Folding Saws

[nate j]

What does everyone like for folding saws these days?

I’m not too concerned about size and weight, but want to be able to tackle some fairly large diameter logs if needed.

Hoping for under $100, but might go higher if there’s something truly worth the extra coin.

Leaning towards a Silky Bigboy ATM, but certainly open to being convinced otherwise.

[ReamerPunch]

My favorite is the Corona Razortooth. The updated version with the all red handle leaves no teeth exposed when closed, the old one with black and red handle left a few teeth exposed and the teeth would bite into the lanyard hole too.
Project Farm tested a bunch, the Corona came out first and rightly so.
The Samurai was good, but I've seen pictures of some with crazy rust. I don't have one.
Fujiwara came in third, but left almost all teeth exposed when closed. Terrible design.
The Gerber exchange-a-blade comes with sheath and two blades, but is built cheaply, I remember seeing one handle split in two and the guy had to zip tie it together.

My SK11 is good, but I only have the 6" model.
I have a Bahco Laplander, fantastically lightweight and compact, but it's only 8" inches, and doesn't cut that aggressively.

I've seen one branded Rexbeti, 11", which seems to be good. There are many Japanese brands that are great. Silky is overpriced. It took off thanks to reviewers, and indeed, they cut well, but the blades seem to snap often and many people are changing their minds. I believe Silky just got lucky with all the publicity and hype. There are many brands that cut just as well and even better, at much lower prices.
Corona and Samurai seem to be among the best for performance and price. Middling brands just slap their logos on the same saws, so SOG, Kershaw, etc, are just ok, but most of the time more expensive than Corona and Samurai.

My advice is to watch Todd's video (Project Farm) and browse Amazon a little. Maybe YouTube too.

How firm are you on getting a folding one? Corona, Samurai, Silky, and a few others make fixed blade, one-handed saws, and they seem great.

[Alan K.]

As RP mentioned there are some fixed saws that are compact enough for field carry and some even come with a scabbard.  As for folders I have a Opinel No12 folding saw which is really nice and fits in a pocket and I have one from Gerber where the blade slides in and out of the handle rather than folding. I'd have to find it before I could tell you the name or model number.  Neither of them would be good for anything bigger than 6 inches.  I had wanted a Corona razortooth for a long time but had heard about the handle issues. I might have to get one now that they have improved the handle.  They sell Corona at Lowes stores and there's one near me.

[Farmer X]

Alan mentioned Opinel, which is one that I'd suggest, too. I don't have any experience with their saws, but every Opinel knife I've owned has been great. There is no reason I'd expect their saws to be anything else.

[nate j]

Thanks for the input guys!

The Corona Razortooth was on my short list as well; I may very well give that a try.

I have no qualms with Opinel quality, but I’m afraid the No. 12 saw isn’t large enough for my needs.

I’m not married to the idea of a folding saw vs. a fixed saw, but fixed would have to come with a good scabbard, as I want to be able to toss it in a backpack.

[Alan K.]

Looking on Amazon for pruning saw with scabbard is a good place to start for fixed and folding saws.

[Farmer X]

I have no qualms with Opinel quality, but I’m afraid the No. 12 saw isn’t large enough for my needs.

Understandable. Opinel might make a larger one. And there are the various Silky Katana Boys, but they might be a little more saw than you need and much more than you want to spend...especially the 1,000mm job.

[nate j]

Yea, the Katanaboys are more money than I’m willing to drop on a saw.  They also seem to get sort of mixed reviews.

I’ve ordered one of the lastest model 10” Corona Razortooths.  I’m a little concerned it might be too small, but a good saw by pretty much all accounts and I figure I can’t go too wrong for $30.

[Farmer X]

I await your considered opinion!

[ThundahBeagle]

Years ago - decades, really - I had an old, hardware store, wood handled folder with a wing nut.  Maybe it was a Corona, I dont know.  Recently looking for another, I e discovered they are now "a thing."  Some overwrought, over-expensive types out there.  Silky probably is excellent but I cant justify it.  I got an orange handled Fiskars from Home Depot and was sad that they did not sell the old fashioned wood handled ones.  I found Corona online and ordered a pretty basic, wood handled model.

I can use the basic Corona, but man, that over engineered Fiskars is nice.  I may have to get a red handled Corona next. 

[nate j]

The 10”’Corona Razortooth (red handle) has arrived.

First impressions are good.  Not too heavy.  Handle seems comfortable, and is large enough for a two-handed grip if needed.  Seems to lock solidly in both the open and closed positions.  No exposed teeth when closed.  Lock release is in a good spot to minimize the risk of accidental release.

[styx]

i only have experience with the Bahco Laplander but it has been an excellent saw. there probably are faster, lighter and other positive attributes saws but considering the availability in my part of the world, it is really something. and to be honest, if I need to cut something bigger, I'm probably doing something stupid

[GreyFox]

This is not what you would traditionally call a folding saw but it does fold up and is handy to use. I've had mine for over 10 yr and love it.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=29b27ad70bf01249JmltdHM9MTcxNzcxODQwMCZpZ3VpZD0yODkxNzQ3OS1lOWE3LTZhNTctMDNmOS02MDBiZThkMzZiZDEmaW5zaWQ9NTIyMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=28917479-e9a7-6a57-03f9-600be8d36bd1&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9zdmVuc2F3LmNvbS8&ntb=1

[Syncop8r]

I use Silkys at work, mostly the F180s. They're good but seem to dull quickly. Perhaps that's because I'm using them so much, or occasionally hitting rocks as I'm cutting close to the ground.
Supposedly you can sharpen them but I haven't had good results.
We've had a few blades snap too but that's probably more down to impatience.

I have a Bahco Laplander that I have had for years, it could probably do with a sharpening (if possible) or a new blade.

For you wanting to cut larger wood, I'm picturing some sort of folding bowsaw... 🤔
EDIT: like the one in the post above!

[Farmer X]

Supposedly you can sharpen them but I haven't had good results.

I'd imagine that's a very time-consuming procedure. Since the results have been poor, I'd think a folding saw with a replaceable blade would be highly desirable.

[Antti Lammi]

Not really foldable but useful saw, it can use sawzall blades as saw and it even has hex adaptor on its end. Lockind happens via screw what tightens sawblade to its place. When i know i need saw on my hikes i csrry this with me. Just need to buy more blades to it since most of these saws i own is mostly for metal (i modded my other heavy duty saws to Gerber and LMs)

I dunno what brand this is since my friend gave it to me.

Only Tools Matters

[ReamerPunch]

There is one similar to the above, branded Toolan. It's a handle with a spring clip that holds reciprocating blades, regular, t-shank, hacksaw blades, it's quite good. I have one but have not used it yet.

Lenox used to make a folding one, which took sawzall blades, the handle was camo and it was good, but they retired it for one with a blue and white handle.

[styx]

that is actually quite ingenious

[bruto]

I have one of those, but never thought to use it out in the woods.  If you have a bunch of wood cutting sawzall blades, especially somewhat shorter ones, it makes a dandy keyhole saw once you get used to the idea of cutting on the pull.

[Ron Who]

A couple pruning saws. Most of the time they are large enough for the work I do. For bigger jobs I have a chainsaw.

The Opinel has a 12cm blade, the Felco 600 and the Stihl PR16 have a 16cm blade.
Except colour and branding the Felco and Stihl are exactly the same.
The Felco accompanies me to work every day.

[nate j]

  Ron!

I still haven’t used the Corona Razortooth that I got last year.  Perhaps I’ll remedy that this summer.