Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Sven-Saw

I need to pick up a new one of these... anything else going on in the market before doing so?

http://www.svensaw.com/

Backpacking, camping (hike-in and motorized), etc.
Needs to be portable and safely stow-able.

Thanks in advance for other hand saw options.

For a given length of blade, the traingle design of the Sven saws waste a lot of their blade length because the frame is too close to the ends of the saw. This limits the practical, usable stroke length and thus efficiency.

I just use a regular folding saw.

This Gerber EZ Saw 5.25" has become my favorite saw for backpack hunting BUT you have to grind off that knob on the end if you want to seperate the antler plate. Like mentioned above, the useful portion of the blade can be hampered by the design. That knob is great for bone but not for a skull. Otherwise, this is the perfect little saw, lightweight and compact, plus they cut bone easily.

I used to have a Sven. I hated the thing and gave it away. The front angle is too narrow and you can't pull it back far enough to cut wood of any thickness. Also, your knuckles have to be around the back bar where they get hammered when you push forward. It's a lose, lose.
Even a cheap Sierra saw is 10x better.

I absolutely love mine... I have the longer of the 2...
Built a couple of cases to hold it and the extra blade that clips to the side of my backpacks

... had a couple of those.

Sorry RC, but they suck - for a multiple of reasons - from they git go.

To clarify, this will not be for field processing (have a tool for that) but mainly for campfire chores.

Thanks all for the replies so far.

Corona and silky are the two names that always come up in this discussion.

setting the teeth on the saw blade is crucial


www.wyominglostandfound.com

The biggest problem with Sierra saws is they only cut on the pull stroke. Many users never figure that out.
But, even with its deficiencies, its still 10x better than a knuckle busting Sven.

I wouldn't class that as a "deficiency" as if used for splitting the breast bone, it helps to ensure the bone dust/chips do'nt fall inside the body cavity..

I like the Silky, but any folding saw pales in comparison to a properly tensioned bow saw.

Several years ago I retired the old "buck saw" and currently use a few different saws depending on the application. Sven saw remains my favorite.

http://www.amazon.com/Corona-RS-7160-Razor-Length/dp/B00221Q3GU
Nice.

http://www.silkysaws.com/
Tough to beat the Japanese for wood limbing tools and steel.

Thanks!

Thanks for the perspective roundoak.

Is that a Duluth Pack basket?

I have a Sven Saw, and I carry it practically all the time. I cut limbs out of the river and branches clearing lanes from my deer stand. I don't cut anything over 8 inches or so. I saw a nice video on the old lumberjacks and how they made buck saws in the woods. They carried the blades around their waists and in a short time, they could have a saw put together and be bucking logs. It's awesome. I'd personally make a nice one out of something light like pine board and pack it.

No, I purchased it from a trapping supply company back in the 1970s. No manufacture name on it.

I have a Sven but the Bob Dustrude Quick Buck Saw is by far the best buck saw I have ever used. It uses standard replacement blades and the design is such that the blade auto tensions perfectly every time with no small parts to lose in the field.

Do yourself an favor and get one of these.
http://fourdog.com/bobs-quick-buck-saw-21/

They come in 21", 24", and 30" blade lengths and it folds into itself. Fast, strong, and works like an real bucksaw.

I personally have the 24" version and also have an Pole and Paddle takedown wood bucksaw, and the Sven. If you like the Sven you'll like the Bob's saw a lot better for serious wood gathering work.

Suspect the same source...

http://duluthpack.com/pack-baskets-x-large.html

Thanks flatrock and oldpinecricker !

I truly appreciate the contributions here and will certainly research the info.

I have a couple of small folding saws and was looking for a lightweight saw that was just a little bigger. I looked at the Sven and a couple of other saws but ended up with a Coghlans 21" Folding Saw. Glad I did! I've tried it out around the house and it works really well. It is lightweight and pack small but, most importantly, there are no wing nuts or other parts to loose. It will be a tool in our elk camp this year.

Ditto to Coglan's. If you are going to get a folding Sven type saw, make it Coglan's. No parts to fall off and lose.

I like mine and use it a lot. I've owned it for more than 20 years and bought more for each of my sons. Keep mine under the seat of my 4x4 and have never backpacked with it.

I have a couple of the Sierra type saws and don't use them much.

I use a woodstove in the backcountry and so I need to saw a lot of wood. I've used practically everything, and was mostly disapointed. And then I bought your old standard saw at a hardware store. It does not fold up but is actually quite light. I made a cardboard sheath and have never looked back. It is the type of saw (can't remember name brand) that you see in cartoons - you know 4 or 5 inches deep and 18 inches or so long with a handle at the back. But check out what they have at the hardware store. None of them are very expensive compared to 'true' hunting gear, and when they get dull you buy a new one. No folding handles that snap shut on your knuckles, no loose blades that don't cut straight etc.

Patrick

I like these alot:

http://www2.fiskars.com/Shop-Products/Tree-Pruners-and-Saws/POWER-TOOTH-Softgrip-Saw-13

They come with a plastic tooth cover for display and so far no issues with it coming off in 3 years of use while carried strapped to the outside of the pack or inside the pack(sometiems loose, sometimes inside the rolled up stove pipe.

For more compact I like these:

Prefer this one:

http://www.gerbergear.com/Outdoor/Gear/Sportsmans-Wood-Saw_46048

But this one is ok and seems to be in stock at more places.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Outdoor/Gear/Sliding-Saw_22-41773

Patrick, Are you talking about these: http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-15-334-15-Inch-Length-SharpTooth/dp/B00002X212

If so, I agree - they work great. Overkill if you just need a saw to cut a skull plate, but perfect for what you are talking about.

Always wanted a Pack Basket since the first one I saw in a L.L. Bean catalog many Moons ago..

Cwh2 - that is the saw. I wrap duct tape around the outside of the cardboard sheath that it comes in and it saws wood far more quickly than any camp saw I've ever used. Patrick

I have a sven saw and love it!

I have the 21" and will be picking up the 15" soon for backpacking.

With the popularity of the Havalon knives, this might prove a handy option.Looks like it will be on the market next month.

http://www.havalon.com/bone-saw-knife-baracuta-bone-saw-xt-115bzsw-gx.html

If your looking for a saw that will leave you high and dry then this is your huckelberry.


http://www.gerbergear.com/Outdoor/Gear/Sportsmans-Wood-Saw_46048

I've been using a Sven for a few years. I do not try to cut timber with one, but around camp it has been a wonderful help. It stores into a wonderful package and mine (the 21") handles logs as large as I've any need to cut in camp. I've seen and used other options, but none are as good when considering weight and packability. If I need more saw than the 21" Sven I'm taking a Stihl........

How about the Sawvivor? I don't have one, but I've read good things....

Sawvivor

I suckered for one of those. After about 2 uses, I wasn't able to tighten it enough to keep the blade extended. Then I 'upgraded' to their folding saw with interchangable blades. It lasted all of 1 season before the handle came apart so it wouldn't hold the blade. JUNK
Lets just say that Gerber's future profit and loss statements won't include any Chuck money.

Been using the Sportsman Saw for several years. The only time I had to replace one was when it bent while bound on the return stroke and that was hardly the fault of the saw.

For the same money, get a Stanley folding saw that uses standard recip saw blades. It costs about $10 and you can buy any number of different types or length of blades for it.

I have had good luck with the Wyoming Saw II and for small jobs the "wicked tough hand saw" by Wicked Tree Gear.

This is what I use around the house and on just about anything I can find. I don't backpack with it, but it is in every car camp I have ever set up or in the truck if backpacking. Mine isn't a Stanley, but plastic handled same shape blade. Used it on PVC, trees, lumber, deer legs, elk legs, antelope parts.
Great piece of gear and not very heavy.

Only too saws I've seen worth aphuck are the wyo saw and the Sawvivor..

Everything else is like bringing a plastic headlamp to an aluminum headlamp fight. (smokepole)