20 Best Hand Saws For Cutting Wood (2023 Updated)

This is my second Laplander. No, I did not go through the first one (I do not think you can do that) my first one was “borrowed” and never seen again. I think he liked it so much he could not get himself to return it.

Enjoy it mate it is indeed the nicest little saw you can have in your kit! So I am sold on this saw. Now to the important point: I am sold on COE. – Fast service, it seems I was just wishing to have another Laplander and and the courier knocked at my door with a COE box for me! 🙂 – Nice packaging a little box with the saw and a bit of paracord I ordered.

Snug and safe. 🙂 – Receipt in the box with a personalized handwritten thank you note, a smiley face and a Maple leaf Canadian stamp. 🙂 Way to go guys and gals at COE! a.

Having looked at the cheaper, and more expensive options, I chose the Laplander based on a number of things. Its compact, the locking mechanism is out of the way but easily operated by a single gloved hand.

It cuts on both strokes and this is useful when cutting in awkward positions. I have a Silky and as they only cut on the pull stroke it limits its flexibility. I use my saw for bushcraft so the coating gets abuse.

This is my second as my first one has been adopted by my missus and her one still has 95% of the coating after 3 years hard use. If need be the teeth can be sharpened, though I never had to and the teeth have always been sharp.

The locking mechanism locks the blade in both open and close positions, something the Silky doesn’t do as only locks in the open position. The Silky katana is a great saw and I do use it, but the Laplander is more adaptable and secure.

I used this saw in a time of great need. While camping with my family this past weekend I decided it was time to do the days wood chopping for our nightly fire. It was going well, until I came across the Andre The Giant of logs.

After about 20 minutes of trying to split this knot (and with an increasing larger crowd of lookie loo’s gathering around to watch), I needed to change my game plan. And it hit me: My Laplander was in the jeep.

I pulled it out to low level snickering across the gathering crowd. I pressed the button that activates the closed locking position, and as I did the snickering changed to laughter. The blade opened and locked.

I was ready. I took a battle stance with Andre just in front of me. In no time, my laughter inducing blade cut through the knot like an airplane through the clouds. The crowd silenced; for only a moment, however.

A cheer heard from across the campground erupted. Victory was mine. 5 stars.

Takes a while to get used to the different motion compared with a Bacho Lander. The cut is oh, so smooth you would think someone sanded it. First cut through 16cm of a recently downed Silver Birch trunk took 10 minutes.

Second cut after I figured out how to use it took 3 minutes and I barely broke a sweat. The trick is (as the instructions say) to let the saw do the work. The more pressure I thought I would have to apply, the slower it cut.

The more relaxed I was, the quicker it cut. I wouldn’t recommend punishing the saw like I did on test, over a long period of time though, as it goes beyond it’s design specifications. However, it is testiment to how the blade would perform if needed.

Excellent quality saw. Comfortable grip, easy cutting, and long lasting. I’ve had a silky for years at this point, I wouldn’t want a different saw. The pull cut is just too smooth and effortless. I bought this one for my mom to replace her large lopping shears.

She loves it. It’s much easier to use for long periods and it doesn’t require straining your joints or your tools trying to cut branches that are too big for them.

I bought the Silky Pocket Boy saw to take with me for camping out and bushcraft because of its small, packable size. Its a pull-saw, cuts extremely smoothly and takes little time to process firewood or cut poles to size.

The blade is replaceable should it become blunted but will last a long time if looked after. I definitely recommend including one in your pack.

I have once been able to buy Silky PocketBoy 130mm in our country, but it was only one time offer and no other Silky saws were sold in our country from then. The saw was exceptional. Almost no effort was put when sawing/pruning a tree.

One only needs to get a feel how Japanese saws work (they saw only in one direction, which is a really smart design as this protects saw from bending or breaking). And even though they saw only in one direction they are much more effective than other 2 way saws.

After short amount of time, my father was able to break the saw. TWICE! The first time only the tip was broken off and the second time it was broken in two pieces. This was because he was not listening to my advice on how to saw with a proper Japanese saw: only in one direction! And another advice he did not want to listen to is that you should make an undercut with saw when sawing (especially bigger branches) (this is also safer cut for a tree) as this prevents saw from binding, bending and breaking! I was then unable to find another Silky saw in our country, so I tested some other “Japanese” saws (e.

g. ARS), but they were really horrible. The blade did not stay locked, the teeth crushed away after normal and proper use, some strange/weak metal was used for blade, the teeth were not the widest part of blade (more resistance/binding when sawing), the Blade holding screw was unscrewing, the handle did not feel robust (very light/weak material).

I could not stand it so I checked on eBay if I am able to source Silky Saw and I found a bigger one: PocketBoy 170mm, which is for my needs an ideal size. When the saw arrived I immediately went out and sawed a tree branch and the feeling of a quality made Japanese blade came back.

Zik, zak and 10cm diameter branch is cut :).

I love this tool. Use it for pruning and hedgelaying. It’s so smooth and sharp the pruning cuts are very clean leaving less chance of infection to my trees. I like it so much and use it in conjunction with my billhook; that I’m making a sheath for them to use together.

It does come in a protective box which attatched to the belt, although it can detach at the clip so a leather friction sheath is much better. This is a truly beautiful tool to use and used with respect I think it will be good for many years.

My sheath is not finished but I’ll include a pic pre staining and finishing anyway to show how well it fits.

I first found out about this saw while watching a YouTube video totally unrelated to the saw. The person using the saw cut a thin, long, lengthwise section off a piece of 1×4 board without using a guide.

He merely followed a pencil line. I was astonished as to how straight and how easily he made the thin cut. Im sure you DIY enthusiasts know how hard that would be for an amateur with a US-made saw. I immediately googled the saw then searched Amazon.

I only found a smaller version of it so I searched eBay until I found the size I wanted. I tried it as soon as I received it and it met all my expectations. My only complaint is I lost track of it for seven days when it reached the USPS facility in LA but that was USPS and not the seller.

In my opinion it was a great buy!.

I love this Japanese Razor pull saw and this 240mm size is good for carpentry. Lets you make quick, safe and precise cuts in places you can’t get a power saw into. For cabinet work I prefer the slightly shorter, finer pitched 210mm size.

If the blade was longer it would be nicer. This saw was built by japanese for japanese. Saying that, the average height of a Japanese man is 5′ 8″. This was ok for me, because that happens to be my height.

Even with that, I would prefer a longer blade. Why did I buy a Japanese saw? I cannot find a source for a rip saw, nor a cross-cut saw. I can find saw, but not rip or cross-cut. The japanese saw is the only saw I can find where I can get a rip or cross-cut saw.

This saw has both on the blade, excellent. Using this saw is little bit different than American saw. The saw I have is designed to cut on the draw back, and when you draw back you go with gravity. The western saw also cuts on the draw back, but you cut up away from gravity.

I learned this from a tutorial. The blade is of good quality. It sharpens the same as American saw.

I have owned one of these for many years and needed another one as a spare. This has to be in the top ten of essential woodworking tools. It makes beautifully clean and precise cuts in any kind of wood, usually much quicker than getting out a power saw.

Conventional western saws feel clumsy by comparison. Although I haven’t tried any of the high-end dovetail saws, this is such good value for general cutting and trimming, with the ability to take a millimetre off here and slice through a 3 x 2 there.

no downside at all. It is also much easier to use than the classic Japanese pull saws although it is obviously limited in cutting depth by the spine. Highly recommended!.

A very precise saw that is effortless to use, makes a fine cut and hardly any kerf. Even the packaging showed a Japanese eye for detail with a neatly folded paper envelope under the cardboard protection.

This is my 2nd Japanese saw and I really enjoy using them. The slight limitation with this dozuki is the 50mm depth of cut, so I may buy the deeper blade at some point. These saws are more expensive than throw away European saws but the Japanese quality is in another league, in my opinion.

First one broke first try about 2 inches up from the base of the blade. Returned to REI for warranty. I’ve broken the tip of the 2nd saw twice so far on two outings. I use hand saws for work to trim trees around high voltage electrical lines.

This saw is ridiculously easy to break. Going to try to return for refund today.

These are greats saws for field and shop use. I use them professionally almost everyday for both; working outdoors in habitat restoration, tree pruning, as well as for hobby woodworking. As long as I keep the blade out of the dirt, it holds it’s sharpness seemingly forever.

Even when a blade gets old and somewhat dull, they still will cut adequately in a pinch. I’ve had mine for years, and only recently replaced the blades. The large tooth blade makes fast work of limbs and trunks nearly as thick as the blade’s length.

The fine tooth blade is great for pull cuts in the shop, or outdoors on small limbs. Really light weight, too. great for backpacking and hunting trips. The blades are replaceable. a little pricey, but well worth the cost!.

The F180 is my most used saw, it is great to carry, well made, and because it has its teeth set inside the width of the blade can cut with light effort. (secret revealed) If you try be forcefull it will snag if you relax and draw the saw lightly it will glide through dry hardwood.

The Laplander will just ride over hard woods and need some force to get the shallow teeth to cut, once the coating wears off the Laplander it starts to drag when cutting. The F180 or Laplander? Look at a thick cut bow and look at the Silky cut compared to Bahco, the Silky can make cuts at cabinet maker level, the Bahco just can’t.

I had a lightweight Gerber saw for basic trail maintenance. It bent on the first use, and finally broke after a few years of so-so performance. It was a blessing in disguise; the Pocketboy is a killer saw!! At first I groaned at carrying the extra weight, but it’s worth it.

This saw just melts through branches like nobody’s business. And I can buy replacement blades if needed. I should have gone with the Pocketboy from day 1! It’s a bit small for professional trail work or big brush jobs, but if you just want to be a nice hiker and trim branches along your local trails, this is an excellent tool.

I keep it on my backpack’s outside side pocket where I can reach it and keep it clipped on a short leash so I don’t lose it.

Excellent design and execution, clearly well though out by an experienced manufacturer. Cuts exceeding well on the superior pull stroke, lock remains locked even when stressed, blade easily changeable.

Grip is soft enough to be comfortable even to uncalloused hands but firm enough to ensure a precise and sure grip. Made to be impervious to wet conditions. Superior to anything else out there. Brava.

Bravo.

I was skeptical of all the praise I heard about this product, but a big pile of large branches in my yard demanded a solution, a job I had been avoiding all winter. The silky saw arrived one day before our short heatwave.

a perfect time to test it. This tool made a hideous task so much fun. It really does cut as easily as you’ve heard. And because it cuts on the pull, it is less tiring. The blade just rips through the wood and makes a clean cut every time.

The carrying case is handy, too, because you can put it on your belt or hang it up when you’re not using it. A great product at a great value.

What would I do without this thing?! Waste a ton of saw gas and bar oil, that’s what. I’ve named it Sting. I wind up having to clear a LOT of downed trees out of the roads I drive for work. The sugoi is safer and faster than using an ax, and I’ve been able to forego the noise and hassle of a chainsaw completely for most downed trees less than 5-6″ in diameter.

I use this to limb larger down trees before firing up the buzzsaw. Heck, if you were willing to put in the time and effort, you could probably saw through a 15″ log with this. Unlike bow saws, (which I’ve always found infuriatingly useless) I’ve never had it get bound up badly enough that I couldn’t immediately free it with very little effort and keep working.

So far it’s stayed very sharp with a ton of hard use the past couple months.

This saw is great. Cuts like butter with very little effort. Will also easily strap to the side of my TAD. I also have the Katanaboy 650. Both are serious tools and we’ll worth the money. Sometimes it’s nice not having to grab the chainsaw.

It is a well rounded, overall dependable saw. Anywhere from professional arborist to survivalist, you will havr great use for an extended period of time. It is also is very accessible because of the new scabbard design.

I couldn’t really add anything that would make it better. The only thing that another hand saw may have on it is maybe a longer curved handle. And that’s a big maybe.

I bought saw after seeing it being used by professional tree surgeons and having a chance to use it on a sizeable tree. The draw cut is simple and less effort than the traditional push cut. The slightly curved blade is easy to use and allows clean cut in a confined space.

The belt mounted scabbard-like holder clips the blade in securely – useful when both hands are needed mid-job. It’s a shame that virtually everything is black. The older version I tried had a red handle which was easier to see.

Been using saws for over 40 years and can honestly say this modern design of so simple a tool as a saw surprised the heck out of me. no more rubbing wax up and down an old saw to revitalise it and stop it snagging.

this saw is absolutely BRILLIANT in both grip design and it’s capeability of cutting cleanly. It’s only a saw I hear you say. that too was my opinion but this performs so well it will surprise the most ardent wood chopper upper and I highly recommend it for anyones tool kit from amateur to pro.

BUY ONE!.

This is so well made and gives me back my independence in so many ways I don’t know how I managed without it. I can reach top shelves and also small items from the floor. A fantastic invention. I now have one in 3 rooms of my house.

Fantastic buy. Cuts smooth like a knife cutting through butter, and it cuts straight something that I had been struggling with I thought it was just me being a girl. It has an easy action I cut through 2ft of MDF without even breaking a sweat and quickly too.

I have only one regret that I didn’t buy this at the beginning of my diy projects rather than at the end!.

This is a fantastic jab saw. My favorite part of it is the handle – very ergonomic. You can use this without cramping up your hand. I also like the handle material. It is not quite soft, but not hard either – slip resistant without being squishy.

Perfect! Stanley got it right on this one. All the features you could want – triple ground teeth, a hardened tip for punching through drywall, and holes for expelling the sawdust from the kerf. This is a must for plumbing, electrical, drywall.

An essential must have tool that belongs on every tool belt. If I were to offer any criticism at all it would be the lack of a snap on sheath / blade guard because this thing is wickedly sharp right out of the package.

You may want to split a piece of pex tubing or something to put over the edge. Great saw.

Used only once so far to cut a hole in a lathe and plaster ceiling to fit a brace for a chandelier. Blade quite stiff and sharp and with the fatter handle made the job easier without too much mess. It would be perfect for plasterboard.

Scabbard essential for personal protection and blade itself.

This is a sturdy well built little Saw. Made in France. Great little Saw for the price. Real nice comfortable slip resistant handle. Very sharp point plunges through drywall without too much effort. Especially great for small jobs where you want to keep power tools to a minimum, but this Saw would certainly have a place on larger jobs too.

I had no problem getting the saw to stay on my pencil line as I was cutting. The packaging shows various materials that the saw can cut, but I’m not exactly sure what all the materials are. Perhaps in the future, Stanley might want to describe what the materials are with some words along with the pictures.

The saw is very sharp and stiff and cuts quickly and easily through small branches. I have not tried anything larger than 2″ diameter so far, but that’s what I bought it for anyway though I understand it can cut up to 3″ diameter.

I’m impressed with the quality of the curved blade, and the ease of use, from folding to unfolding both locked positions. The handle grips well and is comfortable. I don’t know how sharp it will last, but overall, for now, I’m happy with it.

#sweepstakes.

I needed to remove an old, leggy, tangled, overgrown juniper shrub but it was in a tight spot. It was growing in a gravel bed between two large shrubs and under a pear tree. The space was too confined to use my limbing saw and too tight for my lopping shear.

Ordinary pruning shears would not faze the tough old wood, so off to Ace I went. They had an excellent choice of trimming tools including bow saws, bilhooks, axes and loppers. I chose this Corona for its compact size, easy to use in a tight spot.

The handle is well shaped for upward or downward cuts. The blade locks open or closed with a secure click. I was NOT prepared for how quickly and easily it cuts. This thing is so sharp that it requires less effort than expected, and I was able to do the job more quickly and easily than planned.

Glad I bought it.

There is nothing that comes close at this price point and it matches anything from more expensive saw makers. Once a saw needs sharpening it will only be as good as the person’s skill who sharpened it, whether it cost £10 or £1000, anyway.

Out of the box it came sharp, well set and has the most comfortable handle of any of my saws. Get one, you’ll be glad you did.

I am thrilled with this saw. It looks futuristic until you take it up. In feel and operation this saw seems to come from a different, more proud era of woodworking. The only downside is that now I am looking at the whole Veritas range with envious eyes, and making my plans accordingly !.

It’s nice, but it’s not as nice as the Japanese double-sided thin-bladed saw that I purchased from Axminster at the same time, which is terrific. I’m afraid the one you have asked me to review is fine, but not getting much of a look-in! Your further questions ask me if I read reviews of the product before purchase.

I really can’t recall, however, your review doesn’t allow for this, so whatever answer is there may well be wrong.

I was very happy to receive this Stanley Tradecut 15 inch saw to trial and give my opinion. I do wood work with mostly hand tools. This is a great hand saw which is exactly what I expect from Stanley.

The 15 inch size has a great blade to handle ratio. The handle is ergonomically designed for comfort in the large hands of my husband or my own small hands. There are 45 and 90 degree blade markings.

The triple ground teeth make for a clean cut with equal ease on the pull and push. It also has a grooved index finger placement for ensuring straight cuts. I don’t use it but for those who do this is a nice feature.

This saw can NOT be sharpened. But with regular use, I don’t think there would be a need to do so. There are no visible screws on the handle to secure the blade. Whether that positively or negatively affects the overall durability, I can’t say.

I’ve used mine numerous times now on a variety of woods, including maple, pine, oak, and even tiger wood. It cuts clean and straight every time. It’s the perfect size for me because it’s large enough to handle big and thick cuts without the saw feeling unwieldy to carry or use.

Overall, I would highly recommend this Stanley Tradcut 15 inch saw as a basic staple for anyone that uses hand tools.

This saw has a thicker blade than most of my hand saws at 0. 038” thick while most of my other saws are less than 0. 024” in thickness. You can notice the thickness when you first pickup the saw. This helps in a straight cut but is more to prevent bending or binding of the blade when sawing.

The kerf of the saw is approximately 0. 095”. The saw cuts fast, but to maximize the cutting speed you need to work on your technique because the saw cuts on both the pull (like a Japanese style saw) and on the push stroke.

The teeth are induction hardened which should allow for longer life of the saw (up to 8 times longer than non-hardened teeth). The only catch with induction hardened teeth is re-sharpening can be hard if not impossible, like a Japanese style saw you replace the blade you do not re sharpen the blade.

The saw does leave a rough cut, but for rough carpentry and a saw for your take anywhere toolbox it should do the trick. The handgrip which is comfortable with a rubberized palm also doubles as a square with the back of the blade allowing you to quickly draw a 90 or 45 degree line without reaching for another tool.

All in all, this saw should make a welcomed addition to your tool set.