6 Best Folding Saws For Clearing Brush That Woodsmen Swear By
Clear trails with ease. We review 6 top folding saws trusted by woodsmen, comparing blade design, durability, and cutting power for any brush-clearing task.
A farmstead is never truly "tamed"; it’s a constant negotiation with nature, and clearing brush is a big part of that conversation. While a chainsaw has its place, the real unsung hero for daily work is a high-quality folding saw. Choosing the right one saves you time, energy, and a whole lot of frustration when you’re deep in the back forty.
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Why a Folding Saw is a Farmstead Essential
A good folding saw isn’t just a small version of a big saw; it’s a completely different tool with its own purpose. It’s the tool you grab for jobs that are too delicate for a chainsaw and too beefy for a pair of loppers. Think clearing a new walking path, pruning low-hanging branches from fruit trees, or cutting a fallen limb that’s blocking a gate.
Its biggest advantage is its immediacy. There’s no fuel to mix, no chain to tighten, and no deafening roar that sends the chickens scattering. You can slip it into a back pocket or tool belt and have serious cutting power ready in seconds. This makes you more likely to tackle small problems before they become big ones, which is the secret to staying on top of property maintenance.
Bahco Laplander: The All-Around Workhorse
Cut wood, plastic, or bone with ease using the Bahco Laplander Folding Saw. Its rust-protected blade and comfortable two-component handle provide a secure grip for any outdoor task.
If you can only own one folding saw, the Bahco Laplander is a strong contender. It’s the definition of a reliable tool that does everything pretty well. It’s not the fastest cutter or the lightest, but it’s tough, holds an edge, and the blade has a special coating that resists rust and reduces friction.
The Laplander is perfect for general-purpose farm tasks. Use it to cut saplings for bean poles, clear thorny blackberry canes, or even cut notches in lumber for a quick fencing repair. Its 7 TPI (teeth per inch) blade is a solid compromise, aggressive enough for deadwood but still capable of making reasonably clean cuts on green limbs. It’s the saw you can throw in the truck and forget about until you need it.
Silky Gomboy: The Gold Standard for Pruning
This professional folding handsaw delivers superior cutting performance for various tasks. Its curved 240mm blade features Mirai-Me technology for smooth cuts and durable, impulse-hardened teeth for long-lasting use.
When precision matters, especially on your fruit trees, you reach for a Silky. These Japanese saws are in a class of their own, designed to cut on the pull-stroke. This feels a little different at first, but it allows for a thinner blade that removes less material, resulting in an incredibly fast, clean cut that heals quickly.
The Gomboy is the quintessential Silky—perfectly balanced and razor-sharp. The impulse-hardened teeth stay sharp for a ridiculously long time, but be warned: they can’t be re-sharpened. This is a tradeoff for superior performance. A Gomboy is an investment, but the health of your orchard and the sheer joy of using a perfectly engineered tool make it worthwhile. You don’t use this to hack through roots in the dirt; you use it for surgical cuts that matter.
Corona RazorTOOTH: Top Value for Tough Jobs
Sometimes you need a saw that just rips through wood without worrying about the cost. The Corona RazorTOOTH is that saw. It’s an absolute beast for the price, with aggressive, triple-ground teeth that chew through wood with surprising speed.
This is the saw I grab for the dirty work. Clearing invasive buckthorn, cutting roots, or limbing a fallen tree where the blade might hit the ground—these are all jobs for the Corona. The blade is a bit thicker than a Silky’s, so the cut isn’t as fine, but for rough clearing, that doesn’t matter. For a fraction of the price of a premium saw, you get 90% of the performance for the toughest jobs.
Silky Bigboy 2000: For Serious Limb Removal
The Silky Bigboy lives up to its name. With a blade stretching over 14 inches, this is the tool that bridges the gap between a handsaw and a chainsaw. It’s what you grab when you face a 6-inch diameter limb that’s too high or awkward to safely reach with a chainsaw.
Its long, curved blade lets you use your whole body, making quick work of substantial logs. It’s surprisingly lightweight for its size, making it manageable for overhead cuts. The Bigboy isn’t for everyday pruning; it’s a specialty tool for when you need maximum cutting power in a manual package. It’s perfect for clearing larger storm damage or processing a significant amount of firewood away from the woodshed.
Agawa Boreal21: A Modern Take on the Bow Saw
Traditional bow saws are fantastic cutters but terribly inconvenient to carry. The Agawa Boreal21 solves that problem completely. This ingenious tool folds down into a compact stick but deploys in seconds into a rigid, high-tension 21-inch bow saw.
The tension on the blade is key; it prevents wobbling and allows for powerful, straight cuts through large logs. This makes it an outstanding choice for processing firewood for a wood stove or campfire. You can choose different blades for green or dry wood, making it highly versatile. It’s not a pruning saw, but if you need to turn big rounds into usable firewood far from your truck, this is the tool you want.
Sven-Saw 15": Ultralight Choice for Portability
The Sven-Saw is a classic for a reason. For decades, it has been the go-to for anyone who values simplicity, durability, and extreme portability. Its triangular frame is incredibly strong, and it folds down into a flat, self-contained package that weighs next to nothing.
This is the ultimate "packable" saw. Throw it in a daypack for trail maintenance on the far side of your property or keep it under the seat of the tractor. The 15-inch blade is big enough for most trail-clearing and light firewood tasks. It might not have the fancy features of modern saws, but its bulletproof design has been proven time and again. It’s a simple, effective tool that will never let you down.
Saw Blades and Teeth: Making the Right Choice
The saw is only as good as its blade, and understanding the teeth makes all the difference. The main thing to consider is Teeth Per Inch (TPI). A lower TPI (like 6-8) means larger, more aggressive teeth that are great for ripping through dry, dead wood. A higher TPI (10+) means smaller teeth that leave a smoother finish, which is ideal for pruning live, green wood as it helps the plant heal faster.
You also have a choice between pull-stroke and push-stroke saws.
- Pull-stroke saws (like Silky) cut when you pull the saw towards you. This puts the blade under tension, allowing it to be thinner and faster.
- Push-stroke saws (common in Western designs like Bahco) cut when you push away. The blade must be thicker to resist buckling under compression.
There’s no single "best" design. Choose aggressive, large teeth for rough clearing and firewood, and fine, small teeth for orchard and landscape pruning. Most all-around saws find a happy medium.
Ultimately, the best folding saw is the one that fits the work you do most often. Don’t just buy the most expensive or the most popular; think about whether you’re making clean cuts on fruit trees or battling thickets of invasive brush. A ten-minute walk back to the barn for the right tool is always better than fighting a job for an hour with the wrong one.
