Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Finally, A Great Backpack Saw...

I've experimented with an enormous variety of pack saws over the years, and think I finally found my huckleberry. From Opinel of France, it's a "real" saw that locks open and shut. Has a 4.75" blade, folds 6.5" shut and only weigh's 3.6 oz's. Handle is large enough for a really positive grip. Based on their over 125 year old knife design, once again what's old is new again:

How would it do on bone?

Curious about that as well. I tried a similar, but less expensive saw on bone, and it was miserable enough, I started carrying a wyoming saw which while heavy does the job quickly.

It has the same type of blade as the old standard Sierra saw which comes in a hundred versions. This one might have better metal, though.
It does ok on bone but there are better blades. You can spend 15 min taking the rack off of an elk with it. For removing antlers from a large animal, though, a 5" blade is too short. A real bone saw will have finer teeth, more like a plywood saw. If you want the best blade for the job, you can get saws with extra blades, a wood blade plus a bone blade.

Sierra saw


bone saw teeth

A good inexpensive saw is a Stanley folding saw that sells for about $10. What makes it good is that it uses standard reciprocating saw blades. You can carry several different ones to match the use. The extra long ones are best for antlers but they do stick out the end of the handle when folded.

All of this type of folding saw are designed to cut only on the pull stroke.

Guess I should clarify, I don't use a saw for bone, I use it for wood. I take an elk apart with a knife only.

I've messed with the Stanley, pretty cheap/flimsy. Same with the Sierra. Even my heavily modified Sierra weighs nearly 2 oz's more than the Opinel. The Sierra doesn't pack well either.

The Opinel isn't a bone saw, it's a wood saw... for that it's about ideal for backpacking.

If I have an antlered elk tag the skull plate is the reason I bring a saw. I can't get an elk out in one trip so lots of times the saw stays in the truck until I bring out a load of meat, and I like the Wyoming saw with a bone blade for skull plates.

Brad, for your bulls do you just sever the neck and pack the whole head, or??

Smoke, I like Euro mounts so don't like cutting skull plates. I take the head off with the knife, skin the head, and remove the lower jaw.

Nice pic, looks like you had good weather for that one.

Brad have used one for several years...also like their knives.

I was hunting Caribou right at the arctic circle late 80's and all the guides used Opinel knives.

lefty C

Lefty, I use an Opinel knife for summer backpacking (camp chores/trout knife). They're excellent. May have to give it a try as a hunting knife.

Someone asked how it would work on bone and I was answering. Yours has teeth for wood and should work fine for cutting wood for a folding stove.

I like the looks of that saw but I will stick with the Corona.

Which Corona? They're very nice but quite heavy... generally 12+ oz's.

I have used a couple of the Corona 7" saws hard for a few years. The blade stays very sharp for a long time and is overall quite durable. Replacement blades are inexpensive. Not sure on the weight, heavier than the Opinel for sure but still very lite. I like the price as well, around $23 on Amazon. Corona also makes a wood handled similar version.

http://coronatoolsusa.com/rs-7245-razor-tooth-folding-saw-7-in.html

Corona 7" is just under 7oz.

Nice saw, I think it should work just fine.


Thanks for the info.

Nice. Still, 7 ounces is essentially twice as heavy. I'm an ounce parer, especially as I approach 55 in a couple months. The Opinel was part of my ounce shedding quest in every area.

Backpacking is all about ounces.

I like the old-school looks and light weight of the Opinel.

Would a saw that size have a specific chore, or more for misc light sawing?

Is that enough saw for processing firewood for a small Ti type stove?

It's plenty big for general firewood gathering, either open fire or packable/Ti-style stove. Really, it's "just right."

Thanks.

I've got one of those Gerber 'Bear Grylls' saw with the blade that slides into the handle. It's a 5.75" blade with similar style teeth, and weighs about 5 oz. It doesn't have ANY style points though....smile.

Good info.

Thanks for posting it.

LOL, and then there's having "Bear Grylls" on anything

I have seen the saw though, looks usable enough.

What I've found with many of these hand saws is they tend to get a bit "wobbly" where the blade connects to the handle, and often times the blade is too long for its thickness and temper, as well as it's handle/blade connection strength, making it prone to bending, breaking, etc. The Sierra is the poster child for these negative traits.

The Opinel is about the exact opposite. Blade not too long/bendable, and a super-positive blade/handle junction.

No problem Lonny... just passing on the minutia of my exercise in lightening gear

Brad, I'll see your 3.6 oz and lower it to 1.4 - 1.5oz.. I have 3 or 4 of the Couglin's "pocket" Sierras that have a 4" blade. It will handle most of my backpacking and canoe trip needs when portaging is involved.

But it doesn't have the style points of the Opinel.

Yep, we've got several of the Coghlin's laying around the house. My wife used hers this past summer on our week-long backpack in the Beartooth's... by the 3rd night it had blown apart. It's basically junk. Reference my above comments about blade length/temper/handle-blade junction strength. Also, its blade just doesn't cut anywhere nearly as well as the Opinel or Sierra.

At the end of the day, a piece of gear has to work well, day in, day out, for its intended use. IME the Coghlin's doesn't meet that criteria, which is why I went with the slightly heavier (2.2 oz's), but more infinitely usable Opinel... and yes, it does have a bit of style to boot

I've got an inordinate amount of saws scattered around the house

LOL, yeah I hear ya.

Another Walmart impulse buy, while looking for stove fuel....grin

I've had 2 Gerbers and was NOT impressed.

This one extends out of the handle. It won't stay extended. You have to lift it out of the wood on every forward stroke or it will retract into the handle.


This one has a button to push to open or close the blade. The button broke the 1st time I used it.

Shane, I think I've got piles of those same kind of purchases... only occasionally do they pan out!

RC, I've never used the top version, but I believe you... not a reassuring looking design.

The second, the exchange-blade Gerber; I had an early mfg'd one. It lasted a LOT of hard use for over ten years, then broke (the button). I've read the early ones were well made, then they were slightly redesigned, mfg'd elsewhere, and the quality went down hill. That reputation, and its weight, kept me from buying another one.

I've still got the sheath and extra blades, but the saw is in the landfill. Pretty sure I got is somewhere around the early 2000's.

That exchange blade saw proved to be a poor choice even if the thing had worked. One of my primary purposes for it was to saw anters off of deer and elk. I learned the 1st time I used it that it was too short for that. The button broke at the same time. An antler saw needs to be at least 8" and 10 is better.

Been hunting for a good pack saw. Been carrying around a folding Gerber, but I've been less than impressed. Have yet to replace it because I've not seen anything obviously better...

Just ordered an Opinel on your recommendation.

That's the one I've been toting. To it's credit, it has lasted 4 years, but I've gone through several blades.

Guess I don't understand that... I've capped a couple critters with it that I didn't want to Euro mount. It worked, although I will agree a longer saw is better.

I bought one of these Jap pruning saws a couple years ago. Rock Chuck and I made short work of firewood for keeping his EdT stove fed using it. It cuts and stayed sharp, still cutting. Seems to be well made.
But it won't win any ounce weeny awards.
http://www.amazon.com/Silky-Folding...4292014&sr=8-1&keywords=silk+saw

I have been using a Silky Gomboy 210 for the past 2 seasons and can highly recommend it.

10 oz weight is worth it, IMO.

\\
Snub, were you guys backpacking or using llamas? If llamas, I'd not be counting ounces quite so hard either.

As I just wrote on the other post, a Sierra Saw will cut bone about once. I must have cut a cord of wood with a Sierra Saw over the years prepping blinds, tree stands and shooting lanes. The new blades are about 1/2 the stiffness of the ones 15 years ago. Sounds familiar, I know ...

Don't I know that!

The Opinel is an interesting saw. Will have to consider that into my logistics plan. Currently carrying the small Wyoming saw with both wood and bone blades. Great saw, but not the lightest. Can't imagine going with less if removing skull plate. Since I think I'll do a euro mount or full mount (if really big) I may not need the bone saw and thus the Opinel would come into play.

Well, four legs are better than two. (cough, cough)

You're a good guy Snub

Snubbie didn't mention what we used to split the wood his saw cut so nicely. We did NOT carry it on our backs.
However, splitting mauls are an entirely different subject.

Cheater.

I have been using this for the last couple of years. Works great on wood and fair on bone. Believe it or not, found it on a best pack saw list in a Field and Stream online article.


Bahco Laplander



http://www.amazon.com/Bahco-396-LAP...=8-1-spell&keywords=bahco+lapalander

I'm aware of that saw... what F&S considers a great "pack" saw and what an actual backpacker does, are two different things.

What's the actual weight on a digital sale?

I have used this saw before and it an excellent saw. I love the angle of the blade. It digs in aggressively on the backstroke. I have never had a hand saw impress me with cutting rate, but this one is impressive.

I've got a couple Silky folding saws (5" and 9.5") and they're cuttin' little bastids. Their hinges are very well built, and lock up with authority. The blade steel and tooth design is superb. The specs are 160grams and 260grams respectively, but I haven't weighed them to confirm. I know I'll take the 5" backpacking without reservation.

I've got a few Opinel knives, and really like their steel, comfortable handles, and light weight.

I've got a few saws laying around as well. One of my favorites is a Sawvivor, which I think is out of production. It is basically an aluminum Wyoming saw, which drops a bit of weight. The shorter wyoming saw blades interchange, so its easy to carry a bone and wood blade. Weighs around 10 oz though if memory serves.

[quote=222Rem]I've got a couple Silky folding saws (5" and 9.5") and they're cuttin' little bastids. Their hinges are very well built, and lock up with authority. The blade steel and tooth design is superb. The specs are 160grams and 260grams respectively, but I haven't weighed them to confirm. I know I'll take the 5" backpacking without reservation.

+1 on the Silky saws. I have a fine tooth Big Boy and yes it's a cutting son of a gun. It has no problem cutting 6-8" trees down in my yard. Not a bone saw though. I've tried Stanley, Gerber, Outdoor Edge and others, none have come close to the Silky cutting wood.

Why I haven't consider a shorter one for backpacking I don't know. I'll have to pick one up and dump my others.

What would you guys recommend for a pack saw purely for skull caps?

Edit: Just found the bone saw thread.