I take a bucksaw blade - 24" or 30" coiled in my pan. Spares could be carried for long term and yes they do work in the boreal forest in winter! Even the hardpoint type can be sharpened with a diamond file. This is an efficient way of cutting even quite large timber in time and calories expended. I have a light frame I made but it's easy enough to knock up a frame in quarter of an hour with just a sharp knife, or a few minutes if you you just use a bent sapling. For indefinite use an axe will last longer but it is more demanding in skill, time and effort. Weight is a consideration - my kukri, a smaller blade and saw kit together weigh less than a forest axe and between them do all that is needed. It is easy to become fixated on gear - the key ingredients are your skills, knowledge and attitude, I think. The more you can do, the less you need to take. GW Sears (Nessmuk) reckoned his full gear weighed in at 26 lbs - how many of us can match that? If you move into a base camp with a sled, ATV or canoe you can carry more - on foot, just what you can carry. In the end, we could argue about this forever - there's no one solution that suits everyone, though plenty of wrong ones. It's why I like Blackie's approach - he's a lot less dogmatic than some of the experts, who would be unable to move if they tried to carry all the gear that they endorse and sell!
I just picked up one of those MXZ saws the other day at a thrift store. I figured out pretty quick it would use Saws-all blades too. Good piece of kit. :)
A heads up for someone wanting a folding saw to use recipricating saw blades. I was in Ace today and I noticed that Stanley is now making a folding saw that uses saws-all blades and it's lighter than the MXZ saw Blackie mentioned. (I know, I have one) Price was about $13 before tax as of March 2014. Thought I'd pass it along.
In the early days of the fur trade the competition was fierce between the trading companies for the native trade. The tomahawk was developed at the request of the natives. They were dissatisfied with axes and hatchets the Europeans offered. They wanted something light to carry for building traps and shelters and for combat. Also something easily repaired in the field. Its still as useful today as it ever was.
Interesting. Thanks, Blackie. I carry a Corona folding saw with a 10” blade. It has a tooth with a hollow ground tip, and cuts pretty darned quick (PDG). I guess that carrying a spare blade is ‘t a bad idea. But in 25-30 years of carrying folding pruning saws, the subject of a spare blade has never come up. A tomahawk is a versatile tool and weapon. A pruning saw could be used as a weapon too. Making contact anywhere is almost certain to draw blood, and can get serious very quickly. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
kukri..in 99% of the conditions i usually face...but the tomahawk will always be my second choice..i would not feel helpless with either..thanks for the comments...safe journeys
Just purchased a Fiskars 10" Folding Saw.. Wow.. Razor Sharp ! Tested on a 2" piece of Jatoba, no problems. The Stealth thing about the saw is something I was thinking about when I was out in the Wild Forest like two days ago, did my first survival in the poring rain. Your video is THE BEST I've seen. The video should be reshot in Full HD, but yes sir, the best. That folding Bi Metal type blade saw is a really good idea. I would of never thought of that. I'm getting an Urban type folding saw too to add to my tools I got so far. I got a head lamp, Mechete, Knife, Ferro Rod and now tonight I got a brand new 10" Razor tooth Folding Saw.. Awesome video dude.. By far. Bravo. I've seen quite a bit about these tools people are using and read about the tools of the 21st Century Modern Bush Craftsman. Btw I went in at Midnight, that's why I choose the Headlamp. Tamahawk and some normal looking tactical Rain Resistant Cargo Pants and hoodie, idk. +1
kewl info, im a born an raised NW Alabama boy myself, been living totally off grid here for the last 7 years will be 8 in Dec. almost everything i do here is some sort of bushcraft, and self sufficent oriented, enjoy your vids keep em comin....
When the whites first started trading for furs with the natives, the whites had all sorts of axes and hatchets. But the natives wanted something lighter to carry on the belt or tucked into a sash. So, with input from the natives, the tomahawk was born. Still a good choice for traveling light and general camp use in peace or war.
I found the MXZ saw on amazon, after i watched a few more videos. I Saw it was 9.00 so i'm really thing about ordering one, or two for my kit and get a few dozen blades of each type, wood, bone and metal, as those blades tend to be cheap and readily found most anywhere. could be really helpful in butchering an animal even, rather than carrying a huge bone saw. Thank you Justin.
@ozarkwonderer..i choose the trail hawk because it was flatter to pack againt my body..the hammer pol is useful for pounding stakes and to pound on to baton the hawk head into tough knots..the frontier hawk is a good hawk..and i would feel happy carring one...the trail hawk is just my personal choice....thanks for the comments safe journeys
I used to make knives out of band saw blades, originally for scraping gasket material off of compressor heads. Thin blades make good fillet knives. great tips then and now.
I have two Stanley folding pocket saws. They use 6 inch recipricating saw blades that you can get at any home center or box store. Easy to carry spare sharp blades. This saw has a storage area built into the saw that can carry three spare blades. And its very light. Plus you can get blades to cut wood, metal and even ceramics. And the blade does lock into the full open position.
You should make a video of what you think a person should put into a small bag, big bag, recovery of items from forested area, urban area. I'm sure many people would find that quite interesting. I know I would.
@ eric nelson ..did one..its the end of the pocket knife series...if not clear enought i will do a more in depth vid on sharpening..thanks for all the comments..safe journeys
The Ultimate Upgrade for a folding saw ... Silky 650mm Katanaboy !!! It can take down 2ft wide Trees !! Fast !! Check out Tactical's video on this beast of a folding saw. Wow.
lennox makes a saw very similar to the mxz. may be easier to find one of those. lowes, home depot, and plumbing supply houses carry the lennox. hope this helps!
And I agree that a pure woodland environment the standard folding saw is better. And with the MXZ saw, there are tons of reciprocating saw blades lying around because of a lack of power to run the saws.
Blackie where can I pick up one of the MXZ saws that take the reciprocating saw blades? and then also what about carrying one of the Bob destrude's folding saws with a few extra blades? I have a folding saw already and its shot to pieces it was junk, but am thinking about getting a Bahco. Great video.
Thanks to your advise; I added the Lenox Folding Jab Saw 14.98 less 1.50 military discount for a total of 13.48 at Loews to my butt pack. The SAS taught the SF Reserve to use the butt pack and harness for our survival gear. We could drop the ruck and run faster and still have enough gear to survive. Is the butt pack and harness out of fashion?
hey blackie, i wanted to know if you thought the trail hawk was better than the frontier model. the trail hawk has the hammer back but the frontier has a bit more of a cutting blade and profile for splitting. i want to stay as lite as passable but also have the most versatility. i dont see hammering on anything more than a rare nail and wood tent pegs so do i realy need a hammer side or could i get away with using the round back of a frontier hawk?
Say Heah Blackie, Yeah, I have a Wood Handle Fiskar Power Teeth Saw, a Silky BigBoy 2000, a 10" Corona, kind of delicate but Zips, zaps, blam tgrough wood, Oh my Fav's medium size folding saw is my tough as nails Wicked Tough Saw, I love it and the frame is U.S.A. made, it's a great one. I also have a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, three different size Estwings my Fav's on person carry is my 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet a Nessmuk Style, for more wood processing on person carry is my Fav's 2Hawks Warbeast a three sharp edge beauty in many ways, The Bob's Buck Saw is defenetly a long term trip saw hands down. I also had a House Axe made out of a Iltis Oxhead I had it hanged on a 19" White Hickory Handle, Yeah its too heavy to on person carry but might work with a harness like yours. but to make kindling. or to axe tap through medium size ligs, it makes short work prolly better then my other once, it's awesome, just right for the up-comming weather, Thanx alot for a great video as usual, just getting my gear for the colder weather that's just around the corner
Yup, Say Heah Blackie. I put a Jab Saw in my pack, yeah, I usually use the wood blade because I'm in the bush alot. I find my Fav's is the Lenox but the Milwaukee change blades much easier and it's Ok. I like using them much better than the saw's on Multi Tools and Swiss Army especially making traps or when a regular folding saw might be too big, and there are those times in the bush. But I really like my Wicked Tough Saw it might not be the fastest saw, but it is a tough one. Too bad saw's are not made that strong, even my Silky can be bent. So instead of speed I went tougher and no regrets. But seriously, adding a saw to your carry isn't that much of a inconvenience, So yeah, I carry both..To minimize the weight a Tomahawk does weigh less than a Hatchet, and there are some good Hawks that chop near to a hatchet like my 2Hawks Warbeast, it's pretty good. But as a on person carry, I came across another 2Hawks and that's my Double Bit Hatchet, It's not the best to chop down firewood, but it defenetly better than some large knives for chopping, plus the two different bits I can chop and split with it, It's like a lightweight that punches like a heavyweight for its size it's a dream to carry and it does great for its size. This way I can carry the 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet with my Wicked Tough Saw and a Belt Knife like my Rodent 5 which is prolly one of my Fav's on my Survival Belt with no problemo. I alway's have my Necessities Pouch on it too. But when I leave camp I can bring my Canteen and still feel pretty comfortable. This is where Peter robs Paul. and what exchange you are willing to make. Yeah, you made some good points with this video, Thanx, Blackie. ,, ,,
I've used an axe most of my life. They're dangerous. They should be razor sharp. I've seen people cut themselves badly with them. If you get careless or get in a hurry you can bury one in the top of your foot or your leg in a second. If you're just starting out in bushcraft/ camping read about and practice safe use of an axe. Learn to sharpen it and carry and store it safely
long term the ax wins hands down, as its easy to sharpen with little more than a stone/rock you find on the ground. a saw needs tools to sharpen that if its a saw with a suitable steel where as unsharpenable blade all you can do is junk it after a few hours of use
I agree with him but i do have a question. He said that he likes the tomahawk more than a hatchet because the handle can be replaced better and more efficient but what about a hatchet that has a metal handle? Just kinda curious on what people think, im not an expert on any of this.
the metal handle is often hollow..and thus when it gets a dent..the handle will be gin to collapse..when it does..ya got no way to put a new handle in..thats why i stay away from metal handle axes..the fiberglass one hold up longer..but if it would come loose..its very hard to make a new handle to fit that eye in the field..thanks for the comment..safe journeys
I got one of those saws with replacable blades and a reg. coleman camp saw. I would rather have the replacable blade saw. Tomahawks cost to much money right now for me. Reg. ax's are all around and is cheaper. People know they can put a name on a ax and put a high price on it. I can get ax's and replacable blades on the cheap and if SHTF, I would have a lot to barter with. In the long run, going cheap is better. For personal use getting the good stuff($$$$) is better.
Short term or long term, if you go out in these northern woods without both a hatchet/axe and a saw, you shouldn't be out there. I also disagree about sharpening a saw in the field. It's simple, and just takes two small tool you can slip in a pocket. Long term, you had better have a very large axe. I love a tomahawk, too, and if it's well designed, it can easily do a hatchet's job, but you still need an axe. Really, have you actually tried sharpening a saw in the field? It isn't at all difficult, if you take along the two small tool you need. It takes just a few minutes.
I take a bucksaw blade - 24" or 30" coiled in my pan. Spares could be carried for long term and yes they do work in the boreal forest in winter! Even the hardpoint type can be sharpened with a diamond file. This is an efficient way of cutting even quite large timber in time and calories expended. I have a light frame I made but it's easy enough to knock up a frame in quarter of an hour with just a sharp knife, or a few minutes if you you just use a bent sapling. For indefinite use an axe will last longer but it is more demanding in skill, time and effort. Weight is a consideration - my kukri, a smaller blade and saw kit together weigh less than a forest axe and between them do all that is needed.
It is easy to become fixated on gear - the key ingredients are your skills, knowledge and attitude, I think. The more you can do, the less you need to take. GW Sears (Nessmuk) reckoned his full gear weighed in at 26 lbs - how many of us can match that? If you move into a base camp with a sled, ATV or canoe you can carry more - on foot, just what you can carry.
In the end, we could argue about this forever - there's no one solution that suits everyone, though plenty of wrong ones. It's why I like Blackie's approach - he's a lot less dogmatic than some of the experts, who would be unable to move if they tried to carry all the gear that they endorse and sell!
I just picked up one of those MXZ saws the other day at a thrift store. I figured out pretty quick it would use Saws-all blades too. Good piece of kit. :)
A heads up for someone wanting a folding saw to use recipricating saw blades. I was in Ace today and I noticed that Stanley is now making a folding saw that uses saws-all blades and it's lighter than the MXZ saw Blackie mentioned. (I know, I have one) Price was about $13 before tax as of March 2014. Thought I'd pass it along.
I don't know if the blade locks in multiple positions or not though.
@@WastelandSeven The blade does lock, but only straight out. I have two and they are very useful.
I would say that you got that right and telling it exactly why you choose what you do was well done. thanks for the video and great job.
In the early days of the fur trade the competition was fierce between the trading companies for the native trade.
The tomahawk was developed at the request of the natives. They were dissatisfied with axes and hatchets the Europeans offered. They wanted something light to carry for building traps and shelters and for combat.
Also something easily repaired in the field.
Its still as useful today as it ever was.
Interesting. Thanks, Blackie. I carry a Corona folding saw with a 10” blade. It has a tooth with a hollow ground tip, and cuts pretty darned quick (PDG). I guess that carrying a spare blade is ‘t a bad idea. But in 25-30 years of carrying folding pruning saws, the subject of a spare blade has never come up.
A tomahawk is a versatile tool and weapon. A pruning saw could be used as a weapon too. Making contact anywhere is almost certain to draw blood, and can get serious very quickly.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Thanks, another great one. Your two cents are again worth $10,000.
kukri..in 99% of the conditions i usually face...but the tomahawk will always be my second choice..i would not feel helpless with either..thanks for the comments...safe journeys
Just purchased a Fiskars 10" Folding Saw.. Wow.. Razor Sharp ! Tested on a 2" piece of Jatoba, no problems. The Stealth thing about the saw is something I was thinking about when I was out in the Wild Forest like two days ago, did my first survival in the poring rain. Your video is THE BEST I've seen. The video should be reshot in Full HD, but yes sir, the best. That folding Bi Metal type blade saw is a really good idea. I would of never thought of that. I'm getting an Urban type folding saw too to add to my tools I got so far. I got a head lamp, Mechete, Knife, Ferro Rod and now tonight I got a brand new 10" Razor tooth Folding Saw.. Awesome video dude.. By far. Bravo. I've seen quite a bit about these tools people are using and read about the tools of the 21st Century Modern Bush Craftsman. Btw I went in at Midnight, that's why I choose the Headlamp. Tamahawk and some normal looking tactical Rain Resistant Cargo Pants and hoodie, idk. +1
kewl info, im a born an raised NW Alabama boy myself, been living totally off grid here for the last 7 years will be 8 in Dec. almost everything i do here is some sort of bushcraft, and self sufficent oriented, enjoy your vids keep em comin....
I'm in North-west Alabama and we used to get it....but now y'all gettin it lol. Stay safe.
Yup in Canada, especially in the winter, I prefer a saw. I have the Katanaboy 500. But I carry both a saw and an axe or hawk.
Love hearing someone else's thought process on this. I see axes as more of a universal, long term tool. Its just loud in a SHTF situation.
Thanks Brother another great teaching video, the hawk is my perfu
When the whites first started trading for furs with the natives, the whites had all sorts of axes and hatchets. But the natives wanted something lighter to carry on the belt or tucked into a sash. So, with input from the natives, the tomahawk was born.
Still a good choice for traveling light and general camp use in peace or war.
Thanks Blackie. Very useful
Good info, Blackie!!!
Hey Blacky, I really like your choose on the saw it makes real good common sense...
@william..thanks for the info..safe journeys
Great video men!
I found the MXZ saw on amazon, after i watched a few more videos. I Saw it was 9.00 so i'm really thing about ordering one, or two for my kit and get a few dozen blades of each type, wood, bone and metal, as those blades tend to be cheap and readily found most anywhere. could be really helpful in butchering an animal even, rather than carrying a huge bone saw. Thank you Justin.
thanks for sharing your knowledge and efforts .
glad to be of help..safe journeys
Your 2 cents worth is good enough for me. Good vids, my Brother...
@ozarkwonderer..i choose the trail hawk because it was flatter to pack againt my body..the hammer pol is useful for pounding stakes and to pound on to baton the hawk head into tough knots..the frontier hawk is a good hawk..and i would feel happy carring one...the trail hawk is just my personal choice....thanks for the comments safe journeys
Good points sir
I used to make knives out of band saw blades, originally for scraping gasket material off of compressor heads. Thin blades make good fillet knives. great tips then and now.
I have a Bacho Laplander but recently purchases several Silky Saws, which I find superior.
Silky Saws are nice and will remain sharp for a long time.
My father saw through 30 wooden pallets and the teeth are👎 didnt expect that soon, still have a little life in it but...
I have two Stanley folding pocket saws. They use 6 inch recipricating saw blades that you can get at any home center or box store. Easy to carry spare sharp blades. This saw has a storage area built into the saw that can carry three spare blades. And its very light. Plus you can get blades to cut wood, metal and even ceramics. And the blade does lock into the full open position.
I love my hawks! But a sharp handy saw go a long way when you need control cuts on metal.
You should make a video of what you think a person should put into a small bag, big bag, recovery of items from forested area, urban area. I'm sure many people would find that quite interesting. I know I would.
i have thought of that..and i may do that this winter...thanks for the comment
safe journeys
@ eric nelson ..did one..its the end of the pocket knife series...if not clear enought i will do a more in depth vid on sharpening..thanks for all the comments..safe journeys
The Ultimate Upgrade for a folding saw ...
Silky 650mm Katanaboy !!!
It can take down 2ft wide Trees !! Fast !!
Check out Tactical's video on this beast of a folding saw. Wow.
Yep. A wonderful saw, and well worth having.
lennox makes a saw very similar to the mxz. may be easier to find one of those. lowes, home depot, and plumbing supply houses carry the lennox. hope this helps!
great vid sound wisdom my friend/tom
And I agree that a pure woodland environment the standard folding saw is better. And with the MXZ saw, there are tons of reciprocating saw blades lying around because of a lack of power to run the saws.
Blackie where can I pick up one of the MXZ saws that take the reciprocating saw blades? and then also what about carrying one of the Bob destrude's folding saws with a few extra blades? I have a folding saw already and its shot to pieces it was junk, but am thinking about getting a Bahco. Great video.
@ mlgunnut..lol well the question was axe vs saw....but ya know i am gonna choose a kukri for all that it can do...thanks for the laugh..safe journeys
Best 2 cents worth so far today.
Thanks to your advise; I added the Lenox Folding Jab Saw 14.98 less 1.50 military discount for a total of 13.48 at Loews to my butt pack. The SAS taught the SF Reserve to use the butt pack and harness for our survival gear. We could drop the ruck and run faster and still have enough gear to survive. Is the butt pack and harness out of fashion?
you can get carbide sharpening tools for saws that are very efficient and very packable.
hey blackie, i wanted to know if you thought the trail hawk was better than the frontier model. the trail hawk has the hammer back but the frontier has a bit more of a cutting blade and profile for splitting. i want to stay as lite as passable but also have the most versatility. i dont see hammering on anything more than a rare nail and wood tent pegs so do i realy need a hammer side or could i get away with using the round back of a frontier hawk?
Say Heah Blackie, Yeah, I have a Wood Handle Fiskar Power Teeth Saw, a Silky BigBoy 2000, a 10" Corona, kind of delicate but Zips, zaps, blam tgrough wood, Oh my Fav's medium size folding saw is my tough as nails Wicked Tough Saw, I love it and the frame is U.S.A. made, it's a great one. I also have a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, three different size Estwings my Fav's on person carry is my 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet a Nessmuk Style, for more wood processing on person carry is my Fav's 2Hawks Warbeast a three sharp edge beauty in many ways, The Bob's Buck Saw is defenetly a long term trip saw hands down. I also had a House Axe made out of a Iltis Oxhead I had it hanged on a 19" White Hickory Handle, Yeah its too heavy to on person carry but might work with a harness like yours. but to make kindling. or to axe tap through medium size ligs, it makes short work prolly better then my other once, it's awesome, just right for the
up-comming weather, Thanx alot for a great video as usual, just getting my gear for the colder weather that's just around the corner
no prob :)
Tomahawk can be used as a plane and has tongue and groove boardmaker a wedge so many uses for a tomahawk but I still prefer a big knife
Yup, Say Heah Blackie. I put a Jab Saw in my pack, yeah, I usually use the wood blade because I'm in the bush alot. I find my Fav's is the Lenox but the Milwaukee change blades much easier and it's Ok. I like using them much better than the saw's on Multi Tools and Swiss Army especially making traps or when a regular folding saw might be too big, and there are those times in the bush. But I really like my Wicked Tough Saw it might not be the fastest saw, but it is a tough one. Too bad saw's are not made that strong, even my Silky can be bent. So instead of speed I went tougher and no regrets. But seriously, adding a saw to your carry isn't that much of a inconvenience, So yeah, I carry both..To minimize the weight a Tomahawk does weigh less than a Hatchet, and there are some good Hawks that chop near to a hatchet like my 2Hawks Warbeast, it's pretty good. But as a on person carry, I came across another 2Hawks and that's my Double Bit Hatchet, It's not the best to chop down firewood, but it defenetly better than some large knives for chopping, plus the two different bits I can chop and split with it, It's like a lightweight that punches like a heavyweight for its size it's a dream to carry and it does great for its size. This way I can carry the 2Hawks Double Bit Hatchet with my Wicked Tough Saw and a Belt Knife like my Rodent 5 which is prolly one of my Fav's on my Survival Belt with no problemo. I alway's have my Necessities Pouch on it too. But when I leave camp I can bring my Canteen and still feel pretty comfortable. This is where Peter robs Paul. and what exchange you are willing to make. Yeah, you made some good points with this video, Thanx, Blackie. ,, ,,
I got mine off e-bay. also saw (no pun intended) one at a local Big Lots.
Hi mate i like your content i would like to see u do this video with your new camera thanks mate
i will see about a redo thanks for pointing that out safe journeys
I've used an axe most of my life. They're dangerous. They should be razor sharp. I've seen people cut themselves badly with them. If you get careless or get in a hurry you can bury one in the top of your foot or your leg in a second. If you're just starting out in bushcraft/ camping read about and practice safe use of an axe. Learn to sharpen it and carry and store it safely
so can i ask if there is any folded saw can also use the diamond grit reciprocating saw or etc. if i m not taking the MXZ saw, which sucks A LOT
can you please do a video on how to sharpen your knifes
So where do you get those "fancy" saws with the interchangable blades?
Its a no brainer I choose the axe anytime over the saw.
I have never broken an axe, only the handles.
I have broken many many saws irreparably.
Hello Blackie what model is that cold steel hawk
hey blackie can you tell me how to find these forums iv been trying and cant find any /tom
I highly doubt a hatchets handle is going to break.
ok what would you rather have kukri or tomahawk
long term the ax wins hands down, as its easy to sharpen with little more than a stone/rock you find on the ground. a saw needs tools to sharpen that if its a saw with a suitable steel where as unsharpenable blade all you can do is junk it after a few hours of use
I agree with him but i do have a question. He said that he likes the tomahawk more than a hatchet because the handle can be replaced better and more efficient but what about a hatchet that has a metal handle? Just kinda curious on what people think, im not an expert on any of this.
the metal handle is often hollow..and thus when it gets a dent..the handle will be gin to collapse..when it does..ya got no way to put a new handle in..thats why i stay away from metal handle axes..the fiberglass one hold up longer..but if it would come loose..its very hard to make a new handle to fit that eye in the field..thanks for the comment..safe journeys
I got one of those saws with replacable blades and a reg. coleman camp saw.
I would rather have the replacable blade saw.
Tomahawks cost to much money right now for me.
Reg. ax's are all around and is cheaper. People know they can put a name on a ax and put a high price on it.
I can get ax's and replacable blades on the cheap and if SHTF, I would have a lot to barter with. In the long run, going cheap is better.
For personal use getting the good stuff($$$$) is better.
An axe and a saw are equally important. An axe can't saw, and a saw can't axe. Have both, and if you can't.........improvise, adapt and overcome.
Would a machete do?
A ax actually better because you don't have a file you can't sharpen a saw in the field a ax u pick up a rock go back to work
Short term or long term, if you go out in these northern woods without both a hatchet/axe and a saw, you shouldn't be out there. I also disagree about sharpening a saw in the field. It's simple, and just takes two small tool you can slip in a pocket. Long term, you had better have a very large axe. I love a tomahawk, too, and if it's well designed, it can easily do a hatchet's job, but you still need an axe. Really, have you actually tried sharpening a saw in the field? It isn't at all difficult, if you take along the two small tool you need. It takes just a few minutes.
I highly doubt a hatchets handle is going to break.