Are you talking about one tool survival option? If so, then it really show your lack of experience. An axe can do far more task than just chop down a tree. Let's see you split those logs and make feather sticks with just a saw. With an axe you can make a proper bow drill or other fire starting methods. If you try do that with only a saw, you will quickly find how useless it becomes. Also with an axe, you can make traps and process the animals that you catch. Again, if you are talking about one tool option, a saw will lose badly to an axe and that's why you don't see siberian hunters carry saws, they carry axe/hatchets as their main survival tool. As someone from Russia you should know this. Watch this video and see how well these true woodsmen use an axe to survive in Taiga. kzread.info/dash/bejne/mJacsquEXdKopqQ.html

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Lack of experience :) Generally splitting logs is not needed, nor is feather sticks. I would think many of my videos shows this very clearly. The trappers use their axes as tools, not for "survival". The axe is needed to make traps and so forth. Also they ride snow mobiles where weight is not an issue. The trapper have cabins. Many cabins, and they are not as such in a "Survival" situation. They spend a lot of time stocking up on wood and so forth. However I am sure a trapper would do fine with a axe as a Survival tool. My points were about what to carry when away from camp in a light survival kit. With a backpack on deep snow, weight matters! By survival kit I do not mean the small ridiculous Altoids tins. A good saw, like the ones I am using, will provide a long lasting fire very fast and calorie efficient. I have made a lot of fires on videos without splitting wood and batoning. My saw is one of my most important tools. I'm in the forest almost everyday. I basically live in the middle of a huge forest. I know what matters.

@walden6272

7 жыл бұрын

Hence why I ask if you are talking about a one tool survival item which would you agree a saw would not be sufficient in comparison to an axe, yes? The skillset those trappers display are the same skillset that are used to survive those lands for generations. Before snowmobile they used dogs and sleds. The cabins can be build with their axe and as you can see they use their hatchet very effectively in setting traps, which is crucial for survival. If you can't feed yourself, you aren't surviving. And if you talking about a kit full of stuff in a backpack, you are not talking about a survival situation, you're talking about a camping situation no? Survival situation is a scenario where your canoe flip over or you wander away from your campsite and left with what's on your possession, which is usually a knife or a hatchet on your side. If you have all your backpack full of food and camping gears, you're not in a survival situation but a camping situation. It's ironic that you say these trappers are not in survival situation because they came prepare for the trapping seasons but likewise you talking about camping out with backpack full of gears and food and call it survival.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

You can make a log cabin with a saw too. However, they do use chainsaws to make the cabins. The Kolyomka traps they make is a fur trap, not a meat trap. I can make bird traps with a Swiss Army knife, no problem. I don't want be rude, but there are some things you certainly do not understand friend :) Of course the trappers are not in a "Survival" situation, but they could easily end up in one. They walk a thin line all winter. If a snow mobile breaks down, it's a serious matter. A Survival/Emergency situation is when you loose your bearings, vehicle or sled breaks down, those kind of things. What makes a big difference is how prepared you are. So, if you go canoeing in a way you describe, you are not very experienced. If you break camp and go hunting in unfamiliar territory with only your knife and firearm.. Not very smart. Being stuck deep in the forest with some dry foods and a little gear is certainly not a camping scenario.

@walden6272

7 жыл бұрын

That's essentially my point, in a survival situation every tool is crucial. But between a saw and axe, you'll have a better chance of with an axe if it was coming down with just one tool. A saw and axe compliment each other, so it's wise to bring both. I use both. But you're advocating leaving behind the axe and I'm saying it will be a big mistake as an axe is a very versatile tool and a backup cutting blade if you happen to lose your knife, your saw is a complimentary too but it doesn't cut like a blade. Having the axe, knife, and saw with you will be better prepare for an survival situation than just having a saw and knife. There is a reason why an axe is still carried and used by people who lives the old way. It has been time tested. I would not toss aside the wisdom of these people just to save a couple of pounds, esp if you're life is on the line.

@alexshield7532

7 жыл бұрын

oh pls stop it with your tv survival mentality. one tool, survival kit, etc trappers are WORKING in the wild they have their equipment together and are in no way in a survival situation. i think survival russia showed detailed how he comes to the conclusion that the axe is in many situations inferior to the saw. you have to know for yourself in what situations you can get and what you may need. but nobody runs naked thru the woods with only an axe because if not somebody stole your pants you would have your beltknife, yes? wanna see somebody loose that but hold onto an axe?! lol stay in reality

Lars, your wisdom from experience is worth more that all the arm chair "experts" on KZread combined!! I look forward to the trolls who will say you are wrong, LOL.

@stillnocouch

7 жыл бұрын

Wonderfully put, Steven ! I would call this one this one a 'Popcorn & Lawn Chair Moment' ... ... let's just have a seat, enjoy some popcorn and watch the Trolls emerge. LOL

@Shooter11B

7 жыл бұрын

Love it! See Livinghistoryschool below, Troll number 1!

@OregonMike

7 жыл бұрын

+Steven “Shooter11b” Szabo actually living history school, like Lars is also quite knowledgeable.

@Shooter11B

7 жыл бұрын

I have no doubt about that at all. What I reacted to was his tone and delivery. It is one thing to share knowledge, it is another to pontificate as if you were the know all end all expert on the chosen topic. And then to dismiss someone else's VALID opinion or observation out of hand due to your supposed "superior knowledge" base. My observation.

@Phatzoot

4 жыл бұрын

it annoys me lol

That's why I love your channel, NO BS involved! A straight shooter!

Indeed the saw is much safer and you burn less calories both in carrying it and in using it. Great demonstration Lars! You're the real deal! >;)

to cold for me, ive got a lot of respect for you being out in that temperature. thankyou Survival Russia

As a northerner I agree completely, and from my research, so does the great Mors Kochanski, thanks for your efforts.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) I did not knew Mors was a saw guy :)

I just bought the Silky Big Boy and was explaining to my wife why it was so valuable just earlier today. The Calorie savings alone from using a nice saw compared to using an axe to cut down a tree make them extremely valuable. Using the saw would not only save you calories of work, and therefore food, but also time that you can use for other more important things then chopping wood.

Always a pleasure to see that the man go in the wild to share with us is observation and tips, even if the weather is extreme. No fuss no muss, only the real things without bs, and whit memorable and funny quotes «I'm dry like a bone». Thanks man.

It's a no brainer Lars. Keep an axe in the back of the wagon for bush camps and processing/splitting logs into quarters, the rest, go with the saw mate. Light, efficient, easy and saves calories. Spot on. Cheers Moose

I laughed until I cried at 6:00!! It would be fun as hell to hang out with this guy!

I've been using my Silky saws to harvest chaga to avoid losing bits to breakage. Once you know chaga it is easily identified but for beginners: if it smells like a mushroom it is a fungus not chaga. Chaga has almost no odor on either the black or cut parts.

Love that frosty moustache!! Great video!!

Man, that one time i got frozen out of my car in Northern Sweden in -28 C... was about 700 meters up in the mountains. I now keep a candle and matches in the car to keep me warm in such situations. Even the gearbox was frozen solid, but when i finally got the car working (battery was also dead) it got warm quickly enough.

I love the rifle just chilling in the trees.

Good video. Thank you for sharing.

The camera work is truly amazing, in very difficult conditions the quality of the video and even the layout is brilliant. On a different note, in most boreal forests the spruce usually appear taller than the birch/aspen, in Lars area the aspen and birch look taller than the spruce....

The moustache is awesome..

Great advice Lars!! Thank you!!

2:10 Jaja i love russia and his AK growing trees!

Thank you for an honest video. They are hard to come by.

the late part was the best part. seriously simple straight forward.

Great job! In fact that is something I didn't know that about Chaga in terms of harvisting...thank you! When you cut that tree with the saw..you made a "widow maker" In my world we make a "Fall Cut" first..just sayin.. Falling tree's can be tricky.. Careful ol Pard you are needed! Ha! Be well and I look more to these "Reality vids!" Nice one Lars! Stay giggly! Ross The Santa Fe Man

Clearly the saw is superior... and will not give away your position as easily.

@wesrazz5874

7 жыл бұрын

Until the saw breaks. If you break an axe handle you can keep going. I carry both always.

@mpmansell

7 жыл бұрын

A good quality saw will have a replaceable blade and those don't weigh much at all.

@OregonMike

7 жыл бұрын

I do like that a saw is much quieter than an axe or batoning. I have seen so many "stealth camping videos" where someone proceeds to baton large amount of wood.

@competenceattractsluck6997

7 жыл бұрын

Unless it's a singing saw, of course...

@cs-rj8ru

6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes in a "survival" situation giving away your position might not be a bad idea. Especially if you actually would prefer to be rescued.

I really like this video, lots of fun and good information, and funny to see you getting dusted and running for cover! We've all been there brother. Gosh dang Lars, all you do is share your experience, and SHOW us what is working for you. I really don't understand the negative comments. If I'm watching any video and it's not what I expected or agree with, I move on. I mean, how many times are you supposed to say 'I don't have anything against axes', 'if you like it and it works for you, great', 'this is what works for me', 'I'm not a guru know it all', etc etc anyway, be safe out there brother and thanks again, happy new year.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks. It's the KZread "Professors" i was talking about in the "water video". I don't get it either. I don't even click "dislike" on other peoples videos. As you say, I just move on :)

You have some awesome videos brother and lots of great info! Thanks for sharing!

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)

I'm with you Lars..when your freezing your ass off, you want to get wood fast and efficient. Nothing better for that job but a Silky in all weather conditions. Love you humor!

Thanks for shearing!

I totally agree with you Lars, I have kelp a folding saw in my pack for about 20 years now. I have seen the wounds that a misdirected axe or hatchet can inflect. The saw is lighter and much safer ! Thankyou for taking the time to share your adventures in the great outdoors of Russia ! Take care my friend.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you too Lawton!

I always love to watch his videos. There's no promo or sales pitch to them, just a guys and the wilds.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)

NOT AN EXPERT BUT I have always felt the same way. Thanks for making me feel like I am growing in my knowledge!

Thanks for being real with your audience, I appreciate it.

Awesomeness! Cheers from Serbia. Slavic Brotherhood

what a nice chunk of chaga.

From the first chop I could tell how much better the saw is than the axe. You have the best advice and tactics. I'm glad you make these videos. Thank you.

Picked up a small folding saw.....a great tool....great video...

Thank you, Sir! I like your channel. You have a totally practical view of "survival". I greatly admire you Russian folks. Thank you for your efforts.

Thanks Lars

hello Lars,I think where you live it looks like a survival challenge everyday, myself I prefer to use my Laplander saw just for the weight alone .I must say you have one of the best survival channels out there you say how it is very enjoyable and excellent advice 👍

Lars, you always show the real thing! And your homestead is beautiful!

And thank you for taking the time and effort to make the videos and share what you have learned through experience, and not through product sponsorship. :)

If its that cold out there and you are still alive after all this time... i am taking you're advise sir : )

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

It's that cold all-right. Now -33C :) Thank you!

Felling axes are romantic as hell. I think the felling saws only began to replace axes for felling trees in the late 19th century. So, we should know by now which is better, but can't beat the romanticism :-)

@christopherellis2663

7 жыл бұрын

Helsinkipop the two man saw was used before the steam powered mill cut lumber

@competenceattractsluck6997

7 жыл бұрын

_* Starts humming "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay" *_

@christopherellis2663

7 жыл бұрын

Competence Attracts Luck We used to sing that to a flatmate from BC, whenever he started telling us about when he was a lumberjack. ...

as I always say if someone has something worth saying its always worth listening. especially when they have good advice.

thank u from down under like what u do an say

I like the AK tree at 2:10.

lars i agree totally with your views and these arm chair professionals really make me laugh also

Agree. Chaga is a very useful thing. When I manage to get it in the woods, I'm glad, because it is rare for us. :)

I hang on until the very last second, Lar, because I don't want to miss anything. Living where you do is a kind of everyday survival and if anything at all, I just want to see how you cope with all that snow, freezing temperatures and of course those wolves and bears, you don't have to teach anything, just show us your way of living. I find it all not only fascinating, but very exciting too. I know what it's like living wild, but I wouldn't want anyone following in my tracks and to teach them how to do it. Living wild and surviving comes only with knowledge and experience of where one is living...one thing is sure, it's not camping out for the night then going home the next day...Take care.

I could tell it was cold as you said. I lived with my family in MN, USA, for 10 years -- the snow has that special crunch I heard under your feet when the temperature is below 0 degF. Thanks for your vids.

I learn a new thing, Chaga. We even have some Birch in Oregon and other trees on which they grow; although not with as much medicinal qualities as Birch. Good survival drink for daily use.

I agree that a saw will go through wood faster than an axe with less effort but I must say that in combination with an axe there isn't much you couldn't do in the bush with both. As for weight, I have seen people bringing everything but the kitchen sink in their packs....I say do without the bells and whistles and even by carrying an axe you can still keep your pack to around the 20 pound mark. Love your straight forward attitude and vids please keep them coming 👍

I appreciate the info you share from real world experience. Please keep sharing!

Lars as always you're keeping 100!!! Good to see you in the woods. I'm a saw guy myself. Watch out for those dam wolves!!

I'm enjoying you're videos and I'm learning new things thanks atb

Counterbalance the so called professionals? Nah...you killed them! This reality of survival concept of yours is so full of pure, useful information. When it matters this is the kind of information that you need so even though you said I dont want to be an instructor dalalalala you are one of the best instructors! haha

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)

Love your work, man. Otlchnaya rabota!

The saw is much better. Less energy is used with saw and much safer. -15C in Chicago now. Stay warm. 👍

Thank you for Your Time Lars.... Very educational once again.

Great video.! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience. I'll be changing out my kit to include a folding saw. Thank you for doing this video.

Great video, practical and useful.

Great video, thanks for making these, it looks pretty cold :D

I live in North East British Columbia, Canada and spend time in the bush hunting and our winters are like yours. I agree, saws are way better than axes for survival. Great video!

From my perspective as an armchair adventurer in the suburbs of the big city, my survival is more a question of what I can buy at the hardware store, supermarket, or (mostly) Amazon. I have accumulated a lot of crap over the years, much of it useless but fun. My reality now is that I still enjoy a fire but out in my patio fireplace. The only tools really necessary for me to allow that is an ax with about a 2 foot handle and a 2 pound head. I don't have to chop/cut down trees, and I can't really unless I want to end up in the pokey. But I can buy firewood at a few places, including a few supermarkets in the area. All I need is my light ax to split the wood up quickly into kindling. No saw required. However, I do have a couple Silky Pocketsaws and mostly use them for obtaining a variety of wood specimens for a little collection I have, and for cutting slingshots (which I enjoy making). But for my fireplace survival, the ax is the handiest and therefore is more "necessary" for me than a folding saw. I can certainly see that, for Survival Russia's purposes, a saw is the handiest/safest. I wonder if they have the expression "The proof is in the pudding" in Russia?

I love my Silky saws and I agree compleatly that a saw is better than an axe/hatchet. For a budget/cheap saw keep the Corona saw in mind, it cuts as good as the Gomboy. Or at least almost as good.

As always... very good video.

I am in total agreement with you. The saw was invented and used for efficiency and speed, The axe or hatchet still has its place for processing. I actually carry both and use both. Great video! Stay warm. Happy New Year! And God bless!!

Great video, thank you Lars

Great video, Lars! I fully agree with you, based on my own observations & experiences. Axes sure are great tools and 200 years ago were basically the only reliable tools in the US / "Wild West". Easy to make for a blacksmith & easy to maintain in the field. A modern saw does the same amount of cutting in a fraction of the time, at a small fraction of the expended energy and much much safer than an axe (even after sunset), at a fraction of the weight. Saws are more modern tools which requires a "high-tech" industry to supply them to us - while an axe has a "low-tech" background. Both have their place in this world. In my "bushcraft"-kit I carry & use a smaller pull-saw, not a hatchet/axe anymore. ATB Gereon

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

I think if the old-timers had access to today's high quality saws, they would had considered them as important than an axe.

Another great video Lars!

Thanks Lars for the saw demonstration! Silky saws are the best saw out there! Saws are a thousand times safer than an axe! Especially when it comes to Rookie Bushcrafters! Thanks for the real world videos and advice!

Another great video Lars. I as well have realized a good saw saves time and energy when you are in need of a fire, shelter and when lightening a load. My old Coughlan saw has been replaced with the Silky saw, my Sven saw comes on all my canoe trips with me. The Katana Boy 500 is like a chainsaw when you know how to stand and how to saw with it as you have described in past videos as the saws are designed to cut one way. It has warmed up from -30 and is -20c this morning and off to the tent in a few hours. Have a great weekend.

Your other videos are the reason why I went to a saw. Bought the silky and I love it. Wood around hear is pine or Oak and when you are out for a overnight you want oak. The Silky has cut down the time it takes to gather my wood and also the amount of sweat I produce. A important thing when its -14 Fahrenheit.

Lars, you are correct in your evaluation based on a real life situation that a saw is more efficient at bucking firewood and preparing limbs for shelter building. There are two factors about saws, based on my real life experience, that should be considered as deficits. Please note, I still carry a saw quite often as well as an axe (the extra saw weight makes little difference to me). 1. Saws break easily (even SILKY Saws) and go blunt easily, I have had one where the locking mechanism broke and was rendered useless. I have a SOG Saw that is blunt after a little use (not able to sharpen this in the field). 2. Saw teeth..various sizes and pitch of teeth are not suitable for all varieties of wood, I have a Fiskars saw that chokes up on sawdust and resin too easily, (not easy to rectify in a real life situation). Axes, I have never broken one in a real life situation, although slower in bucking logs, I can perform a variety of other useful tasks with an axe that I cannot perform with a saw. In most situations I do not need to buck larger trees as they will go straight into the fire and be fed in as they burn. Thanks for opening up this discussion, good health, Chris

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

The weak point of a saw is that it can bend or brake. However, I have never broken a Silky saw, but I also use my saws a lot so I am in good practice. Silky saws are made for professional gardeners/arborists and certainly does not blunt easily as you write :) My first Pocketboy 170 is still sharp and it must have been cutting a ton of wood. It's not as sharp as when new, but it still cuts well. A guy sent me a SOG saw. Man.. Absolutely useless. I much prefer good saws, but I have an axe at the hunting cabin :)

Instead of a folding saw i prefer to carry a MFH Foldable Outdoorsaw. Its even lighter and i can carry not only 2 woodsawblades (1 for green and 1 for dry wood) blades, but also a metal saw blade. I've been using it for a while now, and with a little paper crammed into the top, it doesn't even rattle, which was a concern at first.

Hi Lars , i've being enjoying your videos for over a year now , great stuff! I live in Alberta, Canada and while winter camping in -22 C my Silky Big Boy folding saw simply snapped at the base only 3 pull stokes into a dead standing tree. I've had this saw for 4 years and used it camping and hunting. I was very happy to have had my trailboss axe as a back up:). After researching on the web it seems not that it's not uncommon for Silky saws to snap/break especially in extreme temps. I do own a Katana boy 650 as well.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that :) That is not awesome to break a saw blade. This can happen to most saws of course. I had not yet broken a Silky blade. I broke a Fiskears saw. They also use Japanese style blades. I have spare blades and carry one, or an extra saw on "risky" trips :)

your CRAZY!!! and that's why we love you!! blessings to you and yours my friend 🤗🤗🤗

Finally, I have found a real down-to-Earth-no-BS survival channel! Thanks for putting out this content, it's such a nice change from the Rambo-tacticool nonsense that makes up many survivalist channels. I also want to thank you for pointing out the reasons why a saw is more efficient than an axe. Most people won't do that, because to them, the axe is more "traditional". In reality, using a saw consumes far less calories than an axe, even if it's a 150 cm two-man crosscut saw. From a survivalist standpoint, the saw is superior because of this. An added bonus is that saws weigh less than an axe, and are therefore more pack-friendly. Axes shine when splitting wood is involved. For most of us who use wood to heat a camp stove, a hatchet is all that is really needed in temperate winter conditions.

@SurvivalRussia

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) Yes there are lots of romanticism connected to the axe of course, and axes have their place. I can of course only agree with your points stated.

Russia has the best chaga in the world, especially from the black birch. The axe is much better for harvesting chaga then cutting trees. That is such a beautiful area, I love the winter. Thank you Lars for this first of the series of videos.

Great points about taking a folding saw into the wilderness instead of an axe. I always take a folding saw (usually a Bahco saw) on day hikes, and a larger saw on backpack trips. Axes are great tools, but can require more energy to use and are more dangerous for the average woodsman. Another good video, Lars. Keep 'em rolling!

Great video. I bought a silky saw after I watched one of your vids and find it really useful. A saw is safer, quieter, easier to use, lighter, and easier to maintain. Axes work well for processing frozen game and some carving. IMHO.

I like that Lars ! if your a good woodsman you can survive ! Very True ! ,,,,Cheers from Canada !!,,,,Spook

That one tree increases your chance of survival. Shelter and fire potential. Good advice on saws as well!

Nice video. Good information. However I draw the line at -10 deg F. Anything below that is "inside weather". Keep giving us your wisdom and experiences.

-27 C Andrzej. I love my Katanaboy, but equally love a ax. Nice demonstration.

Thanks Lars. I love all your videos.

and again you deliver....... great practical, and very informative. Folding saw on order!

I want Chaga! ... Totally agree, the axe has it's place, and is very satisfying to use. ... But a good saw is the one for a backpack 🎒

Looking forward to seeing more of the series. Thanks from Canada.

Thank you sir Lars, this video enhances some of my thoughts. I do still love a small axe but you have demoed what I already knew.

Hey Lars. Now wintertime and the temperature has arrived Celle in Germany, too. The last days it was about - 15... nothing compared to the Sibirian temperatures but for us very very cold ;-)). Great vid as always! Greetings, Olli

Both have their advantages and disadvantages - if you can carry a hatchet and a small folding saw, all the better and wiser. For myself, I like to carry a Bolo Machete as well as a Hatchet and Folding Saw. The Holy Trinity ...

Thank you very much for your advice and knowledge.

Some good points Lars....there is a need for both in my world....cut it with a saw, split it with ax. Man looks cold there!..

Great video! thank you!!

I like your arm patch! :)

I think the best for survival is to use a bow saw with the files but also a cold press chisel that you Baton instead of an ax. This way you are lighter and more durable.

love your work brother thank you for your time & effort much appreciated

Tip: Get a 5 foot pole. Take your belt off. Then attach it to that hang up tree like a lever, and twist the tree over and down:)

Both have their place and I have used both. In my get home hear I keep in my Vehicle there is a full sized axe and a folding saw as well as several other "Pioneer Tools" . I do agree that in the situation that you showed that the saw was a better option. Keep up the good very informative videos

Very cool Guy - Survival Russia is one of the best from You Tube.