They are reasonably priced, highly rated, and heavily vetted. (Nearly 2K Ratings ) It is an exceptional camp and gardening saw. But, should it be taken with you and used for bushcraft? I will answer that question in this review.
PROS
- Excellent Ratings- Has almost 2k reviews with 95% of them being between four and five stars.
- Durable- A reviewer stated that she used it to cut around 70 trees that were mostly from 2″ to 3″ and up to five inches.
- Easy To the handle-The reviewer who claimed to cut the nearly 70 trees with said she was a 70-year-old woman, which indicates that this saw efficiently cuts.
- Cuts Smooth- Marketing claims that this saw can cut through wood like a knife cuts through butter, and this claim is backed by numerous verified purchasers.
CONS
- Folding- A few reviewers noted that the blade does not properly fold, which results in the razor-sharp blades being partially exposed even when it is folded. The saw blade not being fully covered isn’t a big issue if it is used for gardening or taking it with you in your trailer or RV.
- Can’t be Sharpened- So replacement blades will be needed or buy a new one.
- Bushcraft Use Limited- It can only cut branches up to 3″, its use for bushcraft is limited.
Conclusion
The Corona is a sub-$20 folding saw that, unlike other popular bush saws, is marketed for agriculture. It can be used for a camping trip. And many campers buy this folding saw specifically as a camping saw and for other outdoor ventures.
First impressions are that the Corona is reasonably priced and highly rated. (Nearly 2k) It is an exceptional pruning saw. But, because of the folding problems, you need to look elsewhere if you are wanting a bushcraft saw.
Silky Professional Big Boy 2000
Product Specifications
- Grip: Aluminum handles with a rubberized, easy-grip, handle
- Weight: .4 oz.
- Material: Hard chrome-plated, taper-ground blade, which is designed for rust protection.
- Can It Be Sharpened: No
- Warranty: Limited, Life Time
The Japanese manufactured, Silky BigBoy 2000, is considered, by some as being the best bushcraft saw as they come with all the bells and whistles that you can need and are made for professionals and are designed to be used for camping, arborists, trimming, orchards, and much more.
The Silky compared to other foldable saws is quite expensive. So, these questions need to be asked:
- Is it worth paying the extra price?
- Is the Silky Bigboy suitable for bushcraft use?
- Is Silky Bigboy one of the best bushcraft saws?
PROS
- Highly Rated-Of over 1,000 ratings, 96% are 4 and 5 stars.
- Curved Blade Option- A curved blade has been shown to cut faster than a straight edge.
- Perfect Size For Backpacking-Silky Big Boy’s blade length is long enough to cut trees up to 10″, but short enough to comfortably fit in your backpack.
- Handle-The rubber-like grip works well for allowing you to perform a pull stroke of the saw.
- Works Well-Praised for cutting efficiently and quickly
- Versatile- Designed to be used for forestry, orchards, removing brush, and other jobs.
- Works On Many Wood Types-Different blade teeth options for three types of wood. (Green-Wood, Softwood, and Hardwood)
CONS
- Expensive Maintenance-Without special equipment or skill, these blades cannot be sharpened, and the replacement blades are half the price of a new saw.
- Too Much For Some Users-Just like every driver doesn’t need a luxury car, not everyone will need a professional hand saw.
Silky Big Boy 2000
Conclusion
Verified purchasers appreciated Silky Big Boy’s ease of use and durability. The blades not being able to be sharpened is a problem. But, the chrome blade-teeth do stay sharp for a long time, and because of the lifetime warranty you’ll get your money worth when and if you do need to replace the blade.
Additionally, there were a few complaints concerning the blade thickness of the Silky. This is likely an issue of buyers not knowing how to correctly use the Silky’s “Japanese” style saw.
Silky, on Amazon, states explicitly how you need to use their saw, and how your saw may break if you don’t use it correctly. Therefore, as long as you follow the instructions, you should not worry about the blade breaking. Thus, assuming you will use it enough and can afford it, I recommend the Silky Big Boy.
Attention: As of June 2000, Silky Saw only had 3 Big Boys left. So, this does not show the 1k+ reviews. The following Silky Saw is from a third-party distributer. Also, for your convience, I’ve included other models that may interest you.
Silky GOMBOY
SILKY Pocket Boy
Final Thoughts And recommendation
Reading this post will steer you in the right direction in buying a survival folding saw. The saws that I reviewed are the best of the “best” on Amazon. So, you can’t go wrong by buying any of these. Also, folding saws, unlike firearms, for most people, aren’t expensive items. So, I recommend that you pay a bit more and get the best one you can afford.
APPENDIX
The 7 Most Important, Foldable Saw, Buyer’s Criteria
Folding saw needs to be portable as you will need to take them with you. However, you also want them to get the job done. This balancing act can between portability and use can get quite tricky. So, I’ve given you some recommendations for buying bushcraft saws that best suits your needs. Use these recommendations along with the above, and you will have the information needed to buy the best saw that works for your situation.
Below are the seven features that you should look for when purchasing a foldable bush saw.
- Portability-Portability is essential for a folding saw that you are planning on taking with you while you are away from civilization in the wilderness. However, if you just want to save space and not have to carry a bulky saw with you in your car, you can purchase a folding saw that may not be as portable and lightweight If you are needing to carry your saw with you away from civilization, you will need to sacrifice functionality for a saw that is more easily sorted. As a result, true bushcraft saw, for use away from civilization, needs to be compact enough to easily fit in your backpack or coat pocket.
- Uses– How are you planning on using it? Not all folding saw blades cut wood the same. For example, some folding saws may work better for cutting logs than for making notches in the wood. So, evaluate your needs before buying one and then make your decision.
- Wood-Will, You Cut Primarilly Dry or Green-Wood?
- Handle– can purchase portable, wire, saws for under $10. However, these saws have cheap handles or handles that are quite rough to hold. As a result, you should make sure the saw handle is durable and also easily griped during rigorous activities like sawing wood.
- Saw Size-(When folded)-The larger the saw blade the better the saw will function. However, a bigger saw is also less portable. So, it’s a tightrope between functionality and portability. However, if you are planning on taking this saw out away from civilization to use in bushcraft, I would err on the size of portability.
- Durability– You don’t want your camp saw to fail when you need it the most. So, other than it is safe, durability is the most crucial factor to consider when buying a camp saw.
- Safety Features– You don’t want your saw handle to collapse while you are working hard at cutting wood and end up cutting yourself. That is why a sturdy locking mechanism that would prevent the collapse from even happening is essential. So, for your saw, get a lock that stays locked.
Choose a Blade For The Wood your Are Most likely Going To Be Cutting
You won’t be able to have seperate saw blades for each type of wood you encounter when you are out hiking or enjoying the great outdoors. You should purchase a saw blade that works well for the kind of wood (GreenWood, Dry Wood, and Hardwood) you are most likely going to cut.
Teeth per inch (“TPI”) on a saw blade is what you are looking to buy your saw. Below are recommended, TPI, saw numbers for the various types of wood.
- Green-Wood: 2-8
- Hard-wood:10-20
