Axes and hatchets have their place when it comes to tearing through wood, but a hand saw adds a bit more precision and cleanness to the task. Gerber Gear’s new Bushcraft Saw is on the market now and ready to dig deep into tender saplings, small logs, and exposed tree roots.
The Gerber Gear Bushcraft Saw
Gerber’s Bushcraft saw boasts rapid cutting power, extremely effortless operation, and a fold-down ability, making it easy to carry and store. Is all this too good to be true? I was about to find out as I trekked into the woods and began testing this saw’s ferocious bite.
First Thoughts Upon Opening
The Bushcraft saw came packaged in an oversized blister card. The saw was prominently visible on the front of the package, while the nylon sheath was shown on the back.
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Upon opening, the first thing I noticed was the unit’s lightweight design. I assumed a hearty saw would have considerable weight to it. This one did not. At just less than seven ounces, this saw shouldn’t be a burden to carry.
However, I began to doubt this saw’s performance due to its ultra-lightweight body. Could it truly handle rigorous use on large diameter logs in the field? Though the Bushcraft saw is 17 inches long overall, its fold-down feature brings it to a very convenient 10 inches, which is perfect for pocket or pack storage.
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Within My Grip & Operation
As I fiddled with the saw prior to cutting, two things stood out.
First, the rubberized textured part of the handle. As I gripped the handle, I could feel my hand “sticking,” which is important for both safety and directing power when cutting. The rubberized texture was positioned both on the top of the handle (where your palm would be placed) and on the bottom (where your fingers grip) for a solid hold.
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Second, the giant red lever-type gadget at the top of the saw couldn’t be missed. A simple press of this spring-loaded lever allowed the blade to be released and opened. Its operation was smooth, and once the button was released, the blade stayed firmly in place (whether closed or opened).
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Results After Biting Down
I was highly pleased with the saw. However, it still needed to perform the one job it was made for: ripping through wood.
The saw offers a SK5 carbon steel, chrome-plated blade with triple-ground saw teeth. These teeth, in proportion to the overall size of the saw, were large and intimidating. I started with a small branch, no larger than a few inches thick. I tore through the branch in about five strokes.
There was no resistance or excess power needed on my part. Perhaps I was holding back a bit, so I took on a larger fallen branch. The results were no different, except that it took about ten or so strokes to cleanly cut through it. Again, there was no sticking or bending of the blade, and the cut was clean, on par with most gas or electric saws.
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Storage and Ease-of-Carry
As mentioned earlier, the low weight of the Bushcraft saw makes it a pleasure to carry, with or without a pack. The Bushcraft saw package includes a nylon sheath with a large vertical loop and four belt-sized loops for multiple carry options.
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The first few times I tried putting the saw into the sheath, I could swear it was the wrong size because it wouldn’t fit. However, because of its newness, the tight elastic side panels were not broken in. But after about a half-dozen times of inserting the saw and pulling it out, there were no issues. It held the saw firmly inside and released it just as easily.
The sheath is not extremely high quality, but it’s not weak or flimsy either. It does the job it needs to do.
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Adding to Your Gear or Not?
I thoroughly enjoyed using this saw. It performed extremely well and made my first doubts disappear after the first few cuts.
Gerber Gear priced this outdoor essential at $47.99, which is a fantastic price for the saw and sheath combo. This saw earns a place in your go-bag, at your campsite, or even in your tool shed for around-the-yard trimming. With its vicious teeth and comfortable grip, exerting excess power or user fatigue shouldn’t be an issue.
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The Bushcraft saw is ready to chew into material, so it’s time to feed it well.
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