axe-knife or saw

[walkaboutman]

What do you use and carry and why ?
I have a small wire saw and a sturdy knife i use for camp fire wood and other tree things...i like the saw for getting into harder to reach places and the knife allows me to do fire sticks whilst also chopping bigger bits..

 

[spamel]

Those wire saws aren't great though, they can fail when you need it most! To be fair, a knife and saw can do most things more efficiently. Also, a saw requires minimum instruction and you can become proficient in their use after very little time at all. Axes, on the other hand, can take a great deal longer to master. If weight is an issue, go for the knife and saw. Apart from that, choose what you want to use and become proficient in their use. Bear in mind that the axe is more likely to leave you with an injury, the saw could hurt you badly but you'd have to be a chump to mess up with a saw!

 

[belzeebob23]

Knife and billhook
like the axe takes practice

 

[malente]

I tend to bring a smal pocket knife (Voctorinox Hunter), a sturdy all purpose knife (my F1), and one of those folding/ retractable saws. When canoeing then I might bring a small axe too.

 

[Ian H]

all 3 for me a folding saw, mora clipper and a cheap axe, looking to get a better axe soon though

 

[sargey]

well the knife is a given, axes are more fun, but a saw is just so much more efficient for many of the basic jobs.

with a few tricks and techniques a bow saw becomes a very versatile tool. the folding or sliding saws are much more convenient, but not nearly as efficient.

the real question as always is what do you want to do? carving is much better done with an axe, though a saw can be used for much of the primary roughing out.

for me at least these days, it's mostly a burly knife, a hazel stick framed bowsaw that's been going for years, and a swiss army knife.

cheers, and.

 

[zorro]

all 3 for me a folding saw, mora clipper and a cheap axe,

As do I, and my axe was CHEAP! 30p, car boot.

 

[JonathanD]

I like the challenge of doing as much as I can with just my knife. I still use the axe, laplander saw and secateurs though, but not as much as I used to when I first started out.

 

[British Red]

Folding knife, fixed knife, large knife, Huge knife, Bill hook (and hookless ), SAK Saw, folding saw, fixed pruning saw, buck saw (from 12" to 30"), two man crosscut saw, Husqy chain saw, Mac electric chain saw, axes from 10" single bit to 3' double bit to 8lb maul

All depends what I'm planning to do. Last weekend I was sectioning and splitting a 20" diameter apple tree (sorry wood turners - its lovely wood - but its going in the stove )

I'm quite happy in the UK with one of my SAKs a lot of the time - but other tasks or trips require other tools

Red

 

[walkaboutman]

Folding knife, fixed knife, large knife, Huge knife, Bill hook (and hookless ), SAK Saw, folding saw, fixed pruning saw, buck saw (from 12" to 30"), two man crosscut saw, Husqy chain saw, Mac electric chain saw, axes from 10" single bit to 3' double bit to 8lb maul
Red

thats one heck of a backpack you have there Red ...all respect

 

[British Red]

All have been in the woods with me bar the leccy chainsaw.

I must admit that lugging a Husqy saw in...and a helmet....and a saw suit...and a can of fuel...and a bottle of chain oil

is a grind.

However you only have to section one tree with a "misery whip" and it suddenly seems much lighter!

Red

 

[Noddy]

...............

 

[HillBill]

I must admit that lugging a Husqy saw in...and a helmet....and a saw suit...and a can of fuel...and a bottle of chain oil

is a grind.

Red

I ended up with a 3' cross cut saw because of this too. Besides, i'd rather use the cross cut than listen to the chainsaw.

I take knife, axe and saw. A lot of my time in the woods is spent felling at the moment, with a Felling axe and cross cut saw. Hard work but enjoyable none the less. Got myself a good sized cherry tree and a decent plum tree. The grain in those is fantastic

 

[Shewie]

All three for me usually

Mick Spain/Dougster knife, Laplander saw, Cegga/BR axe and a Fjallkniven TK4 for game prep (mainly fish)

 

[eraaij]

Alu SAK or Leatherman Wave, Skookum knife, Swedish Forest axe and bahco saw. Wrks for most stuff.

I tend to leave the small forest axe at home these days - like the bigger forest axe better.

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

If I'm at a fixed camp for a few days then all 3, Bernie Garland Woody clone, Laplander, GB SFA.

If I'm hiking then I generally just take the knife

 

[Tjurved]

The axe is so much more fun to use then the saw so that is my first choice.

 

[troy ap De skog]

i usealy carry a billhook...
but if i dont have that i carry a knife or axe...
saw can stay in the garrage its uses are limited

 

[cappi]

I like the challenge of doing as much as I can with just my knife. I still use the axe, laplander saw and secateurs though, but not as much as I used to when I first started out.

HERE HERE! for less than one week i just take a knife with me ,more than that with a base camp,possibly more tools will be taken,after all it`s should`nt be LOOK! LOOK! how many tools i have,it should be the enjoyment of surviving and testing your new or old skills,large wood different style of fire no saw needed,small wood fire,small branches no saw needed,we could go on.
........................................................................
THE KNIFE IS EVERYTHING AND NOTHING

 

[British Red]

To some extent thats true, but there is great fun too in mastering new tools and techniques. Learning to use a limbing axe properly, manage a crosscut saw (misery whip) etc. are just as interesting (although not more so) as learning to carve a netting needle with a knife. Its all good to me - I'd hate to become limited to a "prescribed" toolset. Many mention billhooks of khukris as interesting alternatives and we have many threads on sharpening a knife or an axe (I know - I wrote some) - but who here can sharpen a saw - or even owns a saw set? Lots more fun to be ahd and skills to learn

Red