My latest utility tool from Base Camp Echo is the SOG folding saw. This is really about as simple as tools get, unless they have no moving parts: It’s a differentially heat treated high-carbon steel saw blade with aggressive “fastcut” saw teeth with a plastic, almost rubberized textured handle.
The saw blade is 8.25 inches long and locks both open and closed. The saw came with no instructions, so it took a minute to realize that the big black plastic tab on the back of the handle (which is marked, “LOCK”) was the means by which I could release the saw to open or close it. I initially tried to unscrew the blade from its housing, which is easy to do if you have anything flat (I used my car key). I suppose this means you could replace the saw blade if you really needed to. Realistically, nobody is going to do that. If you wear out a budget-friendly, Chinese-manufactured tool like this, you’re just going to buy another one like it.
The handle has a large lanyard hole and is VERY comfortable. I really like how it feels in my hand. It cuts through wood like it isn’t even there (at least with its factory edge). The blade may need to be guided back into the slot in the handle if you abuse it too much and bend it, but I haven’t experienced a problem with that yet.
The folding saw ships with a lightweight Nylon sheath that is really more of a tool cover than it is a carry pouch. It will wear out quickly if you subject it to daily carry in the field. I think it’s better used simply to keep the tool clean and protected while it’s packed away. There are few reasons you’d need to carry a folding saw for any length of time, although on a recent trip to clear shooting lanes for bowhunting, my brother did just that.
This is where a medium-sized folding saw like this really comes in handy. It’s big enough that you can do some serious cutting without experiencing fatigue or simply breaking your tool, but it’s small enough that it isn’t a hassle to carry. You can pack this in a go-bag or a field kit without any issues and it disappears in the trunk of a car. When you need to clear brush or break down small branches for kindling, this is the saw to use.
As a kid I would have thought it insane to get excited about something like a folding saw. I genuinely like this one, however, and I would encourage you to purchase one if you anticipate light to moderate field chores requiring saw work. Pick up your SOG folding saw through Base Camp Echo and tell them we sent you.
