Silky419-42 Professional SUGOWAZA Saw 420mm XL Teeth

Thanks to other reviewers - I purchased the Sugowaza after reading your reviews. I have had Silky pole saws for years and they have held up very well. I live on 250 acres of woodlands and have cleared many miles of fence lines by using chainsaws, axes, and machetes. I wanted to start using a handsaw for maintaining and making new bike trails and not leave sharp points and limb stubs which can be a hazard to riding. This is a great saw: the blade in just right thickness to make you feel confident it won’t break or bend too much: the cross guards protects my hand from thorny vines when clearing in thick undergrowth: the length is great, long strokes zip through the wood, plus I can snag limbs that have fallen in to the creek or simply drag debris from trail without bending over: the handle and shape is well made and I have complete control when my hand is sweaty: I use it to cut brush and small trees even with the ground and not leave sharp points like an axe or machete. First time I took this saw to work on trail I was just using to flush cut limbs only. I normally use an axe to chop brush and small trees below the ground level to prevent ‘spikes’ and it takes a few chops to get the roots. I experimented with the saw and it was a lot quicker and less work. The narrow bade works well in tight spaces and cuts flat to the ground. I now leave the axe at the house. The machete is still needed for vines and small stuff.

I love this saw. I wanted a replacement for the cheap folding pruning saws I've used in the past and this fit the bill perfectly. My primary use is clearing brush and honeysuckle, as well as cutting smaller branches of trees for kindling or furniture. This saw cuts through trees like butter. This is a pull saw, and if you keep that in mind when you are cutting, it requires very little effort to use. Branches or trees that are around 1"-2" thick can be cut with only 3 or 4 pulls of this saw and it makes incredibly clean cuts. The thickest log I've cut with it was about 7" in diameter, and it only took a minute or two (I wouldn't recommend using it for logs that big. Use a chainsaw instead). It seems best suited for wood that is less than 6" in diameter but greater than 1". Anything less than that and I grab the lopers instead. This has a permanent place in my tool bucket next to my lopers, my hand axe, and my machete. It is lightweight, feels good in either hand, and is very easy to use. I like the handle and it is easy to grip with bare hands or gloves. The hand guard is useful when making larger cuts. At 16", the Sugowaza is pretty long, which enables you to make much deeper cuts with each pull and therefore fewer cuts overall. This is definitely an arborist's tool and I could see it being very useful trimming higher tree branches without bringing a heavy chainsaw up with you. That being said, if I wanted a saw like this for backpacking or camping, I might consider looking into the Zubat instead because of the shorter blade and lighter weight.

sharp blade, uncomfortable handle. handle needs a wrap to avoid wearing through your hand quickly, or at least wear moleskin on hand and thumb in addition to good gloves. But the saw goes through 9 inch diameter wood.update: with heavy gloves and moleskin on thumb and hand, every time I use it, this is an excellent effective saw for large wood. I have sawed at least a cord of wood from downed trees. But don't use it without the protective moleskin or you will have a raw hand fairly soon.edit: after about two years I have gone through 5 or 6 of these blades. The replacement I bought two months ago is already getting dull and I need a new one. At the increased price, over $60 with shpg, these are rather overpriced at that rate of use. People who say they expect them to last a long time may be occasional users. I use mine regularly and go through several blades per year. There is no other substitute though short of a chain saw. But I have probably spent as much on blades as a chain saw might cost.edit: after 6 years, all comments above are true, but I value this blade more than ever. I am still using them, albeit with regular replacements, but have sawed many cords (over a dozen or two) and nothing works like this saw. I just bought another one last week.edit: (2 months later) the most recent one, the most expensive yet, over $100, has already had three teeth break off with less than normal use, and the nut holding on the handle appears cheaper in quality. In years of hard use some teeth did break off the smaller lighter zubat saw, but never before on the "heavier" duty sugowaza. And this one is the supposedly heavier duty sugowaza model, marked "professional", not the lighter sugowaza they say should be sold only in Japan. The blade still looks almost the same thickness but the steel looks a little different, so maybe is cheaper quality. At this price, I can no longer recommend this in comparison to a battery chain saw, except for greater safety and lighter weight.By the way, I wear out a lot more blades than average it seems, but I have used mine for years to cut down and then cut up, hardwood trees (maple, madrona) 20-30 feet high and 16 inches in diameter.

Worth the money

Absolutely excellent. I just used it today to get through some 5 inch limbs which blew down over winter. Straight out of the box it cut effortlessly through branches of various thicknesses. I watched a few videos first and heard folks say let the saw do the work. Many videos show guys rushing through the stroke - not needed. Just let gravity drop the blade into place, and enjoy the saw. At one point I was up in a tree having to cut a 3 inch limb which got stuck three meters above the ground. One handed and without bracing the branch it just chewed through it - no bending blade - no stickiness. It's expensive but I tend to buy once and hope to buy for life. Given I cut up the wood in the time it would take to go out and buy the stuff - it's already paid part of itself off. By the end of the spring it will. No chainsaw noise, no petrol smell, just the smell of wood and earth. Buy it and enjoy it.

Amazing tool. I shall be investing in a long handled one dir next season

Great item and quick delivery

Bought this after talking to the local tree felling guy, rips through green wood in no time. Have even used it in place of the chain saw on some 6-8" branches when cutting up branches for fire wood

For a climbing arborist quite frankly there isn't a better saw. Makes pruning an absolute breeze. I've owned many silky saws over the years, mainly zubats, but have probably used them all at some point. The sugowaza is the best of the bunch. Much better grip and the addition of a guard above the handle to stop you smashing your knuckles to pieces make this saw perfect in my opinion.I've gone days without having to start a chainsaw thanks to this saw.If you're a climbing arborist.... You need this saw.