Ultralight Saw Option

[Slalomnorth]

Hey everyone,

Some of you may already know about this, but many might not be aware of it. I’m also apart of the backpacking light forum. There’s a member on there, Jan (I believe from Prague) that makes a super awesome 3D printed silky saw handle.

If you like to carry a saw like me, you know that the silky blades are some of the best. The problem is the handle is rather heavy. Jan makes a handle for the 130mm blade and 170mm blade. I prefer the 170mm large tooth blade. Here are some pics of the saw, as well as the thread in the backpacking light forum. Also Jan’s email. The price on these handles is $35 shipped! Which I think isn’t bad at all.

My favorite part about it is you don’t have to put anything together, it’s just ready to go all the time. You obviously don’t want to wail on it or anything, but I’ve used it on many hunts and haven’t had any durability issues.

UL folding saw - Backpacking Light

There's been a discussion on lightweight saws recently, here's my latest creation on that topic. I've designed a 3D printed handle for the Silky Pocketboy 170 blade. The Pocketboy is...

backpackinglight.com

[email protected]

 

[svivian]

Thank you I have been looking all over for this after @mtwarden first mentioned these!

 

[Wapiti151]

Thanks for this! just emailed him

 

[svivian]

Got mine today and they are super nice. 170mm total weight is 2.5oz!

 

[mtwarden]

used mine several times over a cold and wet Memorial Day weekend!

 

[Slalomnorth]

Glad everyone is as stoked as I am on it

 

[Elnicko]

Can you just buy a spare blade and his handle or are parts needed from a full saw to put it all together? Thanks for posting this. Looks cool

 

[mtwarden]

you can buy just the blade; be warned Silky blades are spendy- but cut great and stay sharp a loooooong time

 

[svivian]

Blades are separate but I found them on Amazon for $22 a piece. The handles were $35 each shipped to my door so $57 total for the 170mm size. All hardware included to put them together

 

[mtwarden]

also look on eBay for the blades; I was purchasing them from a Japanese outfit (they're made in Japan) cheaper than I could find them stateside

 

[Clarktar]

also look on eBay for the blades; I was purchasing them from a Japanese outfit (they're made in Japan) cheaper than I could find them stateside

Send that eBay link!

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[mtwarden]

Send that eBay link!

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

I'm not seeing the vendor I purchased it from on there, looks amazon is currently the best price for the 130 & 170 blades.

 

[PALonehunter]

Thanks for posting this info.

 

[three5x5s]

Thanks to all for posting, Iv sent an email for handles, just wanting to know if you perfer the Large or medium teeth?? And what would be better for a elk backbone?

 

[svivian]

Fine tooth for bone large tooth for wood

 

[mtwarden]

Fine tooth for bone large tooth for wood

exactly

 

[mtnkid85]

Are most of you guys running the 170mm? I wonder if the 130 would be sufficient for getting through and elk skull plate?

 

[mtwarden]

I'm using the 130 and think it's fine for processing wood/skulls/etc- not a lot of weight penalty though going with the 170 either

 

[svivian]

I went 170 because I want the option to cut larger pieces of wood and at 2.5oz why not. Now that I have used it with the light plastic handle this weekend,I would say let the blade do the work. I would not say it’s made for pressure applications where you are really getting after it.

Overall very pleased and is a nice edition to my pack

 

[mtwarden]

the Japanese blades are made to cut on the back stroke, so lightly guide with the front stroke and than you can apply more pressure on the back stroke- much like a crosscut saw- you know when you're in the rhythm, starts to sing

definitely not meant to reef on- blade or handle