Coghlan'sPocket Sierra Saw

If looks or feels are at the top of your priority list for a cutting tool then perhaps this little saw is not for you. However, if you value practicality then this saw is definitely worth checking out.When judging only by the looks at a store counter, this little saw would probably get at best a 3-star rating with its mostly plastic construction and a relatively thin blade. As a matter of fact, almost all of the negative reviews with one- and two-star ratings here on Amazon are from those who actually did not have the chance to use the saw in the field and passed their judgment mostly based on the looks or feels.On the other hand, as evident from the 4- and 5-star reviews by those who actually have used this saw extensively, this saw deserves the high praises for its1) portability,2) functionality,3) durability,4) and value/price.1) Portability. The obvious reason for choosing or even considering a folding saw of this size over larger ones is its portibility. I have carried and used this little saw on day hikes, camping trips, and fishing and hunting excursions, simply for its compact size. I also own other folding saws including Sven, Silky, and Corona saws, but they are all larger and heavier so unless I know the forthcoming tasks demand a larger saw, this is the saw I have on me all the time.The best saw in the world is useless to you unless you have it at your disposal when you need it. This is exactly where this little saw shines, it's so compact and light, you have no excuse not having it with you in your pocket or fanny pack, or in the glove compartment of your car/truck. It measures only 5-3/16" closed, only slightly longer than an average large pocket knife, and it's featherly light at merely over an ounce.2) Functionality. A saw must be able to cut well to be a useful tool. As evident from the many 4- and 5-star ratings, this saw cuts really, really well on both seasoned dry hardwood (oak) and green wood up to about 2-1/4" in diameter, anything larger can be done with some forethought and multiple cuts. And the handle is comforable and not overly long or large. No, it's not meant to replace larger saws with 7" blades and up, nor should it be the only saw in your tool box. But for it's tiny size, its performance is excellent, outperforms even some of the larger saws.There is one improvement I don't mind seeing on this little saw. The blade locks solid when open, but it does not lock the blade in the closed/folded position. Currently this is not an issue for me as I use a ranger band (fancy name for a piece of bicycle inner tube, a thick rubber band will work just as well) to keep the blade in place when it's in the handle, but it would be nice to be able to do so without the use of the ranger band.3) Durability. The blade: many reviewers have pointed out already, the blade on this saw is thin, and it can bend if used improperly (it's designed to be a pull saw that cuts only on pull strokes, and one should avoid sawing from the underside of the tree branch, as the weight of the branch will squeeze the thin blade and make it bind). But please also keep in mind that a thinner blade also means less material to remove during cutting. And if the blade is bent it can be bent back easily, and still performs without sacraficing the cutting efficiency.The handle: it's made of hard plastic. I have dropped it from height and stepped on it by accident a few times; so far it seems to take the abuse well without suffering any crack or deformation.The locking mechanism: Solid with no play at all. The business end of the release button in contact with the blade has a metal plate on it so the blade metal will not cut into the plastic.In short, despite the plastic handle and thin blade, this is not one of those cheap "disposable tools."4) Price. In comparison, the Silky Pocketboy 130 is better built, with a thicker blade and offers two sawing angles and cuts extremely well. But is the Silky a better value at 4x the price? It all depends on how and how often you use the tool. If I had to choose, for my applications I'd rather have multiple copies of this little saw, one at the house, one in the car, one in my backpack, plus one spare than have just one Silky. Fortunately I didn't have to choose just one; and I own and use both on a regular basis and IMHO at $7 this little saw is one of the best values.Note: the price on this product seems to fluctuate quite a bit on Amazon. I bought mine (several of them) at around $7.

This saw works great. The blade is very thin and prone to bending. Mine started bending the third day I used it. I was cutting some pine that was full of pitch. The blade kept hanging up because of the pitch. It finally cracked the handle where the blade bolts to the plastic handle. I glued it and it still works. The blade isn't straight anymore though.

This was a inexpensive yet handy little purchase for backpacking/camping. Was great for sawing smaller bits of wood to put into my wood burning camp stove. It's definitely lightweight and not meant for heavy duty work as the blade will break. (It's very thin and bendable) Worked great for my use though. Price was right and as long as you use it correctly and put all the pressure on as you pull the saw back rather than when pushing it forward, you shouldn't have any problems.

I already have the regular Sierra saw with the 7" blade and decided to pick one of these up as a lighter alternative for summer backpacking in the Rockies. The regular Sierra saw is an incredible cutting saw so I was hoping this smaller version would be the same.To test it I ran it head to head with the saw on my Victorinox One Handed Trekker knife which is highly regarded in the backpacking community as one of the best small woodsaws. The Victorinox's saw is roughly 3.5" long while the Coughlin Pocket Sierra saw blade is roughly 3.7" long. I tested both side by side on some semi-dry pine branches roughly 3" wide and each time the Pocket Sierra saw outsawed the Victorinox. It was also more comfortable to use than the Victorinox as well. The Pocket Sierra Saw only weighs 1.4 oz on my digital postal scale, so this is a perfect saw for lightweight backpacking or day hikes. I think this saw could handle branches and small logs up to 5-6" if needed, so it's like having a light hatchet with you at the fraction of the weight of a hatchet. For the price I think this is an indispensable tool to bring along, and at 1.4 oz there's no reason not to have this with you for an emergency or just to cut walking sticks or processing firewood on a colder day.One Year UPDATE- As another reviewer pointed out, the blade is thin and prone to bending once in a while. That said, I've abused this saw for over a year and it just keeps on going. I got overzealous with it a couple of times and bent the blade but was able to bend it right back to shape. On the plus side, the thin blade cuts incredibly fast, about 4 times faster than my Swiss Army knife saws. Yes, it's a very thin blade but it's also really tough and cuts as good as any saw I've ever used. Will buy more in the future.

Disappointed with blade thickness. It is sharp but I don’t think this will last long without bending or breaking

looked good . the reviews were not to bad but when it came i thought it was going to fall apart in my hand . depending on how much we gota pay . i will def be returning this cheap crap saw that is not much bigger that my finger.

First off, my mistake. I wanted the Sierra Saw, not the POCKET Sierra Saw. Same price, same package, careless error on my part. Now on to the saw review: I'm not sure this thing will cut anything I can't break off with my bare hands! The blade is so flimsy I fear one unintended forward stroke will snap it in half. My leatherman has a more substantial saw blade. Also, the handle is light plastic, which is neither here or there, but it adds to the overall cheap feeling of the item. Pro: it is small and lightweight; the teeth are sharp. Con: it's more of a gimmick. If you're looking for something when you're camping, or an emergency bag, or even basic garden tasks, spend a little more on a real saw. I haven't used it, so take this with a grain of salt, but my impression is that a good knife could probably chop through any limb meant for this saw.