Just out of curiosity, how would the saw be useful? If push came to shove, anything I could cut with that saw I could break with my hands, across a knee, or in the crook of a tree. Or I could chop or baton it with my knife.

I always have a Leatherman tool with me, and most models I carry come with a saw. A few of the SAK's I own also have a saw. I think the only thing I've used it for is cutting off a branch to use to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Unfortunately, I don't carry either hot dogs or marshmallows in my survival kit.

I have a folding pruning saw that cuts through limbs a lot easier than trying to chop through them with any ax or knife.

The saws on multi-tools seem too small to be used this way on any but the smallest limbs.

Please note the difference between "useful" and "essential"


A saw this size is somewhat useful up to say, 2". Make a notch, break it.

A saw is very good for precise cuts.

I consider the saws at leatherman multitools very useful. I have very limited experience with SAK saws. They look the same, perhaps a tad smaller, but they may not be the same quality as LM saws. If I don't have a reliable fixed blade knife I would much rather saw halfway through and break it than risking my folder batoning a notch. If all I had was a SAK - I would very much want that SAK to have a saw.

Another way of putting this: There is more than one way to skin a cat.