Handtools for Trail Work

Tools for Sawing, Continued

Pruning Saws

Pruning saws are useful for limbing, some brushing, and removing small downfall, especially where space is limited and cutting is difficult. The triangular handle design limits cutting depth, however. Blades vary from 10 to 36 inches, and saws weigh from ¾ to 2½ pounds.

Photo of a man using a pruning saw to clear some branches.
Pruning saws used in trail clearing
quickly limb small branches.

Folding pruning saws are also handy. Some triangular saws collapse for carrying; other folding saws have a curved blade with teeth on the underside attached to a short handle by a bolt and wing nut. The bolt and nut lock the blade open for use and closed for carrying, like a pocket knife. These blades may be sharpened with a 6-inch cant saw file. Blades are also easy and inexpensive to replace. Check the bolt often for tightness. Carry replacement parts.

Image of a folding pruning saw.

Smokejumpers use folding saws to retrieve parachutes and other equipment from trees or bushes.

Pruning saws should be used, maintained, and carried like bow saws.

Pruning saws used in trail clearing quickly limb small branches.

Examples:

Image of a Tuttle tooth pruner.
The Tuttle tooth pruner is a handy all-purpose saw
for general pruning requirements. The teeth are
designed for fast cutting of large limbs and firewood.
The 21-inch blade is 4 7/8 inches wide at the butt,
and 1 1/8 inches wide at the point. Weight is 1¼ pounds.

Image of a Meylan pruning saw.
The Meylan pruning saw combines a curved ax handle
and a curved saw blade that enables a sawyer of average
height standing on the ground to prune nearly 10 feet high.
The handle is 36 inches long and the blade is 16 inches long.
Weight is 2½ pounds.

Image of a double-edge pruner.
The double-edge pruner has fine teeth on one edge for light trimming,
and lightning teeth on the other edge for heavier jobs. The blade
is 2½ inches wide at the handle, and 29/32 inch at the point.
The fine edge has eight points per inch, and the other edge
is 1 1/32-inch pitch lightning teeth. Weight is about 1 pound.

Image of a curved pruner.
The curved pruner is an excellent general-purpose pruner for
fast cutting of small limbs. It has an easy-to-grip, knife- type wood
handle, and is trimmed with nickeled screws. The 14-inch blade has
seven reverse-rip points per inch and is 1½ inches wide at the handle,
and 9/16 inch wide at the point. Weight is ½ pound.

Image of a Bartlett special utility saw.
The Bartlett special utility saw has a 24-inch diamond-tooth
pattern blade (four points per inch). Weight is 1½ pounds.

Image of a professional tree-pruning saw.
The professional tree-pruning saw (heavy-duty) has extra-large
teeth and gullets for speed cutting of large limbs. The concave cutting
edge is precision set and beveled-filed, and cuts fast on the pull stroke.
The blade is flat-ground, 26 inches long, 3 5/16 inches wide at the butt,
and 1 13/32 inches at the point. Weight is 1½ pounds.

Image of a Skodco pruning saw.
The Skodco pruning saw has a 24-inch blade with special baked-on
blued finish and straight-toothed edge for cutting on the pull stroke.
The extra large hand hole enables easy use while wearing gloves. The blade
is 3 9/16 inches wide at the butt, 1 3/8 inches at the point, and has
4½ points per inch. Weight is 1¾ pounds.

Image of a folding pruning saw.
The folding pruner has a 10-inch curved blade with a sure-grip wood handle
that folds to protect the cutting edge. The blade has 6½ cross-cut points
per inch, and is 1 15/16 inches wide at the butt, and ½ inch at the point. Weight is ¾ pound.