Coghlans 8901 Folding Saw : Coghlans: �鶹��.ca: Sports & Outdoors

Product information

Technical Details

Product Dimensions	‎2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm; 453.59 g
Item model number	‎Folding Saw
Is discontinued by manufacturer	‎No
Blade Length	‎21 Inches
Blade Material	‎Stainless Steel
Colour	‎Multi
Size	‎One Size
Handle Type	‎5
Height	‎1 inches
Length	‎21.75 inches
Weight	‎431 g
Width	‎2.75 inches
Material	‎Other
Number of Items	‎1
Number of Pieces	‎6
Power Source	‎Manual Winding
Special Features	‎Portable, Foldable, Light weight
Included Components	‎[Scie pliable]
Batteries Included?	‎No
Brand	‎Coghlan's
Item Weight	‎454 g

Additional Information

ASIN	B000ECSDHG
Customer Reviews	1,180 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars
�鶹�� Rank	#15,469 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors) #7 in Camping Saws
Date First Available	April 19 2012
Manufacturer	Coghlans
Place of Business	KENMORE, WA, 98028 US

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Product description

An essential tool for camping, backpacking, and backcountry trekking, this folding saw from Coghlan's makes short work of wood, meat, or metal. The 21-inch serrated blade is complemented by a rugged anodized aluminum frame that holds extra blades. It folds down compactly and weighs just 16 ounces. Coghlan's makes the outdoors more comfortable and enjoyable with over 450 accessories for camping, hiking, fishing, and RVing -- from cooking gear to first aid kits, insect netting, firestarters, tent repair, and more.

Top Brand: Coghlan's

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From the manufacturer

A Tool For Every Job

Folding Saw

An essential tool for camping, backpacking, backcountry trekking, and hunting, this folding saw makes short work of wood, meat, or metal. The 21-inch (53.3 cm) serrated blade is complemented by a rugged anodized aluminum frame that holds extra blades. It folds down compactly and weighs just 16 ounces (454 g).

Camping Knives, Saws & Tools

Coghlan's has been solving camp problems for 60 years. Whether at the campground, the RV park, the cabin or in the back yard, Coghlan's has the right tool for the job:

Axes for small cleanup projects
Various sizes of saws, cutting blades, and folding knives
Machete for clearing brush and vines
Utility knives for backpacking and small jobs
Shovels perfect for clearing small areas

Coghlan's: The Outdoor Accessory People

Coghlan's makes the outdoors more comfortable and enjoyable with over 500 accessories for camping, hiking, fishing, and RVing — from cooking gear to first aid kits, insect netting, firestarters, tent repair, and more.

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Customer reviews

1,180 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers like the portability, durability, and compact design of the saw. They mention it's easy to carry when collapsed, is sturdily constructed, and cuts like a champ. Customers also appreciate its functionality, ease of use, and storage.

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Portability Durability Compact Cutting performance Functionality Ease of use Foldability Storage

70 customers mention "Portability"66 positive4 negative

Customers like the portability of the saw. They mention it's lightweight, folds up, and easy to carry when collapsed. Some say it's great for a backpack or hiking trip.

"...the blades are cheap to replace and it folds down really small and light for when I'm back packing...." Read more

"...lot of back country camping on horseback so the fact that this saw is compact and extremely sharp is a very important tool in my view" Read more

"...I bought a few extra blades and it can store them all in the handle. Lightweight and easy to use...." Read more

"This saw is lightweight, sturdy, durable, and cuts really well...." Read more

50 customers mention "Durability"38 positive12 negative

Customers like the durability of the saw. They mention it's sturdily constructed, holds the blade straight, and is of good quality. Some say the blade can be changed easily.

"...this 21" folding saw, fits the bill perfectly, it is very light, sturdy, easy to unfold and cuts up to 6" dia logs easily, and will cut bigger..." Read more

"Very nice saw for backpacking. Sturdy and folds up small, usually carry it in the side pocket of my pack. Cuts wood well...." Read more

"On time. Good product" Read more

"...The answer is obviously, yes! This as a whole is not a well-made product nor will it give you the sense of being so." Read more

47 customers mention "Compact"47 positive0 negative

Customers like the compact size of the saw. They mention it's great to stow away on ATVs, the best camp saw out there, and better than they imagined. Customers also say it's well-designed and easy to use.

"...That's what you can do with this, and tonnes of it. Great saw. Cuts quick, folds up nice." Read more

"This is a great saw, comes with a quality Swedish blade, lightweight, folds up to a very packable size...." Read more

"...I am sure it will be worth every penny of the $ 35 i paid for it. Nice and light too." Read more

"Great little saw. Just what I hoped for . I was however not happy with the condition...." Read more

39 customers mention "Cutting performance"39 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the cutting performance of the saw. They mention it cuts like a champ, cuts through wood easily, and is razor-sharp. Some say it fits their pack perfectly and is easy to unfold and prepare for wood cutting work.

"Folds up really nice and is sharp and light. Unfortunately, not designed for continued use. Broke the plastic hinge pieces after about 20 uses...." Read more

"Great compact and light saw. Very efficient." Read more

"...perfectly, it is very light, sturdy, easy to unfold and cuts up to 6" dia logs easily, and will cut bigger diameters also, but doubling the effort..." Read more

"...The blade has stayed sharp enough that I haven’t sharpened it in over three years...." Read more

37 customers mention "Functionality"37 positive0 negative

Customers like the functionality of the saw. They mention it works great on logs up to about 6 inches in diameter with no problems. Customers also say it's a useful tool that takes up little space. They also say it works well for a decent price and is ideal for them.

"Works great! Still use it after a year ! Blades a bit rusty but thats normal. Shes still sharp!" Read more

"I'm really impressed with this saw. It is very sturdy, light and works well...." Read more

"...I bought this instead of a Boreal 21, and it works great. You can store extra blades and the handle is works fine without gloves." Read more

"...Spare blades inside. Works great much lighter than my old one." Read more

30 customers mention "Ease of use"30 positive0 negative

Customers like the ease of use of the saw. They mention it's easy to assemble, unfold, and prepare for wood cutting work. They also say it's convenient how you can easily replace blades and follow strokes through the work piece. Customers also say it takes much less time to process fire wood when camping due to the length, thin blade, and spine.

"...Lightweight and easy to use. I took it on several backcountry trips including 2 winter camping trips so I cut plenty of wood with it" Read more

"Very cool design. Simple and easy to setup after first use. This is welcome addition to my bug out bag." Read more

"Outstanding value. Very compact and quick to assemble. Uses standard blades available anywhere for about 5 bucks...." Read more

"..." folding saw, fits the bill perfectly, it is very light, sturdy, easy to unfold and cuts up to 6" dia logs easily, and will cut bigger diameters..." Read more

21 customers mention "Foldability"21 positive0 negative

Customers like the foldability of the saw. They mention it folds up nicely, compactly, and unfolds into a usable bow saw.

"...It is light, folds, it cuts no problem and fast...." Read more

"...I used to carry a 21" bow saw, but this one is so much nice. Folds down and fits in my camping box. Spare blades inside...." Read more

"...These are good basic saws that fold down to the point that placing them in a pack is very simple...." Read more

"...it is really durable the blades are cheap to replace and it folds down really small and light for when I'm back packing...." Read more

12 customers mention "Storage"12 positive0 negative

Customers like the storage feature of the saw. They mention it has room enough to store the other blades in the handle, the frame, and the slot on either end.

"...I bought a few extra blades and it can store them all in the handle. Lightweight and easy to use...." Read more

"...comes with the blade for green wood, but still has room enough to store the other blades...." Read more

"...The blade fits in a slot on either end which is barely wider then the blade thickness so there is no blade wobble when cutting...." Read more

"...Easy to open and operate, stores very well and is extremely lightweight" Read more

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David Smith - DaveTech.CA
Good Product
Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2025
Verified Purchase

Bought for camping.
I used to carry a 21" bow saw, but this one is so much nice.
Folds down and fits in my camping box.
Spare blades inside.
Works great much lighter than my old one.

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Brent
Sturdy, very lightweight, well designed, highly recommended
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2025
Verified Purchase
A good product is always a breath of fresh air, amongst cheaply made imitations. I have purchased other items from this company before so I'm no stranger to the brand...
My back packing setup, consists of a smaller 40 liter knapsack, with everything needed to stay overnight, in a remote setting, void of any amenities, it's important to keep my gear to a minimum, as weight and bulk is always an issue, so most of what I own is as compact and light as possible, this 21" folding saw, fits the bill perfectly, it is very light, sturdy, easy to unfold and cuts up to 6" dia logs easily, and will cut bigger diameters also, but doubling the effort needed. A must have for preparing firewood. I use the saw to cut dead fallen trees to about 10" lengths, then use my hatchet to split them into, more manageable sizes.
I highly recommend this saw, as a camping tool, or for pruning in the yard. It can be used also with other types of 21" blades for other applications also.

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Brent

Sturdy, very lightweight, well designed, highly recommended

Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2025
A good product is always a breath of fresh air, amongst cheaply made imitations. I have purchased other items from this company before so I'm no stranger to the brand...
My back packing setup, consists of a smaller 40 liter knapsack, with everything needed to stay overnight, in a remote setting, void of any amenities, it's important to keep my gear to a minimum, as weight and bulk is always an issue, so most of what I own is as compact and light as possible, this 21" folding saw, fits the bill perfectly, it is very light, sturdy, easy to unfold and cuts up to 6" dia logs easily, and will cut bigger diameters also, but doubling the effort needed. A must have for preparing firewood. I use the saw to cut dead fallen trees to about 10" lengths, then use my hatchet to split them into, more manageable sizes.
I highly recommend this saw, as a camping tool, or for pruning in the yard. It can be used also with other types of 21" blades for other applications also.

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Old Barnacle
Not the lightest but folded down this thing takes up virtually no room in a pack
Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
I bought mine when �鶹�� had them on sale for half of the cost today. These are good basic saws that fold down to the point that placing them in a pack is very simple. Once you take It down the blade sits protected inside the top channel where it won’t snag on anything or cause damage. The blade itself isn't high end but it’s not made for everyday use.

Once you set it up there is a little sideways flex in the blade. The lock down keeps good tension on the blade but since it’s held in a slot that it is slightly more than a millimetre wider than the blade itself there has to be some play. Again as this is not meant for everyday use and the size it folds down to makes it well worth buying and packing along. It isn't the lightest breakdown buck saw coming in at 430 grams but between the size, and so far for me the dependability, it’s a worthwhile trade off. The blade has stayed sharp enough that I haven’t sharpened it in over three years.

Any ultralight packer will shun this but if like me you enjoy taking your time getting around the back woods I can recommend this saw.

I will probably be buying another on or two to keep in the trunk of my vehicles but I'm waiting for a sale to come around again.

I’m taking a star off because of the flex in the blade. While it works well most of the time it has caused a few jams.

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12 people found this helpful

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Tim Gravelle
Best camp saw out there.
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2025
Verified Purchase
I purchased one of these saws over 40 years ago. Compact, very easy to use and to store in a backpack. My grandson likes it so much I bought him one, he's a happy camper.

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kevin bering
Works great
Reviewed in Canada on May 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
I choose this one because it was half the price of the other style that is not triangular. It’s sturdy and if you want to cut large material you can go all the way around. I bought a few extra blades and it can store them all in the handle. Lightweight and easy to use. I took it on several backcountry trips including 2 winter camping trips so I cut plenty of wood with it

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One person found this helpful

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Thomas
Perfect budget alternative
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Probably like most people I came across this saw when checking out the more expensive options, I decided for half the price I'd give this one a shot. It's more sturdy than what I was expecting and especially when it's all assembled the saw feels like it'll hold up well. I don't see myself putting it through any insane abuse so I think for a casual camper like myself this will work perfect .

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josiah hinds
quality saw
Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
I bought this years ago and it was still going, it was apart of my bushcraft gear for a while and it is really durable the blades are cheap to replace and it folds down really small and light for when I'm back packing. only con is it is small so ur limited at the size of logs/trees you can process.

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Vanessa
Really nice gift
Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
I give this saw of my dad and he loved it! He said it’s really good for emergents and that he’s going to keep to in he’s car. Great gift for people who like to camp

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�鶹�� Kunde
Scharf und praktisch
Reviewed in Germany on June 25, 2024
Verified Purchase

Das Sägeblatt verzieht sich nicht und ist schön scharf. Man kann damit schnell sauber arbeiten!

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Alfonso L.
Muy buena
Reviewed in Mexico on September 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
Muy buena calidad, solo que por más que busco no encuentro las sierras de repuesto

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matt
Compact and sturdy.
Reviewed in Australia on September 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very compact and room for spare blade is great. Test cut went well and am happy to take it out for a real life test.

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Candid Reviewer
Awesome packable bushcraft/camp saw -- superior to Sven, Laplander, etc.!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
The 21" Coghlans Folding Saw is one of the best values in camping/bushcraft gear I've found yet. When I was younger, I worked for a gigantic outdoor sports retailer, where I came to know Coghlans as a company that makes very cheap, one- or two-time use items for family camping on a very tight budget. Imagine my surprise, then, when I took a risk and discovered that this saw is better designed and just as well built as some of the best portable saws on the market by more respected manufacturers.

SMARTLY UPDATED FOLDING-TRIANGLE DESIGN -- FASTER TO DEPLOY, WITH NO PIECES TO LOSE

If you've seen or used a 21" Sven folding saw, the 21" Coghlans Folding Saw should look very familiar. It's virtually identical in size to the Sven. When folded, it's 21" long x 2-5/8" wide (at the wider folding handle end)x 1/2" thick. It weighs 16 oz. When deployed, the triangular geometry of the saw is almost identical to the Sven as well. But the similarities end there.

Coghlans has substantially improved on the folding triangle design. First, there are no loose parts like the Sven's notoriously easy-to-misplace wing nut for attaching and tensioning the blade. Instead, all of the Coghlans saw's pieces are integrally connected--virtually eliminating the likelihood of losing a piece in the field.

Second, because everything is connected, the saw can be deployed much quicker than the Sven. All you do is (1) fold down the handle, (2) loosen the saw blade retention screw, (3) fold out the saw blade, (4) slide the hole in the free end of the blade onto the peg on the tensioning handle, and (5) fold the tensioning handle up into place. The blade locks solidly into position with perfect tension and voila! You're done!

After trying it two or three times, this saw is easy to deploy in under 20 seconds! By contrast, the Sven saw takes noticeably longer to deploy because it requires extra steps (threading the blade tensioning bolt through the frame and attaching the wingnut) and extra care (the wingnut is easy to drop and lose, so you have to work very carefully and deliberately--i.e., slowly--during its assembly or you risk losing a vital piece and rendering the saw inoperable). Also, the Coghlans design has a cleaner, less obtrusive handle compared to the Sven because there is no extra length protruding below the cutting teeth (which I always found strange on the Sven, as it was unnecessary and tended to bump against my thigh or nearby brush while sawing).

In short, the Coghlans saw offers a slightly smaller, slightly lighter, noticeably quicker-deploying, and mercifully loss-proof design! And as icing on the cake, the Coghlans is also compatible with any 21" saw blade, unlike the Sven, which requires proprietary blades. Any 21" buck saw blade with a hole in either end will work fine on the Coghlans. To change the blade, you just remove the keyring that retains the blade pivot pin, pull out the pin, insert a new blade, and reattach the keyring to secure the pivot pin again. These simple but substantial refinements add up to a simply awesome wilderness saw!

WELL BUILT, SUPERBLY EFFICIENT CUTTING

Build quality is very good. The two frame sides are made from oval-shaped aluminum channel, while the tensioning handle and folding joint are made from heavy duty (1/8" thick) black polymer. Once deployed, it is a very sturdy saw with a well-tensioned blade that cuts smoothly on the push and pull strokes. The polymer parts may bother folks who equate plastic with junk, but they seem plenty durable for this purpose and should not break if you know how to use a buck saw properly (i.e., let the teeth and a long efficient stroke, not brute downward force, do the work).

Impressively, the blade is a good quality 21" woodcut blade made by Bahco--a brand that is well known and trusted by many outdoor fanatics. Combined with good quality cutting teeth, the 21" blade length makes it astonishingly more efficient at cutting wood than the popular 8" to 10" pull-type folding saws, such as the ubiquitous Bahco Laplander or Silky Gomboy 210/240. In addition to doing more cutting per stroke, the Coghlans saw's triangular frame and tensioned blade will tolerate an undisciplined sawing technique with far less risk of kinking the blade on the push stroke (which is very common on unsupported folding saws if you improperly apply downforce on the push stroke.) That may not sound like a big deal, but if you're making more than a few cuts, it's very easy to get sloppy with your technique. Just ask anyone with a kinked pull saw how it got that way. With the Coghlans, you'll be able to make at least twice as many cuts for a given amount of exertion compared to those smaller folding pull-saws, and that difference adds up remarkably quickly when, say, cutting a pile of wood to feed a campfire through a long cold night.

Test cutting a 2" diameter branch of southern yellow pine, I made five consecutive cuts with almost no appreciable exertion (i.e., no perceptible rise in breathing/heartrate, and no significant feeling of fatigue in my arm). Each pass through the 2" diameter took an average of 10 strokes. Compared to a smaller, folding pull-type saw like the Laplander or Gomboy 240, the energy savings are truly impressive. Later, I cleared some 3-1/2" pines that had fallen across a path in the woods behind our house. I didn't count the strokes or measure the seconds, but I was zipping through each tree so quickly that it couldn't have taken more than 20 or 30 seconds per cut--and almost no fatigue. The rigidity of the frame and the Bahco blade are such a great combination that it's truly a pleasure to cut.

CUTTING CAPACITY

This saw will saw quickly and almost effortlessly through wood up to 3-1/2" diameter--which makes it more than sufficient for most bushcraft/camp needs. Technically, it can also handle much larger cutting tasks on wood up to 8" or so in diameter; however, cutting any deeper than 3-1/2" will significantly limit the length of stroke you can take (before hitting the triangular frame) if you try to cut all the way through from a fixed angle. That means either you'll lose efficiency (by being forced to take increasingly shorter strokes as the blade progresses deeper) or be forced to keep changing your angle of attack (working the saw around the perimeter of larger material as you make converging cuts toward its center, which is fine as long as you have enough room/clearance from surrounding brush to do so). I don't find this to be a problem or shortcoming. Just be aware that the triangular frame geometry does limit the straight-through cutting depth a little more than a traditional-shaped buck saw.

At 3" depth of cut, you'll be able to take 3/4 of a full stroke (plenty!) before the material hits the frame. At 5" depth, you'll only be able to take half of a stroke and will really start to lose the efficiency benefit of the long blade.

SHORTCOMINGS/PROBLEMS

Really, I've found nothing to complain about with this saw. It works great and is built more ruggedly than I expected, with tight, smooth joints and perfect blade tension. However, if I had to nitpick...

(1) The split ring (keyring) that retains the blade pivot pin will bang noisily against the aluminum frame while hiking unless you silence it by placing a thick rubber washer underneath it, or placing a rubber band around it, or even simpler, using a small piece of electrician's tape to secure it to the frame. In my case, I swapped it for a smaller (1/2" diameter) keyring and that quieted it enough to suit me.

(2) No stuff sack. This would be an absolutely amazing deal if Coghlans included slim nylon pouch for the saw, preferably with a few loops, webbing straps, or velcro tabs to facilitate easy attachment to a pack. I suspect that would increase the price point, though, and many people will already be able to find a place to stow this in their existing pack--such as tucked under one of the side compression straps and supported underneath by a side pocket.

(3) The finish details need smoothing. Although very well built, Coghlans leaves the corners and slits of the cut aluminum rough/sharp. It's nothing that a few quick licks with a fine file or some 400-grit sandpaper can't fix. Just be sure to smooth the corners a bit before you pack this saw into the wilderness or it may wear or tear your pack (or scrape the flesh of someone who handles it unsuspectingly).

CONCLUSION

At one time, it was difficult to choose between the ultra-efficient cutting of the Sven saw (with its slower, more awkward setup), or the ultra-convenience of pull-type folding saws like the Laplander (which deploys instantly but requires noticeably greater exertion for a given amount of cutting). The Coghlans strikes a much more ideal balance between the two. Weight is perfectly acceptable unless you obsess about counting every ounce. While it weighs nearly twice as much as some of the lightest pull-type saws, it packs up easily and folds out to become an exponentially more useful and more efficient tool. If I'm only going out for a day or two, I'll likely stay with the lighter weight of the Bahco Laplander (or Silky Gomboy 240), but for anything longer than 2 days, it'll be the 21" Coghlan's folding saw for me!

Truly, I can't believe I haven't seen more people use and recommend this saw. Quite possibly, it has been overlooked because Coghlans is almost synonymous with low-end budget equipment, and not often mentioned in discussions of lightweight performance gear. Whatever the case, I highly recommend it for camping/bushcraft, especially if you'll be out for more than a couple days.

[UPDATE 2/16/2014: I had not expected to have an update so soon, but we just went through an unexpected ice storm in Georgia that left 350,000 homes without power for almost three days. So many trees came down that all my neighbors were asking me if I had a chainsaw they could borrow. When I said no, but I had a hand saw, they sighed in disappointment and said it would have to do. When I started zipping through 4" to 7" diameter trees, though, their eyes went wide. All the while, I heard a steady stream of comments like, "That thing's as fast as a chainsaw!" and "I didn't know a hand saw could cut so well!" My favorite comment was: "When you said you had a 'hand saw,' I thought this was going to take forever. Where did you get that thing? I want one!"

Long story short, there were so many trees down that I decided to build my daughters a full size teepee instead of the tree house we've been planning to build. So in a few hours, this little saw successfully cut and de-limbed TWELVE 15' pine support poles, all 4" to 5" in diameter. After all that, the blade is still very sharp and ready for more! So, while I don't normally use a saw this rigorously even when I'm out working on bushcraft, I can now attest that this little saw is more than up to the task of building a semi-permanent wilderness shelter. As I predicted in my original review, cutting through logs larger than 4" diameter takes noticeably greater effort, but is surprisingly manageable all the way up to 7" in diameter UNLESS you are not in a position where you can rotate or get under the log to cut from multiple angles (such as when a very heavy long is laying flat against the ground and can't be lifted). You need to be able to attack from multiple angles to effectively get through anything that requires more than a 4" or 5" depth of cut.

So, to sum up: Are you looking for a super-cutting heavy use wilderness saw? This baby is the real deal!]

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Candid Reviewer

Awesome packable bushcraft/camp saw -- superior to Sven, Laplander, etc.!

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014
The 21" Coghlans Folding Saw is one of the best values in camping/bushcraft gear I've found yet. When I was younger, I worked for a gigantic outdoor sports retailer, where I came to know Coghlans as a company that makes very cheap, one- or two-time use items for family camping on a very tight budget. Imagine my surprise, then, when I took a risk and discovered that this saw is better designed and just as well built as some of the best portable saws on the market by more respected manufacturers.

SMARTLY UPDATED FOLDING-TRIANGLE DESIGN -- FASTER TO DEPLOY, WITH NO PIECES TO LOSE

If you've seen or used a 21" Sven folding saw, the 21" Coghlans Folding Saw should look very familiar. It's virtually identical in size to the Sven. When folded, it's 21" long x 2-5/8" wide (at the wider folding handle end)x 1/2" thick. It weighs 16 oz. When deployed, the triangular geometry of the saw is almost identical to the Sven as well. But the similarities end there.

Coghlans has substantially improved on the folding triangle design. First, there are no loose parts like the Sven's notoriously easy-to-misplace wing nut for attaching and tensioning the blade. Instead, all of the Coghlans saw's pieces are integrally connected--virtually eliminating the likelihood of losing a piece in the field.

Second, because everything is connected, the saw can be deployed much quicker than the Sven. All you do is (1) fold down the handle, (2) loosen the saw blade retention screw, (3) fold out the saw blade, (4) slide the hole in the free end of the blade onto the peg on the tensioning handle, and (5) fold the tensioning handle up into place. The blade locks solidly into position with perfect tension and voila! You're done!

After trying it two or three times, this saw is easy to deploy in under 20 seconds! By contrast, the Sven saw takes noticeably longer to deploy because it requires extra steps (threading the blade tensioning bolt through the frame and attaching the wingnut) and extra care (the wingnut is easy to drop and lose, so you have to work very carefully and deliberately--i.e., slowly--during its assembly or you risk losing a vital piece and rendering the saw inoperable). Also, the Coghlans design has a cleaner, less obtrusive handle compared to the Sven because there is no extra length protruding below the cutting teeth (which I always found strange on the Sven, as it was unnecessary and tended to bump against my thigh or nearby brush while sawing).

In short, the Coghlans saw offers a slightly smaller, slightly lighter, noticeably quicker-deploying, and mercifully loss-proof design! And as icing on the cake, the Coghlans is also compatible with any 21" saw blade, unlike the Sven, which requires proprietary blades. Any 21" buck saw blade with a hole in either end will work fine on the Coghlans. To change the blade, you just remove the keyring that retains the blade pivot pin, pull out the pin, insert a new blade, and reattach the keyring to secure the pivot pin again. These simple but substantial refinements add up to a simply awesome wilderness saw!

WELL BUILT, SUPERBLY EFFICIENT CUTTING

Build quality is very good. The two frame sides are made from oval-shaped aluminum channel, while the tensioning handle and folding joint are made from heavy duty (1/8" thick) black polymer. Once deployed, it is a very sturdy saw with a well-tensioned blade that cuts smoothly on the push and pull strokes. The polymer parts may bother folks who equate plastic with junk, but they seem plenty durable for this purpose and should not break if you know how to use a buck saw properly (i.e., let the teeth and a long efficient stroke, not brute downward force, do the work).

Impressively, the blade is a good quality 21" woodcut blade made by Bahco--a brand that is well known and trusted by many outdoor fanatics. Combined with good quality cutting teeth, the 21" blade length makes it astonishingly more efficient at cutting wood than the popular 8" to 10" pull-type folding saws, such as the ubiquitous Bahco Laplander or Silky Gomboy 210/240. In addition to doing more cutting per stroke, the Coghlans saw's triangular frame and tensioned blade will tolerate an undisciplined sawing technique with far less risk of kinking the blade on the push stroke (which is very common on unsupported folding saws if you improperly apply downforce on the push stroke.) That may not sound like a big deal, but if you're making more than a few cuts, it's very easy to get sloppy with your technique. Just ask anyone with a kinked pull saw how it got that way. With the Coghlans, you'll be able to make at least twice as many cuts for a given amount of exertion compared to those smaller folding pull-saws, and that difference adds up remarkably quickly when, say, cutting a pile of wood to feed a campfire through a long cold night.

Test cutting a 2" diameter branch of southern yellow pine, I made five consecutive cuts with almost no appreciable exertion (i.e., no perceptible rise in breathing/heartrate, and no significant feeling of fatigue in my arm). Each pass through the 2" diameter took an average of 10 strokes. Compared to a smaller, folding pull-type saw like the Laplander or Gomboy 240, the energy savings are truly impressive. Later, I cleared some 3-1/2" pines that had fallen across a path in the woods behind our house. I didn't count the strokes or measure the seconds, but I was zipping through each tree so quickly that it couldn't have taken more than 20 or 30 seconds per cut--and almost no fatigue. The rigidity of the frame and the Bahco blade are such a great combination that it's truly a pleasure to cut.

CUTTING CAPACITY

This saw will saw quickly and almost effortlessly through wood up to 3-1/2" diameter--which makes it more than sufficient for most bushcraft/camp needs. Technically, it can also handle much larger cutting tasks on wood up to 8" or so in diameter; however, cutting any deeper than 3-1/2" will significantly limit the length of stroke you can take (before hitting the triangular frame) if you try to cut all the way through from a fixed angle. That means either you'll lose efficiency (by being forced to take increasingly shorter strokes as the blade progresses deeper) or be forced to keep changing your angle of attack (working the saw around the perimeter of larger material as you make converging cuts toward its center, which is fine as long as you have enough room/clearance from surrounding brush to do so). I don't find this to be a problem or shortcoming. Just be aware that the triangular frame geometry does limit the straight-through cutting depth a little more than a traditional-shaped buck saw.

At 3" depth of cut, you'll be able to take 3/4 of a full stroke (plenty!) before the material hits the frame. At 5" depth, you'll only be able to take half of a stroke and will really start to lose the efficiency benefit of the long blade.

SHORTCOMINGS/PROBLEMS

Really, I've found nothing to complain about with this saw. It works great and is built more ruggedly than I expected, with tight, smooth joints and perfect blade tension. However, if I had to nitpick...

(1) The split ring (keyring) that retains the blade pivot pin will bang noisily against the aluminum frame while hiking unless you silence it by placing a thick rubber washer underneath it, or placing a rubber band around it, or even simpler, using a small piece of electrician's tape to secure it to the frame. In my case, I swapped it for a smaller (1/2" diameter) keyring and that quieted it enough to suit me.

(2) No stuff sack. This would be an absolutely amazing deal if Coghlans included slim nylon pouch for the saw, preferably with a few loops, webbing straps, or velcro tabs to facilitate easy attachment to a pack. I suspect that would increase the price point, though, and many people will already be able to find a place to stow this in their existing pack--such as tucked under one of the side compression straps and supported underneath by a side pocket.

(3) The finish details need smoothing. Although very well built, Coghlans leaves the corners and slits of the cut aluminum rough/sharp. It's nothing that a few quick licks with a fine file or some 400-grit sandpaper can't fix. Just be sure to smooth the corners a bit before you pack this saw into the wilderness or it may wear or tear your pack (or scrape the flesh of someone who handles it unsuspectingly).

CONCLUSION

At one time, it was difficult to choose between the ultra-efficient cutting of the Sven saw (with its slower, more awkward setup), or the ultra-convenience of pull-type folding saws like the Laplander (which deploys instantly but requires noticeably greater exertion for a given amount of cutting). The Coghlans strikes a much more ideal balance between the two. Weight is perfectly acceptable unless you obsess about counting every ounce. While it weighs nearly twice as much as some of the lightest pull-type saws, it packs up easily and folds out to become an exponentially more useful and more efficient tool. If I'm only going out for a day or two, I'll likely stay with the lighter weight of the Bahco Laplander (or Silky Gomboy 240), but for anything longer than 2 days, it'll be the 21" Coghlan's folding saw for me!

Truly, I can't believe I haven't seen more people use and recommend this saw. Quite possibly, it has been overlooked because Coghlans is almost synonymous with low-end budget equipment, and not often mentioned in discussions of lightweight performance gear. Whatever the case, I highly recommend it for camping/bushcraft, especially if you'll be out for more than a couple days.

[UPDATE 2/16/2014: I had not expected to have an update so soon, but we just went through an unexpected ice storm in Georgia that left 350,000 homes without power for almost three days. So many trees came down that all my neighbors were asking me if I had a chainsaw they could borrow. When I said no, but I had a hand saw, they sighed in disappointment and said it would have to do. When I started zipping through 4" to 7" diameter trees, though, their eyes went wide. All the while, I heard a steady stream of comments like, "That thing's as fast as a chainsaw!" and "I didn't know a hand saw could cut so well!" My favorite comment was: "When you said you had a 'hand saw,' I thought this was going to take forever. Where did you get that thing? I want one!"

Long story short, there were so many trees down that I decided to build my daughters a full size teepee instead of the tree house we've been planning to build. So in a few hours, this little saw successfully cut and de-limbed TWELVE 15' pine support poles, all 4" to 5" in diameter. After all that, the blade is still very sharp and ready for more! So, while I don't normally use a saw this rigorously even when I'm out working on bushcraft, I can now attest that this little saw is more than up to the task of building a semi-permanent wilderness shelter. As I predicted in my original review, cutting through logs larger than 4" diameter takes noticeably greater effort, but is surprisingly manageable all the way up to 7" in diameter UNLESS you are not in a position where you can rotate or get under the log to cut from multiple angles (such as when a very heavy long is laying flat against the ground and can't be lifted). You need to be able to attack from multiple angles to effectively get through anything that requires more than a 4" or 5" depth of cut.

So, to sum up: Are you looking for a super-cutting heavy use wilderness saw? This baby is the real deal!]

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Paul
pratique ne prend pas de place une fois pliée
Reviewed in France on August 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
pour couper les petites branches dans ma propriété, dommage q'amazon se soit trompé dans les dimensions elle fait plus que 2,5cm repliée dans sa longueur
je recommande

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Brand	Coghlan's
Colour	Multi
Blade material	Stainless Steel
Surface recommendation	Wood
Power source	Manual Winding
Special feature	Portable, Foldable, Light weight
Included components	[Scie pliable]
Product Dimensions	10L x 10W x 10H millimeters
Item weight	454 g
Blade length	21 Inches

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