Survival Saw Facts

Best Survival Saw

Choosing the best survival saw for a bug out bag or prepping needs isn’t as easy as it may seem, the market is flooded with choices, from the cheap variety to the ridiculously expensive ones. The question you may be asking is what is the difference between the budget option and the premium choices out there. Here are survival saw facts

Well, basically it comes down to durability, versatility, size and ease in cutting wood. Some of the more popular brands that survivalists carry are Silky saws, Bahco, and of course Sven saws. Then you have to decide whether you are going for a folding saw, a bow saw or a chain saw, some survivalists don’t even bother packing any of the above, what they do have instead is a saw blade, the idea, of course, is to DIY a saw out in the woods, and just attach the blade to it.

But for those who are not quite that hardcore and would prefer to buy a saw, here are the pro’s and con’s of the most popular and best survival saws of 2022 that I could find on the market today.

Now let’s discuss some basic survival saw facts.

Here is a list of the top 6 survival saws I have personally tested.

Silky Gomboy

The top pick for many survivalists and bushcrafters. The Silky Gomboy is a dream to saw with, once you get used to the pull cut, the silky only cuts on the pullback. Don’t bother pushing it into the wood to cut, cutting on the pull requires less energy and with a little bit of practice it goes through wood like a hot knife through
butter (relatively speaking), as with all silky products, the quality is great and if it wasn’t for a couple of cons, this would be the perfect portable
short term survival saw.

So let’s get to the cons: First off, the price, premium quality comes at a premium price, the Silky saws are quite expensive. Secondly, silky saw blades tend to be a little bit temperamental.
I have seen quite a few snapped silky blades, they seem to be made of a softer and more fragile metal.
All around a great saw and one I would happily use in my garden.. but it would not be my first choice as a survival saw.

Bahco Laplander the Survival Saw That Rules them all

The Bahco was the first folding saw I carried on my bushcraft adventures… before that, I used to rely on my swiss army knife saw or the saw on my leatherman.
This was the saw that changed my perspective of how handy a proper folding saw could be, I had always made do without, once you start carrying this little feller around, you won’t stop.

The Bahco does Not cut as fast or as smoothly as the Silky Gomboy, but it is a close second, it cuts dry and wet wood on the push and
pull. But where it really shines is the blade durability. I tend to be hard on my gear including my Bahco Laplander, and on one occasion accidentally bend the blade nearly 90 degrees. Shockingly it didn’t snap, so I bend it back and it still worked. It is reasonably priced and relatively lightweigh. The only complaint I would have is the lock, sadly the Bahco blade lock on the Laplander just isn’t that reliable.

But … it is still my all-around favorite survival saw and my top pick.

Sven Saw 15″

A great saw for around the camp or in the backyard, this little bow saw is a lot of fun to use… but its functionality and versatility is sadly lacking when it comes to its use as a survival saw. The problem is that the bow saw is just unsuited to the tasks required of it.

It doesn’t saw well in brush or densely wooded areas, it is just too unwieldy. Carry this saw while you are going camping or even bushcrafting, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a survival saw. Price is mid-range, durability is decent, replacement blades are available.

Pocket Chain Saws of Various Brands

These little fellers have been around for ages, they are sold in most camping stores, and you get them in all sorts of survival/bushcraft kits.
I have tested various brands of Commando saws such as BCB, Coghlans, Rothco as well as a bunch of unbranded ones, and I am of the firm opinion they are all novelty items. Fun little knick-knacks to fool around with, take them on your camping trips for a laugh, throw one in your bushcraft kit to cut a little piece of wood with. But do NOT rely on any of these in a survival situation, I wouldn’t bother carrying one of these in my bug-out bag. They will fail, sooner or later.

Sportsman Pocket Chainsaw 36″

Now if you are thinking of carrying a pocket chain saw, this would be closer to what you should be looking at rather than the commando saws mentioned above.
I have only used the sportsman pocket chainsaw a couple of times while camping (my friend brought one along instead of a folding saw). It was impressive.
The sportsman pocket chainsaw chewed through wood like a hungry beaver, it was pretty danged easy to use (although it does require 2 hands). There are certain benefits to this kind of saw. The biggest benefit was the reach, pick a branch in a very cramped location and use a couple of straps, to extend the reach and saw away.

Silky Pocketboy

All the advantages and disadvantages of the Gomboy in a more compact version.. this would be a more practical tool to carry in a survival situation, it is closer to the Bahco Laplanders size, it does cut a little bit faster and easier than the Bahco, but is nearly double the price and not as durable, although the saw does stay sharper longer. If price is not an issue. This is a close second for the best Survival Saw in my humble opinion.

What Saw Tooth should I choose for Survival

The general rule is the drier or harder the wood, the finer the teeth needed to effectively saw it, so a medium teethed saw with let’s say 7 to 9 teeth per inch would be a general all-purpose saw and should be what you are aiming for in a survival saw.

Locking Folding Saws

The lock on the Silkys seems to be stronger than the Bahco, to me this wasn’t a major issue. As with any tool, watch your hands and work safely.

Sawing Tips

Keep your saw teeth clean of gunk
Keep your saw sharp
Steady even strokes
Do NOT push hard into the wood with the saw, let the saw do the work, not brute force
Try to use as much of the saw length as you can.

Cutting Tool Tips

A wise man has multiple cutting tools in their bugout bag, depending on the environment and weight restrictions, I like to carry a survival knife, folding saw, multi-tool and either an axe or machete. Choose your cutting tools, then practice using them, learn how to maintain them and re-sharpen them.

The market is ever changing, if you know of a better saw type or brand, don’t be shy about mentioning it in the comments below.