Last summer, after 40 years, my old Sven Saw finally bit the biscuit.  Despite the history I’m not that sorry.  The Sven always managed to get the job done but I was never that satisfied with its performance.  Anyway I just took delivery of a new folding bucksaw so I wanted to pass on a bit of a mini review.

The saw I purchased is the Fast Bucksaw ( (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)) and the moment I unpacked it I was impressed.  The first thing I noticed was the craftsmanship.  It is constructed out of Maple and really is beautifully made with a lot of care to detail – there are no burn or chatter marks from power tools and everything is so well finished that it almost feels like a one-of-a-kind object.  In fact these saws are made in very small runs, a true mom and pop operation (Hastings, MN.)  

The design is equally impressive.  Folded the saw measures 21”x2 ¼”x5 1/8” and weighs less that 16 oz.  When folded the blade is protected in the handle and the tension rod sits in a groove in the stretcher and the whole thing is held together by built in shock cords.  It unfolds and sets up quickly and intuitively and is designed so that you never have to take the wing nuts off the tension rod which means no parts to lose (it could easily be modified to use a windlass system if preferred.)  The stretcher’s tenons seat into the handles snugly but easily and when the tension rod is attached and tightened everything is as rigid and true as any fixed blade buck or bow saw that I’ve ever used.  The blade is a standard 21” Bahco (Swedish) but being standard could be replaced by any brand.  The saw comes with an extra blade.

Well I’m not out in the bush but I set the saw up and cut a few logs in the back yard just to give er a go.  Fantastic.  The blade is well secured and the saw cuts true and straight – like butta!  This little tool is at a whole other level compared to my old Sven – makes the Sven seem more like a toy.  But as I say, the proof is in the pudding and the Fast Bucksaw cuts beautifully.  This saw is so simply and intelligently designed that it's hard to imagine that it won't last several lifetimes.  Still, I won’t be able to say much more until I’ve had it in the bush for a few weeks but at this point I’d give it the highest possible rating.

I have used a saw just like this one, by a different manufacture, for about 17 years.  It has gone on all our trips and used around home for cutting firewood.  Very satisfied with the design and performance.

Spartan1