Axe vs Saw - What do I Prefer and Why

Her i take may axe against my saw. Why do i prefer one over the other. Much comes down to what you prefer and how good you are at using your tool. So this is my thoughts and what works for me and my way of using it outdoors.
Not telling you witch is better over the other, only what i use and why.
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[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

Honestly two different jobs for different tools. Saws are more efficient for the horizontal cuts where as cutting through a log length ways is just a waste of time. It really depends on your environment, the types of wood you have available and the moisture content that may make splitting necessary. For example here in Australia most wood is hardwood, does not split atleast not easily, and is usually fairly dry so if I had to pick one I would pick the saw. If you were in northern europe with pine trees in a high moisture area then I would say axe because horizontal cuts are not as tedious with soft woods, and splitting may be necessary to get to the dry inner wood.

[@ryancoke9]

Disagree only due to the fact that the axe is a multi tool whereas the saw is specific. The axe serves as a chopping tool, a hammering tool, a digging tool, defence tool, a cutting tool as well as much reliable and easy to sharp while outdoors. The saw can only cut and if it breaks or goes dull you’re SOL.

[@stevenrobertson6656]

Agreed the saw is more efficient and lighter to carry

[@dennisleighton2812]

I would also choose the saw, which clearly cut through in about half the time and a fraction of the energy used. The cuts are clean, making the next steps in the processing much easier. Splitting can easily be done by sawing a slot into the end of the log, and inserting wooden wedges in and driving them down into the log, which will split quite easily. No need to risk your knife, although a knife like an ESEE5 would deal with the splitting in short order. An axe like the one in the video probably weighs about 3 x what the saw weighs - always an issue. If weight is not an issue (like in a permanent camp) then it would be useful to have both available. Chopping up sawn logs is easy, but chopping logs cut with an axe is a huge pain.

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

Thanks for the safety tips. Can't repeat the, often nough! I like carrying a very small hatchet (Gransfors mini), a medium size saw (25cm/10") and a neckknife. Oddly enough I mostly baton the hatchet (safer) when preparing firewood for my wood gazifier stove. I don't need to split logs and processing fallen branches produces enough fuel for my needs. I also don't cut wood for heating, I bring a warmer sleeping bag instead (or sleep at home if it's below freezing). camping is allowed (mostly) here in Switzerland, but I don't want to advertize my presence with axe noises (or a smoking campfire). I also do my best to leave no trace, so I can re-visit my favorite spots.

[@MrFrenchy777]

I live in the province of Quebec Canada. In these cold temperatures up here you will die with only a saw. You need all your energy, plenty of firewood and a quality shelter. You can pretty much do everything with an axe than with a saw and much more and with less effort. Cut and split wood, dig, cut and build a shelter through snow and ice, hammering stakes, make traps and weapons, cut through ice to set traps, ice fishing, to get water, or pull yourself out if you fall through the ice, dig in the ground to get roots, break stones to create other tools, use edge of axe to make sparks and create a fire, get chaga, dig and chop your way out if stuck in snow and ice with your car or if your car stuck in snow or mud, you can use hatchet to chop small trees or large branches and put under wheels plus you can use it as a knife to clean out your game ect... With an angry grizzly bear or other wild animal in front of you what would you prefer as a weapon? My choice is clear, an axe!

[@DGOutdoorLife]

I see your point. For me where I live it's not so cold. So I do fine with a saw and knife for now 😉

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

Yeah, all of these videos and discussions are pretty much pointless because the right choice is always going to be the geographical location where YOU live, time of year, etc... I'm in Northern PA and I'm axe all the way for winter as well. I can get away with a large knife and small saw for the summer. But for winter...Definitely. Much easier busting through frozen hardwoods with an axe than a saw. Frozen hardwoods can also dull your saw teeth pretty quickly. In my pack, I always have my GB Scandinavian Forest axe and Silky BigBoy2000 folding saw. Not the lightest setup but also not that heavy either and those tools alone are enough to build a log cabin if you wanted to. Northern woodlands and an axe are like PB&J. I do feel naked without my axe....and firearm.

[@coolstar2398]

I’m from Australia so I do a fair bit of camping and 4 wheeling and can I just say when a log is down over a track there is not much point picking at it with a tooth pick because what you need is a chainsaw and a jerrycan. That also is my answer to if I’m standing in front of a grizzly. I’d rather a running chainsaw. Also my answer to zombies lol. But for sure there are different use cases

[@Feanor821]

When I’m in the woods I find myself using the saw for majority of wood processing. Cutting down trees, cutting off branches, cutting up logs, the saw is faster and easier. A good tough knife can split them up for you. But if you can only have one tool it’s gotta be the axe. Stronger, more durable, more versatile, the axe can do it all.

[@Ceriva09]

i'd say that also depends on your experience in the outdoors. the less experience you have the better the saw gets because the risk of injury is lower and the injuries you can receive tend to be less dramatic. Where as a axe is a wonderful tool for more schooled people but if you F' it up you can get screwed real quick...

[@HomeAtLast501]

How long is your saw blade? I have an 8" blade, and I find it to be too small.

[@DGOutdoorLife]

14 " 36 cm 😁

[@redsorgum]

The saw is limited to slicing, or cutting. It can be used as a weapon if need be. The axe can slice, dice, chop, and carve, and be used as a weapon. I bring my Fiskars X7 and my folding saw, or my Cold Steel frontier hawk with my folding saw. The hawk is light and versitle, the X7 is light and compact. Silky saws are beasts!

[@viktortyrku]

I hope you will not take this personaly I think it is very obvious you dont have a lot of experience with an axe I sopose we have so many tools this days that we have a tool for every thing. What I am trying to say is that one has to look at this if you where to choose one tool in the wild forest and you had no other tools I think the axe is far more usefull if you had to be a sheperd in a forest where there are woolvs or if you were on survival trip in the wild or if yoo had to go camping in the wild for two weeks an axe can be used for so much more. then just cutting a bit of wood On the other hand every one is different so different tools work diferently for different people. Viktor

[@DGOutdoorLife]

No problem man. Its true that we all prefer difrent. Its also true I'm not the axe person but I'm exploring more the buty om the axe. So for 1 tool the axe my be the one for many. But for me i always have a knife whit me so the axe is more for extra or fun 😉

[@Acollyt]

Thanks for sharing. Good to see you out.

[@greekveteran2715]

With all the respect, it's different to be a collector, than a user. You're a collector, not a user. You can't fell trees with a saw, neither split wood, those are 2 different tools. Axe needs knowledge and a lot of experience to be used properly and safely, saw, takes no skills... If you had worked on axes more, you would say the opposite. I and all people who burn wood in the winter to both geat heat and cook, we always use axes and mauls, but and way more rare saws. A lot of axe knowledge has been lost, since 1940, where the chainsaws and machines, completely destroed the axe industry. Sooner or later, we all going to need axes. World is turning back 100 years. Keep em sharp and stay safe!

[@DGOutdoorLife]

Your right I'm no heavy user. I do collect but do use them. And for my way I like the saw more and combind with my knife I get along just fine 😉. All depends how you live and what is your purpose with the tool. But I do see your point thanks 😉

[@greekveteran2715]

@@DGOutdoorLife Sure! For hiking in the outdoors a knife and a saw is enough! We all use chainsaws knowdays, instead of axes too, which puts one more point to your gear choice. Axes are getting lower and lower in numbers, as years pass and technology advances. Let's hope we won't have to go back to hand tools, becasue what I see happening around the world lately, shows, that we are not too far, from going back 100 years, where we only used hand tools. Forgive me for my last comment, it wasn't as kind as it should be. Take cere!

[@DGOutdoorLife]

@@greekveteran2715 no problems i didn't take it bad . You got good points in watt you say and I do and understand. Tanks for taking your time to commenting 👍

[@bushcraftjoe1]

Great video and topic. Like you i like both . For me, it depends on what task i plan to do. I subscribed. Becky from Girl Outdoors gave you a shout out.

[@DGOutdoorLife]

Thanks man. Yes it all depends but for me 97% of the time I go for my Silky 😉. Oh nice to get a shout out from Becky. I'll check your channel out to 😉

[@JCRascal14]

I feel like axes are also easier to maintain and sharpen, but also they specialize at different things.

[@jacobpetersen5662]

Saw is better. The cut is ready for splitting right away with no extra processing needed and you also waste less wood. And it takes less energy too.

[@DGOutdoorLife]

Yes I love my Silky saw 😉

[@jeremyc4893]

But you still need the axe for splitting.

[@clarky4492]

I carry a laplander. And hultafors and knives so I love them all. Axes and tomahawks are harder wearing. Silky are too pricey. You may aswell have a folding bow saw over folding

[@chazlyle41]

I got my Silky Ultra Accel Curved for $41 and my Agawa Canyon Boreal 21 for $64. So less than a typical knife for both, and you only need one, and there are cheaper ones ha.

[@clarky4492]

Nice tips for the cross action saw use cant say ive seen that. Very smart

[@QringeQueens]

1, those are not material wasted. The wood chips are health for the forest, so it's a good thing; 2, you swing like a little girl, of course, it would be less efficient. The axe is very nice if you know how to use it, and this is more true for harder wood; 3, your knife looks brand new, and it has been carried everywhere? Sad that it didn't have any chance in real action;

[@coolstar2398]

Why not use the axe on the ground instead of a root? It stops the log from jumping and stops any other direction of travel and would mean you can extend your arm fitter to carry more angular momentum with each strike. You also seem to be aiming for the cutting area instead of aiming for just beneath the cut.

[@codyrivenburgh7645]

I prefer the axe over the saw....i perfer to use an axe as an axe and refuse to pretend my knife is a axe and baton it for no reason.........also u can't carve with a saw.....I can do alot of easy bulk wood removal with a smaller axe and then finish work with my knife.........an axe can be used to chop trees down cut into logs and split logs into fire wood or even boards....and has a pole to drive tent stakes or other things and crush things like a hammer.......where a saw just cuts trees down and cuts into logs and then u have to abuse your knife for every other cutting and splitting task an axe is way more suitable for.....that's just my reasoning for the axe over the saw in my own bushcraft,camping and day to day life

[@olympic-gradelurker]

I prefer my silky pocket boy saw. Too much strength and skill required for an ax and also you get a handy pile of saw dust for tinder

[@crs_believer]

Saw is better than axe as it's lighter weight and smooth cut

[@ALoonwolf]

If you're talking about only carrying one heavy duty tool then the multi-purpose tool is obviously the best choice, that can do different things. But if you're talking about a dedicated single use tool only then the choice between axe or saw is NEITHER. Instead I choose PICKAXE. Your axe can dull or break, as can your saw, but the pickaxe can smash into solid rock and it's fine. It's nowhere near as dangerous to use as the axe or saw (except it can be a lethal weapon and will even penetrate basic armour that might stop an axe) and it will completely demolish virtually anything it hits with very little swing required - thus allowing more accuracy. It can deeply penetrate the hardest wood and then lever it apart like a crowbar, it can dig the hardest rockiest soil, and it can also be used as a climbing pickaxe among other things. PICKAXE all the way.

[@birdbrainsolutions6112]

Well said, thank you for the comment. Any lightweight strong pickaxe you recommend?

[@melc8049]

I find that you tend to dig more than hammer. So I agree with pickaxe. Plus axe over saw for several reasons. Easier to maintain, more versatile, and mostly the work is done by the tool. If you had to choose between swinging an axe all day or sawing, I’d choose swinging the axe. Hell, I’d always choose my circular saw over any handsaw for the majority of my carpentry projects. I’d dread having to hand saw anything.

[@fathersonsurvival]

Saws are king

[@truthseeker3404]

A good skilled bushcrafter would take a saw and make a stone axe in the field.