Silky KATANABOY Professional 500mm Folding Saw XL Teeth (403-50)

This purchase was part of my quest to find durable and environmentally-friendly alternatives to common power tools. In the case of the Katanaboy, I was looking for a hand-powered substitute for a chainsaw. After about 18 months of owning and using this tool, I can honestly say.....it does not replace a chainsaw! If you want a tool that turns trees into firewood quickly and with little effort, buy a chainsaw. If you are like me and want to get a bit of exercise while doing chores, don't mind spending a little extra time outdoors, and appreciate effective tools, the Katanaboy is a fantastic choice. It is my primary firewood cutter, as I do not own a chainsaw. I cut a cord of old, hard elm in about an hour, with frequent breaks, although the more I use it, the fewer breaks I need. Most of the branches were under 8 inches in diameter, but I cut a couple of sections that were twice that size (it wasn't easy, but it was fun). I bought a second saw from another vendor for use at work, where part of my job is management of a nature preserve (which includes trail construction and maintenance). In the nature preserve (and at home), I prefer to avoid the noise and pollution of a chainsaw. Trail work volunteers are envious of my "samurai saw" and argue over who gets to use it first.Volunteers almost always bend the blades of my pull-cut saws, but none of them were able to bend the Katanaboy's blade. In fact, after extensive use, I haven't even come close.The saw's handle is comfortable enough. Since it's a pull-cut saw, most of your effort will be on the pull, so a straight handle works just fine (like a tug-of-war). If you pull by bending at your waist or even rocking back and forth on your feet, you can give your arms a nice break. The teeth are extremely sharp, but the locking mechanism has sort of a half-cock safety that minimizes the chance you'll get your fingers caught between the blade and handle while folding the saw. Interestingly, the back of the blade is a pretty effective machete and is good at cutting grass, non-woody weeds, and small dead branches (although this is obviously not its intended use, so be careful). It's fun to pretend I'm swinging around a real katana sword!If I had a big job to do, I would opt for a chainsaw. While I'm confident I cut bigger logs with the Katanaboy (or more than one cord, if I were in better shape), I really don't want to try. I prefer the Katanaboy for small jobs that can be completed in the time it would take to get a chainsaw ready, and for medium jobs that won't take too much time or wear me out. I also prefer its low maintenance, silence, small environmental footprint, and its aesthetic (the experience of using a quality tool, smelling cut wood rather than burnt oil and gasoline, and the sound of birds rather than a two-cycle engine). I am seriously considering buying three more for the family so we can have a nice family outing while getting a larger amount of firewood (and overcoming the saw's main shortcoming when compared to a chainsaw).

This is an amazing piece of equipment.The Katanaboy is an unbelievably powerful cutting tool. I have used it on a variety of woods, wet and dry, and not only is its cutting capability sinister to behold, this saw can take a severe beating and still hold its wicked edge. I have arrogantly made cuts partially into sandy/rocky soils expecting some sacrifice to its sharpness, and accidently torqued the blade to an extreme angle expecting a permanent bend. It laughed at the abuse.This saw will not out-perform a chainsaw by any means, but quite honestly, the amount of time spent servicing your two-stroke translates fairly evenly into the extra time it takes to pull this thing through a few trees (which, trust me, isn't much). It is also feather-light in comparison to it's capabilities. It would not be ridiculous to consider this saw for bushcraft use, based on it's weight and packability, however, it would be pure overkill. The Katanaboy is basically a folding cross-cut saw, with the benefit of modern materials, sharpening processes, and design.I pair this with a Husqvarna all-purpose axe (which, in my opinion as an owner of axes from other Scandinavian manufacturers, is the best value on the axe market at this point in time). The 26" Husky actually fits perfectly in the Katanaboy's nylon case (which also cleverly includes a pocket for a replacement blade, which, honestly, you may only think you'll need if you're a Prepper...) to create a beautifully lightweight, packable kit. Add a pull-sled and a froe or maul, and I would seriously contend this combination could tackle the fuel needs of a cabin in the Minnesota winter.On a side-note, this thing looks terrifying. We're talking home-defense capabilities because of fear-inspiring freakiness. It is something straight out of Mad Max. That is all.Excellent value, and a blast to use.

I've wanted one of these for quite a long time but couldn't justify the price. This was a good enough deal that I splurged. It was worth it. It is a very well built tool like all of the Silky Saws are. It is large enough to cut logs that would otherwise require a chain saw. You can make it through a 15 inch diameter pine log in about two minutes if you're in shape. The very large, very sharp teeth make short work of harder woods as well. The non-set teeth design leaves a very smooth cut making this appropriate for arborists and even for construction projects where one might have to cut very large material and have reason to care about the finish of the cut. It's very nice that the Katanaboy blade is on the "can-sharpen" list for Silky blades since replacement blades are so expensive. At a full two pounds, and thirty three inches long folded, it isn't the easiest pack saw to carry, but if you have need to cut large diameter logs, you will save the calories you spent carrying it when you do some cutting. The two-handed pole handle plus straight blade means you use your latissimus dorsi muscle and your hips more than your biceps and triceps to operate the saw. That results in a whole lot of power and also means a whole lot less fatigue. The carry bag this comes with is a nice touch. It's made from some sort of rubber-backed rip stop and has a slot for a spare blade.