The Best Bushcraft Saw: Choose from These 7 Top Models

When it comes to the great outdoors, bushcraft saws are among the most underrated commodities in an outdoorsman or woman’s arsenal. Having a sharp and reliable saw will get you out of many jams and help you with tons of aspects involved with outdoor living.

In this article, we’ll look at the importance of having a bushcraft saw and how to choose the right saw for your needs. Finally, we’ll look specifically at the best bushcraft saws available. Let’s cut to it!

How to Choose the Best Bushcraft Saw for You

Before you can choose the right saw for your needs, there are some things that you should consider. Not every saw is for everyone, and you should choose one based on your needs and the cutting you plan to do.

Size and Portability

If you plan to go on extended hikes or camping trips, size and portability play a massive role in your decision of which bushcraft saw is the best for you. You don’t want an overly bulky or heavy saw, but you also want one that’s large enough to get the job done. Toeing the line between portability and practicality is a fine one, and you would do well to think long and hard before making your final decision.

Blade Size and Thickness

The size and thickness of your saw’s blade will affect your cutting capacity and effectiveness. If you plan to cut down entire trees or big logs, you’ll want a different saw than what you would use for kindling and small branches. Once again, you must choose the best bushcraft saw with a rigid blade to do what you want and need, but not one that’s too bulky to carry around comfortably.

Type of Teeth

If you’re not familiar with saws, you probably didn’t know that different blades have different types of teeth. The teeth are what will do the cutting, and they range from fine to rough and jagged. The finer the teeth, the more precision you can put into your cuts. However, the more jagged the teeth, the more heavy-duty cutting you can do. Consider what kind of cutting you’ll need to do before choosing which is the best bushcraft saw for you.

What You Plan to Cut

What you plan to cut might play the biggest role in your overall decision of which is the best bushcraft saw for you. Having a small, foldable saw with a short blade is great for portability, but you’ll be severely limited in your capabilities. You should carefully consider what type of wood you’ll be cutting and how large the trees and logs are.

Durability

The last thing you want is for your bushcraft saw to break or lose its edge when you need it most. An unreliable saw is a survivalist’s worst nightmare, and it’s also hectic on your budget if you have to purchase replacements every time you head out to the woods. So place a high value on durability as you choose the best bushcraft saw for you.

Overall Best Bushcraft Saw

1. Silky Ultra Accel Folding Saw

Silky is one of the top names in bushcraft saws, so it’s only fitting that the Silky Ultra Accel Folding Saw takes its place at the top of our list. This saw is silky smooth (pun intended), razor-sharp, and made of quality materials. There are several saws within the Ultra Accel category, but the Professional 240mm is the best bushcraft saw for all-around use.

This is the best bushcraft saw in general because it is versatile, compact, fast-cutting, and has a uniquely shaped curved blade for optimal performance. It also features large teeth given the size of the blade, which adds to its ability to cut logs and trees that would otherwise seem much too large. The blade itself is subjected to impulse hardening technology so that you get the biggest bang for your buck.

The handle consists of thick rubber and aluminum that combines rust resistance and a steady grip. The blade is 9.5 inches long, which is long enough to cut small to medium-sized trees and branches.

Pros

• Very durable and versatile and retains a sharp edge for long periods.
• Lightweight and compact, making for easy carrying
• Rust-resistant and easy to handle
• It cuts surprisingly fast for a smaller bushcraft saw

Cons

• With a blade of 9.5 inches long, it’s not long enough to cut larger logs and trees.

Best Bushcraft Saw – Pocket-Sized

2. Bahco Laplander Folding Saw

The Bahco Laplander Folding Saw is one of the best small saws that money can buy. The blade is only 7 inches long, and it’s a similar length when folded up. Despite its small size, this saw is a serious workhorse capable of cutting small branches and even smaller trees several inches in diameter. You also won’t have to worry about the blade not being sharp or durable enough to get the job done.

If you’re planning on doing extensive survival activities, the Bahco Laplander Folding Saw might not be big enough. However, it’s small and compact enough to fold up and carry in your pocket, which means you have room for a second larger saw. The small size of the Bahco Laplander also makes it great for fine cutting and carving, whereas larger saws might be too bulky.

Pros

• Very small, lightweight, and compact and can fit into most pockets
• Small but mighty in the sense that it can still handle tough cutting jobs
• Ideal for fine cutting and carving because of its light weight and fine blade

Cons

• Not large enough to handle heavy cutting or medium to large logs and trees

Best Bushcraft Saw on a Budget

3. Corona Razor Tooth Saw

Look no further than the Corona Razor Tooth Saw if you’re in the market for a solid, but affordable bushcraft saw. It’s a highly compact, resilient, and fast-cutting saw with blades that are anywhere from 7 to 10 inches long. The bigger the trees you plan to cut, the longer your blade should be.

Regardless of which one you choose, this aggressive saw from Corona is foldable and small enough to carry in your pocket or on the side of your backpack. Like the Silky Ultra Accel listed above, the blade on the Corona is sleek and curved for optimal performance and efficiency.

This is one of the best bushcraft saws because it also has a great gripping hand while you cut whatever needs cutting. The only complaint about the Corona is that it’s almost too aggressive for cutting smaller branches or for fine cutting. However, for logs of up to six inches in circumference, it’s hard to beat the speed and price point that the Corona Razor Tooth Saw offers.

Pros

• Aggressive, curved blade designed for fast cutting
• The blade stays sharp for long periods
• A long and comfortable handle that’s easy to grip and rip
• Outstanding value and price point for the quality of this best bushcraft saw

Cons

• Too aggressive for cutting smaller branches
• The blade is nearly as expensive to replace as the entire saw

Best Bushcraft Saw – Folding Bow

4. Agawa Boreal-21 Folding Bow Saw

If you’re worried that a smaller folding saw isn’t enough to do what needs to be done, then let’s look at a beast of another variety. The Agawa Boreal-21 Folding Bow Saw is more like a hacksaw than a folding bow saw. It’s square and features an easy-to-grip handle perfect for quick and aggressive cutting.

If you plan to do extensive cutting and felling large trees or logs to build a shelter, this is the best bushcraft saw for you. The Agawa Boreal has a 21-inch blade that’s packed with razor-sharp teeth. There’s likely nothing too big or tough for this bad boy to take care of outside of running into a Redwood tree.

The Agawa is rust-resistant and features a stainless steel blade designed for durability and reliability. While the blade is 21 inches long, it folds down neatly and easily and resembles a two-foot stick when it’s folded up. This, along with the fact that it only weighs 1.2 pounds, makes for safe and easy transportation.

Pros

• The stainless steel blade and nylon handle make it rust-resistant and very lightweight.
• Large enough to handle trees and logs of all sizes
• Very quick to unfold and open up and doesn’t require any assembly

Cons

• The price is a bit steep for some

Other Best Bushcraft Saw Considerations

5. Silky Professional Pocket Boy Folding Saw

While the Silky Ultra Accel took its place at the top of this list, the Silky Professional Pocket Boy Folding Saw could have easily ranked above it. This is one of the best bushcraft saws for all-around use and checking off most of the boxes on your best bushcraft saw list.

It’s lightweight at less than half a pound, compact, but razor-sharp to handle most cutting jobs. The blade is 6.7 inches long when it’s extended, and the folded length is only 8 inches, meaning that you can fit this sucker easily into your pocket. Like all Silky saws, the Professional Pocket Boy’s blade is made of high carbon steel and is resistant to tree resin. It’s also designed for fast, clean, and efficient cutting.

If the Pocket Boy isn’t big enough for you, you should check out its bigger brother, the Silky Professional Big Boy 2000 XL. This sucker features a 14-inch folding blade that’s razor-sharp and always looking for something to dig its teeth into! No matter what type of best bushcraft saw you’re looking for, Silky is a great company to go with if you’re not in the mood for extensive research.

Pros

• Very small and lightweight, making it perfect for your easy transportation
• A razor-sharp blade that’s easily interchangeable based on what your needs are
• Comfortable and easy to grip handle
• Rust-resistant, resin-resistant, waterproof, and easy to clean

Cons

• You May have to go with the larger option if you plan on cutting trees and branches larger than three inches round.
• The blade is skinny and has been known to break if you try cutting something too big.

6. Katana Boy 500mm Folding Saw

The Katana Boy 500mm Folding Saw is meant for those who don’t feel like messing around with a small bushcraft saw. This is one of the best bushcraft saws because it is large and in charge and can cut through almost anything the wilderness has to offer. With a 19-inch blade and a cutting capacity of 10 inches, there’s not much the Katana Boy can’t do.

This is yet another Silky product and would be at the top of our list if it weren’t for the large size. Not everyone is looking for a two-foot bushcraft saw, but those that are won’t find a better option than the Katana.

The blade is made of carbon steel and is 2mm thick, which means it will take a lot to break or lose its sharp edge. The handle is non-slip and easy to grip, which aids in controlling the sheer mass of the Katana. While it’s definitely on the larger side of things, this is one of the best bushcraft saws because it comes with a nylon carrying case and a shoulder strap that makes it very manageable for hiking.

Pros

• There’s nothing too big or tough for this saw to cut through
• The closest thing to having a chainsaw that you can get in a folding handsaw
• No-slip grip for easy handling
• Shoulder bag makes it easy to carry and transport

Cons

• Too large and heavy for some people
• On the pricey side, at just over $200

7. Zippo AxeSaw

Out of all the bushcraft saws we’ve looked at so far, none of them serve as anything other than a saw. The Zippo AxeSaw, however, is about to change all that. As the name indicates, this dynamic tool serves as an axe, a saw, or a hammer! If you’re short on packing space but require multiple tools, this is the one for you.

To break this tool down, we’ll have to take it one step at a time. From top to bottom, the entire device is 20 inches in length. It’s shaped like an axe in that it has a sleek handle and a 5-inch axe blade. It also has a flattened head on the back to act as a mallet. Then, from the bottom of the handle to the bottom tip of the axe, there’s a detachable blade that you can install and remove as needed.

The best bushcraft saw blade is 15 inches long and surprisingly sharp, with the ability to cut through most trees and branches. If you want to use the saw, there’s a handled sheath that slides over the blade of the axe for safe and easy use. The blade detaches when you’re not using it and can easily be stored in the axe handle. No matter what type of job you need to do, the Zippo AxeSaw can get it done.

Pros

• The most dynamic and versatile tool on this list
• It can be used as an axe, a mallet, or a saw
• Self-adjusting tension compensator for the saw blade to aid in the cutting process
• Additional blade storage option

Cons

• Slightly bulky and heavy at 20 inches long and 2.5 pounds

Wrapping Up the Best Bushcraft Saw

No matter what your goals are or what your budget is, there’s a bushcraft saw out there for you. Whether you plan to do light cutting and carving or build yourself a mini-cabin, one of the saws on this list can get it done. When purchasing the best bushcraft saw for you, the main things to consider are what you plan to cut and how often you plan to use your saw. Happy sawing!