At Frontier Bushcraft we are very lucky to have a talented team of people with a diverse range of skills.
As a team we have an ethos of rising to a challenge and finding a solution from within. Rather than reaching for a wallet or phoning a friend, we first work out what we can do ourselves. This is a group mindset that comes from working closely together in the field without outside assistance.
As a team we also identify and recognise people’s strengths.
So, when it came to needing some folding bucksaws for Frontier expeditions, such as the French River or the Bloodvein, we looked to the talent within the team to come up with the goods.
And come up with the goods they did.
Folding Bucksaws
The bucksaw, with its blade tensioned by a windlass is a very old design of saw, often seen in museums.
You can see one at work in the latter part of this great old Swedish woodworking film. The saw features from around 12:00 onwards.
In-House Woodworking Skills
Henry is a talented woodworker and, amongst other things, has worked as an architectural model maker. Henry set to work on producing four beech-framed folding bucksaws.
Below are the fruits of his labour:
Canvas and Leather Slip Cases
Chris loves making his own outdoor equipment and particularly enjoys canvas and leatherwork. He has a vintage sewing machine that he works with.
It was to Chris we looked to make some cases for the saws.
Ready To Go (and For You To Use)
Henry has just delivered the saws to Frontier HQ and they look and feel great.
They are ready for deployment on our wilderness expeditions and we hope that if you join us on one of these trips, you’ll enjoy using these great tools as much as we will.
Want to Make Your Own Folding Bucksaw?
Back in 2011, Henry wrote a tutorial on how to make these folding bucksaws. You can find it on my personal blog:
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Austin Lill
I’m currently making one to Henry’s sizings from his ‘How to’ blog entry…it will hopefully work but it won’t be a pretty boy one like his! Perhaps he could blog how to make a rough and ready one in the field (with the v shape support?) to help us mortals not feel so bad 😀
Paul Kirtley
Hi Austin,
We can certainly do this. It would be taking after Mors Kochanski’s design (which is the one I think you are referring to) but it’s not difficult to construct and makes good use of the jam knot too.
It’ll still look pretty though 🙂
WoodsmokeBob
Good work! looks just like one i made last year (although mine was made from American Oak) Even same canvas for the cases! All the Best. Bob.
Paul Kirtley
Hi Bob,
Yes, it’s a venerable yet timeless design. I’m sure we’ll be using these for years to come. I bet the oak looks lovely…
All the best,
Paul
Henry
Hi Austin,
Good to hear you are making a buck saw. As I mentioned in the “How to make a folding bucksaw” article the most simple field version is a heat bent hazel branch, curved to shape with a saw blade fitted in the ends. Never the less I am planning to make a prototype of a field version and will blog about the results.
Cheers Henry
Paul Adamson
Great combination of skills and a really nice product. I’m sure they will perform well.
Paul Kirtley
Hi Paul, good to hear from you. We’ll let you know how we get on with them.
All the best,
Paul
Jon Bishop
Hello, I am interested in purchasing one of your folding buck saws. Do you have them for sale? Thanks, Jon
Paul Kirtley
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your message and your interest in the bucksaws. The saws featured in this article were made by Henry Landon, one of our instructional team, for use by our instructors and clients on Frontier Bushcraft courses and expeditions.
If you’d like to make your own saw, Henry wrote a great tutorial as a guest article over on my blog here:
https://paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/how-to-make-folding-bucksaw/
I hope this helps.
Warm regards,
Paul
Jake Rowland
Hi Paul,
Last year I made a folding bucksaw using Henry’s fantastic tutorial article on your blog. I am now hoping to make a case for the saw and was wondering if you would be able to let me know the dimensions of the cases your team made to provide me with a starting point?
Best Wishes
Jake
Paul Kirtley
Hi Jake they are about 10 cm longer than the folded saw itself.
Warm regards,
Paul
tim fusilier
can I buy 1 in the us and where?