Bahco Laplander folding saw review: the bushcraft standard
Ask a hundred bushcrafters which folding saw lives in their pack and most give the same answer: the Bahco Laplander. It is the one that turned a lot of people off carrying a hatchet, because a 7-ounce folding saw that cuts this well is safer and does more of the job. If you want the folding saw the woods community treats as the default, this is it. (See where it fits in our camp saw guide.)
The verdict
The bushcraft-standard folding saw, and our overall pick for most people. The Laplander pairs a 7.5-inch, 7-TPI blade that cuts green wood, dry wood, and even bone with a rust-protected coating and a lock that holds the blade both open and closed. It weighs almost nothing, costs little, and cuts wildly above its size. Backed by thousands of glowing owner reviews, it is the folding saw we would hand almost anyone heading into the woods.
What it does
The Bahco 396-LAP Laplander is a 7.5-inch (190 mm) folding saw with a coarse 7-TPI blade designed to rip through green and dry wood, plastic, and bone. The teeth are hardened and set for a fast, self-clearing cut on the pull stroke, and a low-friction coating keeps sap from gumming and rust from forming. The handle is a comfortable two-material grip, and a sturdy catch locks the blade securely in the open position for cutting and the closed position for safe carry — a detail owners single out, because a folding saw that can rattle open in a pack is a hazard. At about 6.6 ounces it disappears into a jacket pocket. In the field it bucks firewood, cuts notches and poles for a shelter, clears trail deadfall, and preps a fire — the everyday wood work a knife does slowly and an axe does dangerously.
What verified buyers say
With well over five thousand verified ratings and a 4.8-star average, the Laplander has one of the most loyal followings of any camp tool. Owners — bushcrafters, campers, arborists, trail crews — converge on a clear picture:
- Cuts far beyond its size. The recurring theme: this little saw powers through wood far thicker than you would expect, fast and cleanly.
- The lock is the killer feature. Buyers repeatedly praise that it locks open and closed — safe to carry, solid to cut with, no wobble.
- Tough and low-maintenance. The coated blade shrugs off sap and resists rust; owners report years of hard use on one blade.
- The one people keep recommending. A huge share of reviews are from repeat buyers and gift-givers who call it the folding saw they trust over pricier options.
Worth knowing
Two honest notes. Replacement blades are not as cheap or easy to find as the saw itself, so most people simply run one blade for years (it lasts) or buy a whole new saw when it finally dulls — the teeth are hardpoint and are not meant to be filed. And because the Laplander is so popular, counterfeits and worn resold units turn up; buy from a reputable seller to get the genuine Swedish-made article. The handle is plastic rather than anything fancy, but it is durable and grips well wet. None of this dents the core truth: for the money, nothing in the folding-saw world is more trusted.
Who it is for
This is for almost everyone — the hiker, bushcrafter, hunter, or camper who wants one folding saw that does the job for years without fuss. It is the sweet spot between the budget Corona RazorTOOTH (cheaper, fine for occasional use) and the big-wood Agawa BOREAL21 bucksaw (for processing serious volume at a basecamp). Pair it with a good knife for splitting and you can handle nearly all camp firewood without ever carrying an axe.
Specs at a glance
Blade: 7.5″ (190 mm), 7 TPI · Cuts wood, plastic, bone · Rust-protected coating · Locks open & closed · Weight: ~6.6 oz · Best for: all-round backcountry wood work
The Verdict
The Bahco Laplander is the folding saw we recommend first: featherlight, inexpensive, rust-resistant, locking open and closed, and able to cut wood far above its size — the reason so many people leave the hatchet at home. Run it with a knife for splitting and it covers nearly all camp firewood. Want cheaper for occasional use? The Corona RazorTOOTH. Processing a real woodpile? The Agawa BOREAL21 bucksaw.
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