KAKUGEN JAPAN Natural wood handle folding saw Japan made lightweight knife-edge teeth

A light duty pruning saw, with medium fine teeth, this works well for removing small branches from trees. This saw is super lightweight at 99 grams (3.5oz), but it is definitely for pruning, and not suitable for limbing out a tree. Use care in pushing the saw, as the blade is flexible, and will kink near the handle if forced. I will probably pack this in a mountain bike bag to take down small limbs across trails.The blade is made from 0.7mm steel, much thinner than any other saw I own. My corona saw shown is 1.4mm. This makes it very flexible, which can also make it prone to damage if not careful. The tooth pattern is standard, alternating grind, with 12 teeth per inch. The teeth are straight across, so the saw is not aggresive, which is better for fine tasks. There was some flashing, or burrs, left over from the grind process, but those stuffed off in the first use. This saw is very sharp.I used it to trim some lower branches from alder saplings, it cut through 1 inch caliper limbs in 10-12 passes. My 8tpi corona saw would cut the same branch in 6-8 passes, but he kakugen required very little force downward, and only half of the pulling force, likely due to the super thin kerf.My only complaint is the saw does not lock closed, and there is no adjustment at the hinge, besides smashing the rivet closed.This is a marginal deal for 35 bucks, the construction doesn't exude fine Japanese craftsmanship, but it works well. For a few bucks more, I would take a look at a Silky gomboy, which is more robust, and comes with a case. The coarser tooth pattern and thicker blade would be better suited to limbing out a tree or cutting a log across a trail, just in case.

While the handle on this felt a little unfinished, having a small compact saw around for quick DIY tasks is no bad idea. I really enjoy being able to fold this up like any pocket knife to safely store it in a drawer or cupboard, but still knock out a simple wooden project if I need to.This is *sharp as heck* and it doesn’t work quite like Western saws. You’re cutting on the pull stroke, not the push, and that takes a little extra care and concentration if you’re not used to it. Think of it the way you would using a santoku knife. It means you’ll do much less beating down, and you need to trust the blade more than your own weight.This is a tool I plan to keep around for craft dioramas, and it should suit my less-than-carpenter’s hands fine for that sort of light work.

I like Japanese handsaws, especially those that are actually made in Japan like this one. This saw would be fine for basic cut-off tasks, but probably isn't the best choice for finer work, it's teeth are a bit too big for that. Beyond the workshop it would do very well if used for pruning branches up to several inches. It has a couple notable features that are worth mentioning as well. The first is that the blade folds away safely into the handle, thus becoming a pretty compact saw that would easily fit in a toolbox, pouch or back pocket - most Japanese pull saws do not. Of additional benefit is that the teeth are protected from damage when the blade is stored. The second thoughtful feature is that the blade locks rigidly into place when in use and cannot accidentally close when unintended. This is great safety feature because the teeth are very sharp. I think most who occasionally might consider reaching for a handsaw instead of a powersaw would find this to be a useful alternative they would soon come to appreciate. Some of the best tools work just fine without batteries or cords and this is one of those.

It's no secret that I love Japanese saws. They cut on the pull-stroke, unlike Western saws that cut on the push-stroke, which allows for a much thinner blade with better control, smaller kerf, and finer work. With that out of the way, the Kakugen 210mm (8.25") folding saw is everything you would want in a Japanese saw, but with a folding blade. The handle is hardwood and fits well in the hand. The pin is brass, and the locking blade and handle is all steel. Not the cast metal I have found on other "Japanese Style" saws that don't identify their place of manufacture.That brings me to my next point, as is usual with products made in Japan, the Kakugen saw proudly proclaims its country of origin. I gave it to the Japanese wife to look at and she said it is like the saws her father used as a carpenter in Japan.Now for the minor downside. ALL the writing, with the exception of "Made In Japan" on the packaging, is in Japanese (Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana). I am many years removed from my college Japanese but I have the Japanese wife to fall back on. That being said, there is a diagram on the back of the packaging and . . . it is a saw, and it works in a manner similar to every other saw.If you are looking for a small saw that is super light and crazy sharp, the Kakugen 210mm folding pull saw would be a great addition to your toolbox.