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#177356 - 07/23/09 04:13 AM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Todd W]
Denis Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 631
Loc: Calgary, AB
Regarding the saw, I don't know if I'd call it tiny exactly (the specs I linked to say it's 4.2 inches). I do think they've done a great job on the tooth design as it goes through wood quickly and without too much effort.

I can say I've definitely cut through branches that I wouldn't have been able to break easily by hand; this is especially true if you ever need to work with green wood.
_________________________
Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck. Roald Amundsen

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#177358 - 07/23/09 04:31 AM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Denis]
Paul810 Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 1428
Loc: NJ, USA
I've found the saw comes in most handy for building things/bushcraft. Say, shelters, deadfall traps, spears/bows, ect.

However, I actually prefer a good file, like the one on Leatherman wave/charge models. It will still cut and notch wood (albeit slower than the dedicated saw), however it also works to trim, sharpen, and cut metal and other hard materials that the saw doesn't work on. Therefore, in my opinion, it's the more useful of the two, as it can be used in more circumstances.

Unfortunately, Victorinox's metal file isn't as good as Leatherman's, nor do they offer it on any of the One-Handed opening models, so I'm stuck with the saw. Not my ideal configuration, but I'm still fine with it.

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#177365 - 07/23/09 04:43 AM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Paul810]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
That is true, they cut green wood GREAT... and the cut is nice, not a splinter with a rip up 1ft from busting it by hand.

When I was a kid I used the crap out of my SAK saw, and it was barely 3" if that... 4.2" will be pretty darn nice. We used to make shelters, dam up streams and small rivers, make things to trap fish, etc.. it really was used A LOT. Thus why I want one on a wilderness SAK. (Combined with a fixed blade for `hacking` the saw could prove useful for the finer side.)
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Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#177380 - 07/23/09 10:27 AM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Todd W]
Leigh_Ratcliffe Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/31/06
Posts: 1355
Loc: United Kingdom.
SAK Rescue is exactly that. A rescue tool. It's not suitable for general woodcraft.

Regulars will probably have noted that I generally recommend a SAK Trekker or a Farmer if you are restricted to a non-locking blade.

I use both. I also own a RSK mk1. For a survival situation the Trekker is superior to the Mk1.

Sorry, Doug. smile

The only thing that you cannot do well with it is batoning wood.

But that's what a Frost's Mora is for.

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I don't do dumb & helpless.

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#177434 - 07/23/09 08:50 PM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Leigh_Ratcliffe]
Schwert Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/13/02
Posts: 905
Loc: Seattle, Washington
Oh yeah I find the SAK saw to be hugely useful. Not for firebuilding or that sort of crude work though where just snapping the wood is the method.

I regularily cut wood for craft projects with it (like for spoons). Nothing worse than trying to carve something out of a splintered hulk of wood that the SAK saw would have gathered in moments cleanly.

I prefer a garden saw with larger blade for most gathering work but have used my SAK untold numbers of times when I did not have a larger garden saw.

I have never encountered a better tiny saw.


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#177437 - 07/23/09 09:21 PM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Schwert]
EdD270 Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 94
Loc: White Mountains of Arizona
I use the SAK saw for precision cutting and shaping of wood, such as making deadfalls and snares and putting together shelters and camp furniture.
I like it and use it a lot, even if it takes a while to cut through some bigger limbs. I sometimes carry a bigger folding saw, Gerber or similar, but I always have the SAK with me.
_________________________
"Most men take the straight and narrow. A few take the road less traveled. I chose to cut through the woods." ~Unknown~

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#177441 - 07/23/09 09:54 PM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: EdD270]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
Well, Well, Well.... I once built an entire family sized cabin with only my SAK!

Take that! wink !!
_________________________
Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#177444 - 07/23/09 10:18 PM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Todd W]
EdD270 Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 94
Loc: White Mountains of Arizona
Originally Posted By: Todd W
Well, Well, Well.... I once built an entire family sized cabin with only my SAK!

Take that! wink !!

Spoken like a true outdoorsman.
_________________________
"Most men take the straight and narrow. A few take the road less traveled. I chose to cut through the woods." ~Unknown~

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#177445 - 07/23/09 10:54 PM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: EdD270]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
One handed trekker came... saddened that the blade is only sharpened on one side (Forget the technical name)...
_________________________
Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#177454 - 07/24/09 02:18 AM Re: Best Swiss Army Knife for... [Re: Todd W]
Paul810 Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 1428
Loc: NJ, USA
Originally Posted By: Todd W
One handed trekker came... saddened that the blade is only sharpened on one side (Forget the technical name)...


That's not too hard to take care of. wink

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