Packable saw: Sawvivor bow style, vs Trailblazer take-down buck.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm in the market for a new packable saw for camping and BOB use.  I currently have a 21" Sven saw, and it's been a good little tool, but I'm feeling a need for something sturdier and more capable.

I've looked at both the Sawvivor bow style saw, that comes with the different blades, but an not enamored of the bow saw style.  I've found they don't seem to work as well as a crosscut saw, or a buck saw.

So, I've been thinking about the Trailblazer instead as it seems like it would be sturdier and can handle larger logs.  At the same time, it's a more complicated assembly, with more parts, which means more potential points for failure and loss.

Anyone have experience with either of these?

[AimlessWanderer]

I've never tried a packable bow saw as I've never been convinced about capability vs size, but I did try a cheap packable buck saw once. To be honest I still preferred "Old Faithful" which is my Bahco Laplander. The takedown buck rattled when folded and was just too much of a space and weight penalty. It wasn't even the quality of the item that was the issue, just the size weight and rigidity of the item in the pack

For me personally - and this might not work for you at all - if I was wanting to carry something with more capability than a Bahco and hatchet/pack axe, I'd probably add in a pocket chainsaw or a bow saw blade and make sure I had some paracord. If there's enough big stuff around for me to want to hack up large diameter logs, there'd be enough materials (and the tools) for me to knock myself up a bow saw or buck saw pretty quickly anyway. Just another option to consider

[jekostas]

Gerber Sportsman's Saw (you can also find it under the Fiskars name).  Phenomenally good saw, light, sturdy and very effective.  The Bahco Laplander is also a darned good saw.  The Pocket Chainsaw is another strong contender.  After you pass this level of saw size and weight increases dramatically, but capability doesn't.

Gerber Sportsman's / Survival Saw

[badwolf]

Can't really suggest any other saws at the moment but I agree with 50ft-trade on the Bahco Laplander saw as its what I've gone back to using, its a 'goldilocks' saw, not too big, not too small but very capable, packs well and will sit on your belt okay. I tried two of those 'pocket chain saws' and found the one with actual chain saw teeth easier to use, less effort and didn't bind up as easy as the one with multiple teeth like a bow saw, I sold both on as effort to use them, in my opinion is just silly, they work better if you can keep your arms as far apart as possible as the tighter and closer the two sides of cutting edge get the harder it is to use. There are other good folding saws out there but I use and recommend the Bahco Laplander

[Sazabi]

If you're thinking about getting a Laplander; I have a link for a sister of the Laplander from a cheap (and quick shipping) eBay seller.

I picked one up for my PFII; it fit in the front pocket nicely.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Thanks for the info guys.  The Gerber saw is just too small for what I want to be able to do.  I think the Laplander would be too.  For saws of that type, I've been looking at the Silky Fox saws; from what I've seen on various you tube videos, their performance is quite impressive.  If I were to go that route, I'd get something like the Sugoi or the Gomboi.  A Katana Boy would be nice, but my wife would never let me spend that much money on a saw... 

As it is, the Sugoi and Gomboi are about twice the price as the Trailblazer, so that's why I was considering it first.  And yeah, I realize that I shouldn't be relying on only a single saw...  so I will most likely get one of the folding chainsaws as a backup, since they're compact, light, and fairly inexpensive.

Edit: I say the Gerber and Bahco are too small, because at many of the places in the Sierras that I go backpacking with my wife, or camping with our kids, the smallest logs you can legally collect for firewood are close to 12" in size.

[Sazabi]

The Laplander has a 7.5 inch blade; though you'd have to work on a couple different fronts to get a 12inch limb, much larger than that and you'd want a collapsible bandsaw.

[badwolf]

Edit: I say the Gerber and Bahco are too small, because at many of the places in the Sierras that I go backpacking with my wife, or camping with our kids, the smallest logs you can legally collect for firewood are close to 12" in size.

Ah ha, this puts a hole different perspective things, bit much for the folders but doable, will have a look around and post if anything better pops up. I would say the pocket chain saws are a use as last resort or if you want a good work out, see if you can try one first and your see what I mean

[AimlessWanderer]

I think using anything to hack through 12" diameter logs and upwards is going to give you a good workout. I have done it with the Laplander, but it wasn't exactly fun. The sort of saw I'd want for logging stuff like that isn't the sort of thing I'd want to carry so I'd definitely take a blade of choice and fall back on the improvised saw routine I reckon. In fact the collapsable bucksaw thing I had would have fared far worse than the Laplander due to the blade being captive at both ends which does affect the usable stroke of the saw.

Maybe upgrade the hatchet to a GB Short Forest Axe and carry a Laplander? a decent circumferential groove with the axe will make the sawing easier without having to chop a wide V notch either 

[badwolf]

I think using anything to hack through 12" diameter logs and upwards is going to give you a good workout. I have done it with the Laplander, but it wasn't exactly fun. The sort of saw I'd want for logging stuff like that isn't the sort of thing I'd want to carry so I'd definitely take a blade of choice and fall back on the improvised saw routine I reckon. In fact the collapsable bucksaw thing I had would have fared far worse than the Laplander due to the blade being captive at both ends which does affect the usable stroke of the saw.

Maybe upgrade the hatchet to a GB Short Forest Axe and carry a Laplander? a decent circumferential groove with the axe will make the sawing easier without having to chop a wide V notch either 

Again I agree with 50ft-trad, spot on I reckon say something I can disagree with

[badwolf]

Okay then, little bit a Googling.
First, British army version of the pocket chain saw type, very strong, durable and well made, always seem to pop up on ebay a lot cheaper than the example I've linked to here. Complete one's as shown, should have 6x handles, 1x file, 1x blade guide and a pouch, either leather or canvas. I had one of these too, the saw phase Great saw can be used by one or two people which would be better as its 46" long and packs quite small. http://www.gilai.com/product_728/Military-Farrers-Patent-Folding-Saw-by-Francis-Wood

Second, this weird thing sold by Wasatch Touring, chunky looking teeth and 18" long, folds to 11", maybe worth a try. http://www.wasatchtouring.com/store/foldsaw.html

Those Silky saws, Katanboy and Bigboy (sounds like manga porn crime fighters to me ) certainly look good and probably would do you just right but expensive. http://fine-tools.com/baum.htm So good luck

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Thanks for the additional info and input guys.   

Where we go camping, in the Sierra Nevadas mostly, can see a lot of traffic, so in most places where it's legal to gather wood, all the small stuff I could handle with a smaller folding saw has usually long since been picked clean.  That only leaves the larger stuff that's down and dead to take for firewood. 

There's a lot of white fir and cedar in the Sierras and up at those elevations they can get pretty big.  As is typical for conifers, they have fat trunks and spindly limbs, so while it's fairly easy to break off the branches, cutting up the trunks is something most people don't come equipped for.  (But I always do! )  So, 12" is a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. 

I've also learned that the few oaks there are up there tend to be on the south sides of the mountains where it's dryer and gets more sun, so occasionally I get lucky and find an old down oak tree that most other casual campers or backpackers don't have the equipment to take advantage of.  Cutting one of those up can be a real PITA if you're not prepared... 

I also want something easily portable for backpacking and BOB use as well, similar to my Sven saw, but again, something sturdier.  I'm not impressed with the design of the Sawvivor... the bow style handle does mean you lose draw length with it where you have to hold it to cut with.  That's why I'm leaning towards the Trailblazer right now; it's got a lot more space for different hand holds, and is close to big enough to use with another person.  It should also be able to handle larger logs.

Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to either convince, or hide it from the wife...