Sven Saw

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
3,164
Many people who frequent these forums carry a folding saw. Some even carry a pocket "chain" saw.

Has anyone had any experience with the Sven-saw?

http://www.rei.com/product/404040 It is just $25. and folds into the handle. The handle is 15" long, that could be a problem in most small survival kits but not for a minmalist back packing.
 
I had one maybe 30 years ago, when I used to backpack. As I recall, it worked quite well and didn't give me any problems.

Doc
 
I've had one in my camping gear for as long as I can remember at least 50 years. They work fine. I carry two extra blades, wood and meat/metal. In assembly/disassembly, one has to remove and replace a washer and wing nut, so it pays to be careful and not have to go looking in the brush for the small parts. I would think it's too long for anything other than serious backpacking with a full size pack to carry it on. It's much more efficient than an ax or hatchet for firewood production. Use it like a hack saw is supposed to be used - slow, even and complete lengths of the blade. You won't damage your knuckles and you'll spread the wear out along the length of the blade
 
The Sven Saw can't be beat imo. I have always found that chainsaws don't cut comparably without two people to help keep it straight. You waste a lot of energy using chain saws on other logs too. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but when cutting down resinous trees (like pine) they tend to clog, which further reduces their cutting ability.

The Sven Saw costs the same amount, but is much easier for 1 person to use. The blade is protected by the sheath at all times, which is perfect for backpacking. The sven saw and the extra blade that I carry are a little more bulky than a wire/chain saw, but it's been part of my kit for 4 years.
 
I've had one for years. It usually rides in a pack with some other woodsbumming gear that I carry in the car. The only down side is the length, but it's alot more compact than a regular bow saw.
Jim
 
They are one of the sturdier pack saws, but not the lightest. The smaller Trailblazer is lighter, but won't cut as big a log as the Sven saw. I have a Commando Pack Saw on order from the UK and I have high hopes for it. The link is to an Australian site site out of laziness on my part (got mine on Ebay). Advertized weigh is 7oz. and it self-stows like the Trailblazer models.

The lighest folding saw I've found is the Gerber Sportsman's Saw (the one that telescopes out the handle) at 3.4oz. The Kershaw or Bahco folding saw was the hands down winner from reccomendations here-- about 7oz.
 
This saw has an aluminum frame, knock-offs have steel.
These knock-offs may be licensed to use the name "Sven Saw".

20+ years ago I used a Sven and it worked OK. But the triangular
shape does limit the stroke length on larger diameter logs.
The wing-nut for tightening was a critical part that could be lost.
I did not like that part of the design.

Sven does not keep the blade in very much tension, like a bow
saw would, or even a buck saw (Trailblazer). Loose saw blades break easier.

http://www.wscsurvivalschool.com/wsc/wsc_products/sos6003.html

The Trailblazer comes in two sizes and these are what I have for
emergency use, now. I have hardly used either Trailblazer enough
to say they are better than a Sven. It reminds me that I need to
do some experimenting. I just got out my small Trailblazer and put
it together. It has more parts (than a Sven) and the parts should be
color coded as to what goes where. I will use colored tape for that.
The wing-nut is foolproof, it is always attached to the tightening bar,
and cannot come off, without super human and super stupid actions.

In the field, if a critical situation is approaching, you might want to assemble
your saw ahead of time. Imagine that you fall though ice, up to your waist,
20 mph wind, and 0 degree F : can you assemble your saw now?
If so, will this take away precious time and energy from other fire building
activities?

A bow saw is always assembled.

If you are doing modern backpacking, you rarely need any saw; any of these
saws can cut a lot of big wood, Consider a smaller lighter folding saw; they
are quite versatile and can often cut "around" a log.
 
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