I wanted to start a thread where we can all discuss the pros and cons of various garden tools we own, and ask questions about the ones we intend to purchase. If it gets popular enough we might have a tool forum even.....

So my first question is about the Felco handsaw, the 6" fold up kind. With it being expensive, I was very unhappy to find that they don't guarantee the blade, and was wondering if anyone has a fold up 6" handsaw of a different brand they are happy with?

I think the reason they don't guarantee the blade is he fact that it is replaceable already. Being it is steel and the handle is plastic I would be more concerned about the handle. I have never used a pruning saw that small, I guess I felt that I could get more use out of a larger saw for larger branches and still use it on the smaller ones also. I did not plan on carrying the thing in my pocket so I felt no need to get a folding one. I am not saying or implying that this would not be a fantastic saw for some one with a need for a small folding pruning saw.
I have not been disappointed with any recent pruning saw I have purchased, they work so much better than the old ones I have had, the blades seem to be much better designed and hold an edge much better and are so sharp, I have just about stopped having a need for my chain saw.

I have had this one for years and am very happy with it. The blade is still sharp. I really like the wood handle.
http://www.amestruetemper.com/...

Good recommendation; way cheaper than the Felco too.

I have three small handsaws:



The one pictured on the top is Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw with a 8-Inch Blade. Really good to carry around. Cuts on both the push & pull strokes. Blade locking button is very good & it locks both open and closed positions. Very well made. Very nice handle. Made for campers, but great for the garden. Many 5 star reviews. Currently $20 on Amazon. As a side note, Bahco makes some very high quality bypass pruners.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001IX7OW/

Next in line is the Zenport SF240 Folding Saw with Steel Handle, 9.5-Inch and Tri-Edge Blade. Excellent cutter for the larger limbs. The tri-edge blade makes for fast & easy cuts. The only thing that I do not like is that the blade lock is easily pushed when you are sawing. I just had to learn to keep my hand further back on the handle. Not as well built as the Bahco, but a super blade. Runs ~ $22 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00589PZGC/

Botton pictured is the Zenport S330C Saw, Curved with a 13-Inch Tri-Edge Blade. Does not fold, but a real cutter for the bigger jobs:) ~$25 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00589LX5O/

The Felco has a 6" blade and only cuts on the pull stroke. I also noticed that the blade lock looks like it would be easy to push when cutting. And, of course, it is a little pricey. It seems that a lot of the Felco products are not discounted on Amazon. It does get great reviews. If it were $20, I would buy one:) I like Felco products. I have Felco products.

However, the top of the line handsaws seem to be made by the Japanese Company Silky. My Zenport saws seem to be Taiwan copycats. And, Silky prices make the Felco look like a bargain!

Does anyone have experience with the Silky products? Are they just for professionals? Maybe I will get one for Christmas

I found the best folding saw in camping gear. It was many years ago and I no longer have the saw, so I can't recall the brand. That saw was wonderful for camping and pruning, and I had it for nearly fifteen years. So, don't forget to look in a store that specializes in camping gear - I am not sure box stores carry the quality and endurance of the one I had.

Sounds like a good recommendation. I'll check it out!

I think that brings up a basic question I had not really considered. but we should. Would a saw built fifteen years ago have the advanced blade design and the extreme sharpness of one of the modern new saws? Is the advancement in steel technology providing a better quality blade for saws or a cheaper blade? Yes, I know, we are only talking about a pruning saw, not rocket science. But I thought it worth considering, some people swear by the old stuff and love the old "quality built cars", but give me one of the new models any day! I know (being I am a little older) how easy it is to talk about cheap Japanese junk compared to quality American made products of the past, not sure you could even find an american made saw. Besides this post was started as a possible prelude to a tools discussion forum, so I thought I would throw in some discussion material. Also let me stand up for gardeners, why would a premium saw for gardeners be of any less quality than one made for campers? Ok, maybe camping is more rugged, but out in the wilderness how important is a smooth clean cut?
ckatNM, don't take this as a rebuttal of any thing your wrote, just extra stuff to think about? Any opinions?

I personally have not found much of anything that is made today that lasts as long as items from years ago, tools included. Ckat makes an interesting observation.

If we use cars as an example, I think the newer cars are much higher quality than the "old quality built" cars.

My first car was a new 1967 Mustang. At 70 MPH it was really scary to drive. My new Ford Escape is much, much better in every way.

As far as saws go, I would guess that some of the newer blade designs are better than the blades of the past.

Lynn referenced a wood handled saw. This is a nice touch, but I am sure Ames is using a modern blade.

My guess is that all of the saw blades are made by a few of manufactures and purchased by the major brands for use in their products.

My husband would probably disagree on the car issue. Nothing could beat his 57 Chevy Bel-Air, in his mind any ways.

frankrichards16 said:
However, the top of the line handsaws seem to be made by the Japanese Company Silky. My Zenport saws seem to be Taiwan copycats. And, Silky prices make the Felco look like a bargain!

Does anyone have experience with the Silky products? Are they just for professionals? Maybe I will get one for Christmas

This is sort of a weird coincidence... I'd never heard of the "Silky" brand -- and then I was looking at the weekend newspaper and in the lost and found column was an ad for a lost "Silky Zabut" (or something like that) saw... maybe I can find it and try it out ??

Here is a comparison test between four saws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...