The best knife thread is great. It got me thinking that granddad's old bow saw needs to be replaced with a folding saw. Anyone have any favorites?

Gerber is on the top of the list..
http://www.gerbergear.com/Outdoor/Gear/ ... _31-002820

I don't know about best, but I've had a Trailblazer Sawvivor for about 10 years now. Two blades, light and compact.

For a smaller design that folds up like a knife look at the "Gomboy".

I bought one for clearing small trees and brush at a remote airport and it works wonderful.

+1 on Trailblazer Sawvivor

Had one for 20 years or so and is a good combination of compact, light, and usable.

I've had a couple Fanno No. 0 folding pruning saws and a small bow saw for over 40 years. One Fanno in the pick up the other in the snowmobile. The bow saw hangs on the wall in my shop and never gets used. Too small.
http://www.fannosaw.com/index.php?main_ ... ex&cPath=1

One time snowmobiling we came to a stretch of wind fall lodgeploe. This guy comes up behind us and pulls a sawzall out of his pack.

Silky brand, then just choose a model.

Sven saw, light and compact.

http://www.svensaw.com/

I like this bob dustrude folding saw for my canoe trips into the boundary waters. Feather lite and rock solid stiff when erected, sharp as heck too.

https://www.duluthpack.com/bob-dustrude ... k-saw.html

Hoeschen wrote:I like this bob dustrude folding saw for my canoe trips into the boundary waters. Feather lite and rock solid stiff when erected, sharp as heck too.

https://www.duluthpack.com/bob-dustrude ... k-saw.html

I've got that saw too, and while it's worked fine with my limited usage, I don't trust it. The connections just look too fragile to me, like even a 1% twist or misalignment would collapse the saw. It's really no lighter than a non-folding bow saw, which is what I'd recommend for airplane use.

I always used my old mans Sven Folding Saw. I think his is about 25 years old. Hell, it could be older than me for all I know. I just know it has accompanied us on ALL camping trips. I need to buy one come to think of it. I always loved using the Sven.

REI has the 15" for $34.99 and the 21" for $36.95

http://www.rei.com/product/404040/sven-folding-saw-15

http://www.rei.com/product/404013/sven-folding-saw-21

Crzyivan13 wrote:I always used my old mans Sven Folding Saw. I think his is about 25 years old. Hell, it could be older than me for all I know. I just know it has accompanied us on ALL camping trips. I need to buy one come to think of it. I always loved using the Sven.

REI has the 15" for $34.99 and the 21" for $36.95

http://www.rei.com/product/404040/sven-folding-saw-15

http://www.rei.com/product/404013/sven-folding-saw-21

X3 for the Sven! Lightweight, fast cutting, strong and extremely compact.

I use the Sven. Brushed a strip this year, not a very good bone saw with such a corse blade but still cut a deer pelvis on the last trip.

I have the Sven saw and the Bahco Laplander. Both great saws.
The Laplander folds down small enough and is light enough that there's no excuse not to bring it backpacking. The Sven saw is great for bigger stuff.

For some time I carried a super sharp and lightweight composite handled hatchet for general hacking duties, plus the striking head was intended for driving down the tie down spikes, so two tools in one. I had also drilled out the composite handle making it even lighter, 1 lb. 2 oz. Landing in taller then anticipated brush, or finding I need to taxi through brush to get to a better camp site, splitting kindling of course, many different scenarios, have made a saw/hatchet combo a must have.

But, the hatchet striking head was so small, as an old carpenter I got embarrassed and pissed off, mostly pissed off, every time I was driving stakes. So, when I saw this saw, 9 oz., at (oddly enough) my plumbing wholesaler and about the same time remembered I had an old drywall hatchet with a big fat waffle head strike face but overall a pretty light weight , 1 lb. 4 oz., (this was before they thought of using grabber screws for hanging rock), I bought it, less then 20 bucks I think. I now carry the saw AND the rock hatchet, and it is again a joy to drive stakes. I also took the hatchet to a buddy who is a professional saw/anything sharpener and had it's cutting edge honed down so it's now sharp again. The composite handled hatchet is now resigned to splitting kindling at home, though it's light weight is not any big deal as it's borne by a concrete footing.

Playing around with the saw, I found that if you push the release and flick it at the same time, you have a giant bad ass looking flick knife of sorts, and if in the other hand, the rock hatchet, should make any attacking bears think twice

PAMR MX wrote:I use the Sven. Brushed a strip this year, not a very good bone saw with such a corse blade but still cut a deer pelvis on the last trip.

You might like a Wyoming Saw then. Check out the "II" model: http://www.wyomingknife.com/saws.htm Comes with wood and bone/ metal blades, and works great for both.
-DP

SVEN has been a faithful companion...

The Seven Saw looks like the one for me.

I carried Sven saws for years....then I discovered the Japanese style pruning saws. Like this one:

http://www.garrettwade.com/a-folding-pr ... fgods-8IEA

These things will out-cut any Sven saw, plus they fold or open in an instant, and are very compact. Try one of these things sometime. You can log with one of these things.

Best survival tool I've found, short of the portable espresso machine, of course.

MTV

The Svens are great saws. We use them for the guide service and so far (other than ruining blades) not one has been broken by any of the guides - which is a definite testimony to their toughness.Many other things have been broken. With that said I carry the Wyoming saw in my hunting pack. I think it is a little cheesier , but I have had no issues with it at all. Just quartered four whitetails with it last week and it did just fine.