If you are using a wood stove to warm up your tipi when backpack hunting what lightweight and capable saw do you use to cut firewood? Emphasis on lightweight. Every ounce counts when its carried on your back.

I've done impressive work with a single folding saw from Gerber.
Lightweight it is.
Impressed me.

I'd go with this Wyoming Saw, it comes with a wood blade and bone blade. Not the lightest at 18 oz. but IMO much better than a lightweight hook saw:

https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting/...TTUYhXuSa1O80aenF5XhrkyXWPIaAoTNEALw_wcB

I find a rock with a sharp edge and swing a dry piece of wood against it hard. Wear your sunglasses when doing so but it has worked for years.

I like to find a tree with a double trunk, just stick a long limb in between and push, you can break up a lot of wood in a hurry. Don't really need a saw, especially with smaller stoves, you can't put thick logs in those anyway.

done this lots of times

LC

Except for the Sven saw, I have carried these saws.



Coghlan Sierra Pocket saw is .75 oz with a 4" blade.

Coghlin Sierra saw is 5.6 oz with a 7" blade

Now I carry a Gerber Sliding saw that has a 6 1/2" blade and is 3.5 oz. Better.

I was given one of these as a gift. It's really lightweight and at first I though that it was cheap junk. But eventually I tried it and I was amazed at how well it worked and how durable it is. This image is just one example of many similar saws. You can pick one up at just about any sporting goods store.

Same.

I have owned, or used all but one of the saws mentioned here... a couple years ago I started using this locking Opinel No.12 Pruning Saw with 5" blade. Nothing else I've used works as well for the weight.

https://shop.opticsplanet.com/opine...6vYHr3wIVlBh9Ch0nGw7EEAQYAiABEgJqi_D_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-Degre...mp;psc=1&refRID=AB7W1B0EQM3XFANA50VT

https://hudsonvalleyseed.com/foldin...6vYHr3wIVlBh9Ch0nGw7EEAQYAyABEgJcgPD_BwE

+1 on the Opinel. I tried one shortly after Brad had posted about it and unless I need to buck up a lot of 4” plus diameter wood, the little Opinel is all I use.

I use a woodstove pretty much all the time camping and I used all the folding saws. They generally suck. I remember liking the Gerber Gator (not folding) - but also that it got dull pretty quickly. Alaska knives had a saw that did pretty well too. Then I discovered the hardware store saws! So much better at cutting and really about the same weight too. I wrap the paper sleeve they come in with duct tape and make a sheeth and just stick the saw on the outside of my pack. I don't even remember the brand name or anything. Just your standard saw. But they cut wood like five times more quickly and really do not weigh all that much more than a folding saw. Best of all they cost like 15 bucks. I'm serious SO MUCH BETTER! Patrick

I've used a Sierra saw for years. 6 oz. Replacement blades are readily available but I've never needed one.



I used to have one of those Gerber extendable saws but it was more trouble than it was worth. While it cuts on the pull stroke, in a tight kerf, the pushing pressure kept closing it.

I have to qualify my use of the Wyoming saw as I use for a bone saw to remove elk antlers as well. It is a fantastic wood saw but it is heavier than necessary if only used as a wood saw.

I have a few Silky saws. They are insane sharp and fast. They cut on the pull stroke, and the blades tend to be on the thinner side. I broke a couple blades on the pocketboy 170mm models, so I think they are too flimsy for me. The Gomboy model is thinker and more robust. Of course they have even larger models if you need to cut bigger wood, and like to carry heavier saws.
For reference I also have a Bahco Laplander and it is very durable, but takes more effort for the same cut. It is also a good choice for light work.

https://www.amazon.com/Professional...70065&sr=1-10&keywords=silky+saw

https://www.amazon.com/Bahco-396-LA...mp;psc=1&refRID=8WJYJRW3S4AQABB6YBSD

Bahco Laplander

I know a lot of backpackers won't take a saw to save weight but it's an important life saving tool. It can be used to erect an emergency shelter, cut larger firewood, rig a stretcher or travois, etc.

Silky 210 Super Accel. 7 oz, 9 inch blade.

Brad.

Have used this saw for years.. I first saw one in Northern Quebec way back in 1980 on a caribou hunt. All the guides used the saw as well as different sizes of Opinel knives.

They cost about $5.00 back then. I bought 2 in Quebec city.

LC

LC, yeah, it's an amazing saw for the weight. Ed_T obviously "gets it" too. It was the culmination of a lot of searching and using a variety of saw starting back in the 1970's... wish I'd found out about it in 1980 like you did!

I have a variety of Opinel knives. The no.6 in stainless is my summer backpack knife (mostly taking apart highcountry trout, and whatever may come)... IIRC it's about 1 oz. I've been threatening to use the no. 10 to take apart an elk. I'm sure it would work great.

Thanks for the tip Brad.

I've been looking for a compact lightweight saw.

If you need to saw off a skull, anything shorter than 7" is too short.
I used to have a Sven saw and found it to be pretty much useless. Because of the sharp angles between the blade and frame, it's a knuckle buster for cutting wood plus being way too short. That sharp front angle prohibits cutting wood bigger than 3 or 4 inches and it's totally useless for cutting off antlers.

One thing about the opinel knifes and saws. If they get really wet the wood swells and they can be a SOB to get open.

Other than that they are pretty good.


Lefty C

This is actually the same saw that I use. Rockchuck used a better photo. Yeah it looks cheap and flimzey but it is actually pretty durable and effective.





On one backpack trip, a friend brought a sven saw. It's heavier but wow you could really cut through the wood quickly.

A Sven saw? Does Ole or Lena make one?

I mentioned a Sven saw earlier. I used to have one and it's a sorry excuse for a saw. First, it's a knuckle buster. Next, the angles between the blade and frame severely limit the thickness of wood you can cut. The deeper the cut, the closer the frame gets to the wood until you're down to a stroke of only a couple inches.
I finally gave it away and got the Sierra saw. It's 10x easier to use plus you can saw through an elk skull with it. You can't do that with a Sven because of the thick frame.

I think I have tried all the saws mentioned; wasn't overly impressed with either Sven saw I had (small and large); the little sliding Gerber/Fiskars is not a bad choice if weight is the only factor, for just two ounces more (and the availability of a fine blade for bone), you can be into a Silky 180 and nothing out cuts the Silky's imo

Silky Zubat the only way to fly.

I use a Silky F-180 for backpacking... just the right size and very sharp

I pack mine on a llama, so weight is less of an issue. I’ve found Bob’s Quick Buck saw to be my favorite. Made in Minnesota for hard core winter campers and canoe people. Sold by Four Dog Stove Co. Good people. They have a nice video about saws on their website.

http://fourdog.com/bobs-quick-buck-saw-21/

That's a big improvement over the Sven saw.
I also pack with llamas but when hunting, I like a light weight Sierra saw in my day pack. In an emergency, it can be very useful.

If you're not counting ounces, I agree with pgsalton's comment. I believe this is what he was talking about:

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-15-087-20-Inch-8-Point-Contractor/dp/B00002X20X

They work well on bone too.

I have quite a few saws to choose from, depending on the trip.

Often just use the one on my Leatherman in the mountains. Or break wood like smokepole mentioned.

If do a base camp type trip- but still wanting a compact, folding saw- this one is my favourite: https://agawacanyoninc.com/

I haven't used my Sven saw since I bought a Silky saw. They cut like nothing I've tried. The larger folding saws are a little heavy for a serious backpack trip. I'll be getting one of these Samurai saws next, as good as a Silky with better ergos and lighter. A 9"-11" model may be the backpacking ticket. A hiking buddy always has one on his hip for clearing trails. We limbed a large pine that fell across a trail in no time last fall. The handle on the Samurai works better one handed.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samurai-ICHIGEKI-C-330-LH-33cm-Heavy-Duty-Curved-Hand-Saw-Carrying-Case/221325324037?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Has anyone tried a Silky side by side with a Sierra? They have the same blade design. The difference, if any, would be blade quality.

I had the same experience as TerryK
Broke the 170mm and moved up to the Silky Gomboy.
It’s the best I’ve used.