Bahco

[garethw]

After reading around the forum I was on the look out for a folding saw... everyone seems to big up the Laplander, but I was unable to find any around my area, and most places I tried in France wouldn't send them in the post.
My local hardware store had a Bahco 396 with a black & orange handle. So I got one of these as it looked to all intents and purposes idential to the green Laplander. Is there a difference other than colour?
Using it today I realised the orange tip on the handle was a good idea as I dropped the saw into a pile of branches I'd been cutting and am sure if it had been green I'd have had a hrad job finding it.
Anyway all in all a very useful tool that helps me get into areas where it would be awkward or dangerous to operate a chainsaw.
cheers
Gareth

 

[rik_uk3]

"big up the Laplander"? No its a small saw, not big, but very good at what it does.

 

[Osprey]

I cannot comment on the Bahco 396 as I don't know that saw, but I agree about the usefulness of having a brightly coloured saw. I have lost several Laplanders when leading school groups in the woods, the little darlings loose them very easily. I have now sprayed the remaining ones pink using tree-marking paint so they are a bit easier to find !!
Doug.

 

[garethw]

"big up the Laplander"? No its a small saw, not big, but very good at what it does.

Didn't mean it was a big saw, just that everyone sings its praises.
Cheers
Gareth

 

[garethw]

I cannot comment on the Bahco 396 as I don't know that saw, but I agree about the usefulness of having a brightly coloured saw. I have lost several Laplanders when leading school groups in the woods, the little darlings loose them very easily. I have now sprayed the remaining ones pink using tree-marking paint so they are a bit easier to find !!
Doug.

As far as I can tell the Laplander has a 396 blade too... just wondered why it had become the diffinitive Bush saw, other than the fact it's green...
Bit like in carp fishing where everything is camo or olive...
cheers
Gareth

 

[slasha9]

When I have compared a Laplander to a Bahco 396 the only difference I can find is the colouring, I think it's another case of a) it's green (thus more 'bushy' of 'tactical' and b) Ray uses one so that's what everyone wants. I personally uses the Bahco 396, specifically because it's brightly coloured so I don't worry about losing it. When I bought mine ( a few years back) the 396 was selling for £13 and the Laplander for about £22, however I heard recently that Amazon are knocking out the Laplander for £13 though that might just be a rumour. (No connection etc)

HTH

 

[Nagual]

I am sure I'm missing something, but I was under the impression Laplander was in fact made by Bahco?

 

[garethw]

I am sure I'm missing something, but I was under the impression Laplander was in fact made by Bahco?

Yes it is... but everyone goes on about the Laplander, without talking about the other models in the Bahco range. I agree with Slasha9 and prefer the black and orange handle so I don't lose it.
I was just wonsdering if I missed something or were they the same saw!!
cheers
Gareth

 

[Ian S]

As far as I'm aware, a Laplander is a Bahco 396. The only differences are

a) colour

b) a non-stick coating on the blade

c) (maybe) price.

I have the orange one which cost me £13, and I'm very happy with it (but I will replace it with a Silky of some description when I wear it out).

Cheers

 

[Shewie]

As far as I'm aware, a Laplander is a Bahco 396. The only differences are

a) colour

b) a non-stick coating on the blade

c) (maybe) price.

Yeah I think that's about it, I once heard the Lap has a slightly thicker blade but I'm not sure how true that is.

Silky next for me too

 

[Toddy]

I'm curious ? At £13 I don't think the laplander can be beaten.
I've got two, and I haven't lost one or knackered one yet, despite immense amount of use. I've even taken down an entire 20 year old apple tree with one.
Why do you want a silky ?

I reckon the only other saw I'd use would be a bowsaw.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Ian S]

Hi Toddy

Short answer - cuz Silkys is nice!

Long answer - they're more designed for cutting performance, perhaps at the risk of robustness, and I fancy the extra cutting performance. If you get the chance to compare a Bahco against a Silky Pocket Boy, you will see the following:

1) The Bahco has a slightly longer blade - maybe 1/2 an inch?

2) Both saws are about the same TPI count (Bahco - 8 TPI by my count, Silky - 8.5 TPI according to Axminster)

3) The Silky has longer teeth - they seem to be at least 1 mm longer than the Bahco

4) The Silky teeth appear to be cut/filed at a more acute angle than the Bahco - say 40-45 degrees to the Bahco at about 60 degrees. The 'edge' of the teeth on the Silky are sharper because they are a more acute angle, so the Silky slices wood fibres better.

I think the Silky uses thinner stock for the blade, and I think you have to treat a Silky with a little more care or you can kink the blade, but it does cut faster than the Bahco ( I tried a head-to-head on the same piece of wood).

I'm very happy with my Bahco, and I only intend replacing it when I blunt it or I wreck it.

I suppose that it's a case of 'you pays your money, you takes your choice.' A Mora knife does (and does it well), but some people will want a Woodlore. A Bahco axe does (once it's sharpened) but some people will want a Gransfors.

Cheers

 

[Shewie]

I'm curious ? At £13 I don't think the laplander can be beaten.
I've got two, and I haven't lost one or knackered one yet, despite immense amount of use. I've even taken down an entire 20 year old apple tree with one.
Why do you want a silky ?

Toddy

Comparing their cutting abilities side by side Mary, the Silky of a similar size cuts through wood a much faster pace, maybe not as tidy a cut but certainly faster. The only thing putting me off one yet is the price of the replacement blades :yikes:

I've got the folding Duluth saw (same as Russ') which takes some beating though.

 

[eminen]

similar blades although cant see it in the pics the laplander blade even though it has a nonstick coating is slightly thinner,and i too prefer the color of the 396 and changed the blade to the laplander one.

 

[Beardy]

From the above photos the Laplander and the 396 look almost identical. If the blades will swap over then there can't be much in it.

The only other difference I can think of is that the Laplander is an NSN'd item. I'm not sure who tests it, procures it or issues it, but that might attract more customers of a certain bent. Thanks for pointing out the 396 is virtually the same but cheaper though - I'll have to look into one if my Laplander ever dies on me.

 

[robin wood]

Is is cheaper? Amazon do Laplanders for £13 delivered. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-396-L...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=diy&qid=1294594828&sr=8-1

Is anyone doing the 396 for less?

 

[Beardy]

I wasn't aware it was available for £13 - that's quite a bit less than I paid for mine and a mate paid for his! In that case I guess it evens things out cost wise.

 

[Ian S]

When I bought my 396, Ebay was the cheapest at £13 plus P&P. Laplanders were going for £15 plus P&P.

Cheers

 

[rik_uk3]

Didn't mean it was a big saw, just that everyone sings its praises.
Cheers
Gareth

I see, some sort of 'text speak' nonsense, sorry its a plain English site here as not all members have English as a first language.

I like the idea of an orange coloured handle, I may treat myself to a new one

 

[rg598]

As far as I've seen it's the same saw; so is the Kershaw.