I received my Bahco Laplander Folding saw in the mail today and promptly went outside to play. What can I say? I love this saw. It is the best folding saw I have ever used. It is aggressive cutting and doesn't bind. At least it didn't today. I didn't try it on anything green as it just wouldn't have been fair.

The first victim was a 1 1/2 to 2 inch branch that has been sitting in my yard for a couple of months. Fairly stout wood. Went through like a hot knife through butter. Next I tested it on very seasoned, very hard wood. One branch was about 3 inches thich, the other between 3 and 4 inches. Cut through clean and smooth in under a minute. Very nice!



Just for comparison, it is larger and more aggressive cutting than the saws found on SAK's and multi-tools. They cannot compare. I would probably give up trying to cut seasoned hard wood with one of those little saws. Great for EDC and emergency use, but the Laplander saw goes in my pack, replacing my Gerber folding saw.

The Gerber folding saw is a comparable size to the Laplander, and cuts very well. I think the Laplander outperforms on the really hard wood cutting through 3-4 inches in about half the time of the Gerber.

I could be wrong, but green wood is probably not going to be a match for any folding saw so I didn't try. I didn't want to cut down any branches just for a test.

After I have had more time with it, I will post a more long term review.

Just for kicks, you've gotta try it on some green stuff and let us know. Pretend you are going to make a shelter or something. There must be something green growing somewhere in Hawaii that needs to be removed...

I'll cut something this weekend, just for kicks. I didn't today because we already trimmed our trees down and I figured green wood is easier to saw than the seasoned wood. But just for you OBG, Hawaii will be slightly less green this weekend. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

"...I figured green wood is easier to saw than the seasoned wood..."

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Seasoned wood is usually (always?) harder than green, but green can be gummy, and if there is not enough kerf to the teeth on a saw it will get stuck 'bout half its width into the wood. Last summer we were in Alaska, I couldn't find my folding saw, so I bought an el cheapo for carrying around to cut diamond willow. What a waste of our hard earned money. That piece of junk, with just about no kerf, made me work from two sides just to make it through less than two inches of green wood...

Good point OBG. The green wood that I have been cutting has been easier than seasoned. But I will try it on green wood this weekend. The Gerber goes through green wood really easily. I won't assume with the Bahco and will tell you for sure after this weekend. Unless someone already knows now. Please chime in...keep Hawaii green! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"...enough kerf to the teeth..."

Had a senior moment there, meant to say "set" to the teeth, not kerf. Kerf is what the blade makes in the wood, a groove. Gettin' old is a bummer sometimes...

The only problem I would have with it is the same that I have with most folding saws. The teeth wear out and you can't sharpen it or they break and with my luck just when I need it most. I like the Stanley handle that holds reciprocating saw blades, hack saw blades, and jig saw blades. It weighs less even with multiple blades than most folding saws. And it has a variety of uses. You can find it in just about any Wally world or Homedepot for about $10.00

I love my Bahco saw. I have used the heck out of it and it is still sharp. A couple of months ago some idiot whacked our mailbox and I was required to modify the 4x4 post it was on to secure another one. I was already to need the chainsaw when I decided to try the Bahco. Wow, I was through the post in less time than it would have taken to oil, gas up, and fire up the chainsaw.

I've trimmed up a lot of tree limbs, cleared shooting lanes, and set tree stands with that little saw close at hand. If she ever goes dull, I'll just buy another.

Just for you OBG, I went and cut a green branch off one of my trees. The Bahco worked as well on the green wood as it did on the seasoned wood. I cut one 10 foot branch down and cut it up with the saw. About 2-3 inches thick near the base tapering to about an inch. That's as small as I used the saw for anyway. The thickest parts took under a minute and the one inch parts took just a few seconds.

I didn't think the saw would be a good limbing tool, so I used an old Cold Steel LTC Kukri to limb it and it works great every time. The kukri has got to be about 15 years old I think. I got it when they first came out and never really used it too much until the past 5-6 years. It is Carbon V steel with a coating.

Anyone know how much of a tang the Cold Steel LTC Kukri has?