And recommendations for a good folding saw? I'm thinking the kind that is 12" ( 33 cm) or less and that the blade folds into the handle.

Teacher

I've got one of these, and it has worked pretty well.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1278989

The price seems high, but I also did not buy the one I have.

Sturdy old Sven saw, 20-30 years and running strong.

I haven't done field testing or anything, but the Bahco Laplander has been given high marks from many: http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=420

Doug has some thoughts about saws here: http://www.equipped.org/devices24.htm

I've used a Laplander on a daily basis (when on a field project in appropriate terrain) and would be hard pressed to switch over to anything else. It just keeps hacking away while others' saws have turned to scrap.

The Gerber Gator folding saw has gotten me out a jam a few times.
http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Gator-Exchange-A-Blade-Saw-6036.htm

It’s probably not as important who makes the saw you have as it is that you have one with you.

The gerber and like are nice saws.. many brands many work well.

Either a Laplander or:

A Silky Saw. They are the saw of choice amongst tree surgeons.

http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-gear-65147.html
Model shown is a 170.



Usual disclaimer re link.

What do you want to cut?

Green wood?
Dry hard wood?
Meat & bone?

For each there would be a different answer. If you want to have one in your pack that will do all of the tasks quite well, I prefer the Bahco Laplander.

In picking a folder, the ruggedness of the hinge is my biggest concern.

The lanyard hole and a 550 cord to your pack is probably the absolute most important accessory.

I am a fan of the Sven also, but it doesn't meet your requirements for a blade that folds into the handle. I have a few of those folders, no idea what brands. What I can tell you is to get a quality brand name. Don't get one of the generic types found on the "camping" wall at the local discount store. Those usually have badly designed teeth, and are made of a soft, thin, material, which tends to bind in the wood, then the whole blade buckles and bends...

A couple of years ago my smarter half got a "What-A-Saw" for me It is a little heaveier that some others but has 3 blades in it. I have used it a number of time to cut everything from green wood to steel and it has worked well.

The one in my Swiss Army Knife is small but good

I've used a fast bucksaw for 20 years and they are very nice.

http://www.fastbucksaw.com/

They cut well, are well made and pack down small.

That looks like it would be fairly easy to make.

I do have a friend who in fact made his own.

Kershaw also manufactures folding saw.
http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=169&brand=kershaw

fooman: This saw from gerber looks good too.

I use a folding/pruning saw currently when camping. While the aggressive teeth cut very well I find that the hand positioning is awkward for longer sessions of wood cutting (fortunately the kids are getting old enough to learn to deal with sharps... can you remember when getting to cut firewood was fun and exciting?).

I am thinking of swapping to a portable buck saw like this:
Portable Buck Saws

That will change my hand position to a more traditional, straight armed grip.

Wengergrip all the way.

I'm not sure how available the brand felco is in the us, but I'm very satisfied with the following saw.


felco saw

My money is on the Gerber exchange a blade. I don't know if is the best folding saw as such, but it gets the job done. I have been using one for years and my only complaint is that the blades are a wee bit flexible.

Other than that, It is a good length, light weight and the handle is slip proof. Replacement blades are cheap so its easy enough to carry a spare or two.

The field knife/saw combo on the Sog Seal Revolver/Hunter Knife works well for me - its a very comfortable and agressive little hand-saw. http://www.sogknives.com/store/HREV-7.html


Ray Mear demonstrated a field-crafted buck saw in one of his vids - he packs a buck-saw blade and crafts the rest of the tool in the bush. Indestructibles has an example: How to Build an Ultralight Portable Buck Saw -
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Ultralight-Portable-Buck-Saw/

Anyone ever try one of these ? Looks uncomfortable and heavy, but a sawzall blade might be useful.

Mostly designed as a sheetrock saw. I built a house for a lenox sales rep. and he gave me one. Was one heck of a workout to try on anything but sheetrock.

Sawzall blades assume that a sawzall will be operating it and are designed accordingly. See other posts farther up the thread.

This saw seems very popular amount backpackers
Corona 7" Folding Pruning Saw



P.S.
Some folks have taken to drilling holes in the handle to lighten the weight

Gerber makes a very nice folding saw, but I really prefer the Sven saw.
Also, the carrying case for the Trailblazer buck saw fits the Sven saw just fine.

Hard to beat a Sven Saw.

My only problem with the Sven Saw is it's odd shape. You can't use the entire blade, the log you're cutting hits the frame (especially in front), unlike a saw like the TrailBlaser Sawvivor or their version of a bucksaw, which can use the entire blade. A minor point if the wood you're cutting is a small dia.

+1 for the Bahco Laplander.