2023 test17 productsHand Tools
Which Folding Hand Saws Brand Wins?
We compared 17 folding hand saws options head to head. Corona came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Corona
Price shown in test: $17
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Runner-up
Samurai
Price shown in test: $24
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Budget pick
Corona
Price shown in test: $17
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Weight | Initial Sharpness Score | Softwood Dowel Strokes | Hardwood Strokes | Cutting Speed 2x 4 | Edge Retention Retest Strokes | Overall Average Finish | Blade Thickness | Blade Bend | Lock Strength Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Corona$17 | 196 g | 255, second sharpest of all saws tested initially, lower is sharper | 2 passes, best result of all saws tested | 11 passes, best result of all saws tested | 4.8 seconds, third fastest | 2.7 passes, best result of all saws tested after 100 passes through cured hardwood | best average finish of all saws tested, described as second place | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 2Samurai$24 | 234 g | 230, sharpest of all saws tested initially | 4 passes | 16 passes, third place | 3.28 seconds, fastest of all saws tested | 3.2 passes, third place | second best average finish at 2.2 | 0.87 mm | not tested | not tested |
| 3Fujiwara$12 | 216 g | 335, fifth sharpest of all saws tested initially | 2.2 passes, best result at the time it was tested | 14 passes, second place | 3.44 seconds, second fastest | 3.1 passes, second place | third best average finish at 2.6 | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 4Gerber$25 | 154 g, lightest of all saws tested | 320, fourth sharpest of all saws tested initially | 2.2 passes, tied for second best at the time it was tested | 20 passes, fourth place | 5.1 seconds | 4.4 passes in one mention and 4.2 in the video's final summary of this test, fourth place | fourth place overall | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 5Kakuri Gikoh$25 | 220 g | 270, third sharpest of all saws tested initially | 8 passes | 33 passes | 4.08 seconds, fast but with some blade deflection | 7 passes, improved from new | not tested | 0.6 mm, extremely thin and wobbly | not tested | not tested |
| 6Silky Pocket Boy$43 | 224 g | 375, similar to Gerber | 4.5 passes | 24 passes | 4.1 seconds | 7.2 passes, lost ground from 4.5 when new | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 7Workpro$15 | 170 g, lightest of all saws at the time it was tested | 555 | 6.2 passes | 28 passes | 6.5 seconds | 6 passes | not tested | not tested | 1.25 in of lateral sag under 2.5 lb, tied with Flora Guard for stiffest blade of all saws tested | not tested |
| 8Ginword$12 | 332 g | 595, second sharpest at the time it was tested | 11.5 passes | 48 passes | 7.3 seconds | 11 passes, slightly better than new | not tested | 0.88 mm | not tested | not tested |
| 9Gruntek$17 | 226 g | 820 | 7 passes | 47 passes | 7.2 seconds | 7.2 passes | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 10Bahco$30 | 188 g | 1,490, second dullest of all saws tested initially | 9 passes | 33 passes | 6.8 seconds | 7 passes, improved as the coating wore away | not tested | not tested | 1.4 in of lateral sag under 2.5 lb, tied with Kershaw | not tested |
| 11Kershaw$34 | 224 g | 590 | 10 passes | 57 passes | 7.6 seconds | 13 passes, lost ground from 10 when new | not tested | 0.8 mm | 1.4 in of lateral sag under 2.5 lb, tied with Bahco | not tested |
| 12One Stop Gardens$6 | 198 g | 475 | 8.5 passes | 123 passes | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 13Amazon Basics | 258 g | 915 | 14.5 passes | 144 passes | very close to 10 seconds | 15 passes, almost the same as new | not tested | not tested | not tested | struggled, the only saw of all those tested that had trouble holding its blade lock under 10 lb of force |
| 14Flora Guard$10 | 218 g | 845 | 15 passes | 212 passes, worst result of all saws tested | 15.7 seconds | 14 passes, slightly better than new | not tested | not tested | 1.25 in of lateral sag under 2.5 lb, tied with Workpro for stiffest blade of all saws tested | not tested |
| 15Mossy Oak 3 in 1$18 | 266 g | 1,000, tied with SOG for dullest at the time it was tested | 15 passes | 79 passes | 9.4 seconds | 16 passes | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 16SOG$18 | 266 g | 1,000, tied with Mossy Oak for dullest at the time it was tested | 18 passes | 110 passes | 8.6 seconds | 16 passes, slight improvement from 18 when new | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 17Ever Saw$18 | 292 g | 1,835, dullest of all saws tested initially | 32 passes, worst result of all saws tested | 62 passes | 9.6 seconds | 14 passes, the largest improvement from new of any saw tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
How it was tested
- initial blade edge sharpness measured with a sharpness tester
- tooth geometry and blade tip cutting speed on a 3/4 in softwood dowel using a weighted tester
- cutting speed through green hedge apple hardwood using the weighted tester
- unscientific cutting speed test through a 2x4 without the tester
- blade edge retention retest on the softwood dowel after 100 passes through cured hedge apple hardwood
- blade lateral bend and stiffness under 2.5 lb of tip weight
- blade thickness measurement
- blade lock strength under 10 lb of force
“the Corona came out on top in the showdown with an average finish of second place... I really like these showdowns when the affordable products outperform the more expensive brands and that's exactly what the Corona did in this showdown. It's a very good handsaw and would definitely be my choice if the price was right.”