Bow saws cost around £10-£20 in the UK. You can buy them at the better DIY stores such as Screwfix and there are lots of choices online.
A bow saw is a cross cut saw with a long straight blade that is attached to a metal frame. The frame is bow shaped and this is where the saw gets its name from. In some countries this saw can also be known as a Bucksaw, a Finn saw or a Swede saw. The main purpose of this saw is for cutting tree branches or sawing any green wood up to about 6" in diameter.
They are a popular outdoor saw and designed for speed but they do leave quite a rough finish. You can quickly and easily change the blade on a bow saw and these are readily available on the UK marketplace.
I am going to show you a list of the top 10 bow saws currently available on the UK market. I have also included a buying guide and answered the most frequently asked questions that UK buyers have.
Top 10 Bow Saws in the UK
We have listed just below the best 10 bow saws currently available on the UK market. If you click on any of the product names you can read more details on the individual bow saw.
- Bahco 30" bow saw - Best selling bow saw online
- Fiskars 21" bow saw - Best professional and from the Fiskars Forestry brand
- Gerber Freescape Camp Outdoor Folding Bow - Best bow saw for bush craft or camping
- AB Tools store 24" heavy duty bow saw - Best heavy duty bow saw
- Bahco 21" bow saw - Best pointed nose bow saw
- OX 21" bow saw
- Stanley 1-20 12" bow saw - Best 12" bow saw
- Spear & Jackson Predator B9821BOWSAW 21-inch Bow Saw
- Black + Decker 21" bow saw
- Hilka Tools 24" bow saw - Cheapest bow saw on the UK market
1. Bahco 30" bow saw
This 30" Bahco bow saw (750mm) is by a huge distance the best selling bow saw on the UK marketplace and from a well recognised tool brand
You can buy this model in different frame sizes 21", 24" and 30" and like most good bow saws this one has hard point peg teeth which help cut through wet wood without binding or sticking of any kind.
- This model has a slightly pointed nose style giving you better access in tight areas, such as roofing and areas of your garden.
- The frame is nice and light and is made from a high quality steel which has been coated with an enamel paint to stop any risk of rusting
- It also has a knuckle protector and changing blades is fast and safe as it uses a simple screw fitting which is located under the handle
WE LIKE
- 85 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Buyers love the fact that this saw can tackle just about any job they have to do
- Buyers were very impressed with the cutting power
WE DON'TLIKE
- 1 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A couple of buyers has issues with delivery but couldn't find any complaints about the actual saw
Our Opinion: This saw is as good as any chainsaw but with less risk. It is in my opinion a pretty amazing bow saw that can handle just about anything you can throw at it, based on my own experience of using it. Just make sure that you have the right blade as Bahco have a hard wood blade and a wet wood blade. Most people will want to get the wet one as it works so much better for branches, shrubs or trees. Almost every buyer states that this just glides through wood and I agree.
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £24. 96% buying satisfaction based on 4,200+ buyer reviews
2. Fiskars 21" bow saw SW30
Fiskars make a lot of forestry or wood cutting tools and many UK buyers like to stick with this Finnish brand
As such, this is a saw designed to cut soft wet wood such as logs or larger branches
- It weighs around 0.5Kg so it is light enough to handle even when used for long periods of time
- It uses a high steel blade and cuts on both the push and pull strokes
- The one shown above is a 21" option but this is also available in a 24" option
- It comes with one blade and a blade guard and easy to find replacement blades online
WE LIKE
- 66 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- The majority of UK buyers say this saw is very good at cutting and it is fast especially on wetter logs
- Buyers thought it was very good value for money
- Buyers also like the hand grip as it is comfortable and that it can be used by left and right handed people
WE DON'TLIKE
- 5 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A few buyers say it can stick on thicker branches and a few said that the blade will bend if pushed too hard
Our Opinion: Fiskars are known for their hatchets, scissors, pruning shears and really most items that have a blade on them. It is no surprise to see they have bow saws. As a general observation all of their gardening tools get very good reviews. For about £3 more you can get the first one on our list and we think that is a better choice. That said, the Fiskars one works well, cuts well but you do need to be slightly more careful using it to avoid sticking or the blade getting bent.
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £19. 88% buying satisfaction based on 1,700+ buyer reviews
3. Gerber Freescape Camp Outdoor Folding Bow Saw
The Gerber brand will be familiar with campers or those who like the great outdoors
It can of course be used at home and the unique thing about this saw is that it neatly folds open and closed for easy storage and easy transport.
- As you may notice this type of folding saw is about 3-4 times more expensive than a standard bow saw.
- It uses a standard 12" saw blade, has a rubber overmould grip with four pivot points to maximise the cutting area.
WE LIKE
- 75 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Buyers love the fact that it is lightweight (0.45Kg) and quickly folds up making it very easy to take with you on camping trips
- Most buyers seem to use this for cutting up logs for firewood on camping or hiking trips
WE DON'TLIKE
- 6 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- The only complaint we could find was about the actual cutting was quite noisy
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £73. 90% buying satisfaction based on 600+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We could have picked from hundreds of folding bow saws, but this one easily stands out from the crowd. Many UK buyers say they have bought and used cheaper folding saws and just found them to be useless. They did say it isn't cheap but worth it for a long term investment in a saw that will last them for years.
4. AB Tools store 24" heavy duty bow saw
This model is classed as a heavy duty bow saw and is really designed for cutting branches on trees, logs or wet wood
You can buy the saw on its own, with 2 blades, but the best value is the one we have shown to the right with 5 blades plus the one that is already attached to the saw
It has a cushioned grip and knuckle protector
This is a 24" blade which is made from an alloy steel and is heavier than most at just under 1 Kg in weight
WE LIKE
- 69 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- The majority of UK buyers say this saw is sharp and cuts really well
- Most of the buyers though the saw and blade package was very good value for money
WE DON'TLIKE
- 3 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A few buyers say the saw sticks too much
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £14. 88% buying satisfaction based on 900+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We also think this saw and blades are good value for money and the blades are very easy to change. The only downside is the heavier weight but some people do prefer that to a lighter saw. We are not that familiar with this brand but the UK reviewers seem to be well impressed overall.
5. Bahco 21" bow saw
This is a slightly smaller 21" bow saw with a pointed nose. The principle behind this design is that it allows you to work in more confined spaces such as between branches
- It comes fitted with a dry blade (51 type blade supplied with peg tooth blade for dry wood) and you also get a spare 23 type wet blade for green wood
- Both blades work really well and they are easy to change
- The frame is powder painted steel tube which is excellent for rust protection
WE LIKE
- 82 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- The majority of buyers say this saw gives you a lot more control than a standard frame bow saw
- Buyers say this things saws through wood effortlessly
- Buyers liked having the choice of blades depending on what they are cutting
WE DON'TLIKE
- 2 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review buy the complaints were about delivery and not the saw
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £20. 92% buying satisfaction based on 300+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We really like this pointed nose saw which is particularly useful for getting in between branches where the larger frame style will not fit. It is also a really good choice for someone who wants a slightly smaller and lighter bow saw that still works really well.
6. OX 21" bow saw
As an alternative to the saw above this is also a 21" pointed nose bow saw made from alloy steel - it isn't as popular for UK buyers and is slightly more expensive and gets very good reviews
- It has a blade guard and a good knuckle guard and it is comfortable enough to use
- The OX brand also make a wide range of other tools such as hammers and chisels and they get good reviews as their tools are well made and affordable
WE LIKE
- 77 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Many buyers say that the blade is super sharp so be aware
- Buyers mostly say this is great for either branches or logs
WE DON'TLIKE
- 1 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A couple of buyers had issues changing the blade
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £20. 94% buying satisfaction based on 300+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: The Bahco 21" is slightly cheaper and the ratings are just as good. There isn't a huge price difference if you really prefer the look of this one, but we would stick with the Bahco one above if you are looking for a pointed nose bow saw.
7. Stanley 1-20 12" bow saw
This one is popular because it can either be used as a standard hacksaw, or by changing the blade turn it into a small 12" bow saw
- It can handle logs and branches up to between 6-8" and ideal for that job using the bow saw blade- replacement blades you can bet on eBay or from Stanley's own website
- The blade does come with a guard on it and there is also a knuckle guard on the saw
- It is sharp, lightweight and will also fit into a rucksack or tool bag easily
WE LIKE
- 69 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Buyers say this is really light and saws very well even through wet wood
- They like that it can be used for two purposes so helps save them some money buying two saws
WE DON'TLIKE
- 3 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- Some buyers thought it was smaller than they had imagined
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £10. 88% buying satisfaction based on 600+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: If you are someone who regularly uses a bow saw then give this one a miss. This is ideal for camping or occasional use around the home and garden. It does work really well and will be able to handle branches up to 7" in diameter which may be enough for many people.
8. Spear & Jackson Predator B9821BOWSAW 21-inch Bow Saw
This is a very well known gardening brand and it is very unusual to find that they also make the cheapest bow saw that we found during our research. It forms part of their Razorsharp range of gardening tools
- As you can see this is also a pointed bow saw and like the others is 21" long
- This saw has what is called a hard point blade which means the teeth have been treated and those do tend to last a great deal longer than a standard type of bow saw blade.
- The blades are readily available and it has a small lever device for easy blade changing
WE LIKE
- 65 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Most buyers say this is very good value for money when compared to others
- The majority of buyers say it cuts like a knife through butter
- Buyers say the blades are very quick to change
WE DON'TLIKE
- 5 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A few buyers say the blade isn't as sharp as they would like
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £21. 86% buying satisfaction based on 100+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We like Spear & Jackson gardening tools as they are well known for their quality and are a well established UK brand with good customer service. This is a good bow saw without being anything special. It does what it says on the tin and works really well on wet wood.
9. Black + Decker 21" bow saw
You are always going to find a Black & Decker product in most top 10 saw lists as overall the brand does offer good value for money
- This is a classic style 21" bow saw with an easy to use tension adjuster for faster, cleaner cuts
- It has a soft feel ergonomic handle along with a hand guard and it folds up
- The blade is very easy and fast to change and you can buy blades for hard wood (peg tooth) and softer or greener wood (raker Tooth)
WE LIKE
- 77 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Most buyers thought this was good value for money
- Most buyers say the cut is good
WE DON'TLIKE
- 2 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- A couple of buyers say that the saw is not great quality
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £27. 84% buying satisfaction based on 100+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We like this bow saw and it is from a well recognised brand. The overall quality is very high. With so many bow saws to pick from this one stands out in terms of high buyer ratings. Most buyers seem happy with their purchase.
10. Hilka Tools 24" bow saw
There are not a lot of reviews for this bow saw from the Hilka brand which is a well know tool brand
- It is a 24" classic shaped saw that has a tubular steel frame
- It also has a soft grip handle and knuckle guard
- The blade is sharp and comes with a guard
WE LIKE
- 62 out of 100 buyers give this a 5 star review
- Most of the online buyers thought this was a good value for money purchase
- Buyers seem to like the look and balance of this saw.
WE DON'TLIKE
- 8 out of 100 buyers give this a poor review
- Those buyers thought the cutting blade was poor
Check Amazon UK for availability. Average Price: £12. 86% buying satisfaction based on 50+ buyer reviews
Our Opinion: We know that some UK buyers will always pick a Hilka tool and they will likely opt for this one. It does what it is supposed to do and according to online UK buyers does the job quickly and well.
Bow Saw Buying Guide
Bow Saw Basics
Bow Saw Sizes
Bow saws come in various sizes and are measured by the length of the blade. In the UK, the lengths are:
- 12" (300mm)
- 21" (533mm) - most popular size
- 24" (609mm)
- 30" (750mm)
Bow Saw Frames
Bow saws will have slightly different shaped frames, known as classic, pointed nose and folding frames. We have shown images of these types just below so as you can see the key differences.
Classic bow saw
This is the classic shape frame with high clearance access for cutting through thicker branches.
Pointed nose bow saw
This is the pointed nose shape frame that will allow blade access to any smaller or restricted spaces.
Folding bow saw
The folding bow saw is popular with campers and also easier for storage purposes.
Types of Bow Saw Blades
There are two slightly different types of blades that you can get on a bow saw:
- Peg tooth blades - These teeth are triangular in shape and come in groups of 3, with a larger gap between each group of 3. This blade type is better used for cutting dry wood or for cutting harder woods
- Peg & raker tooth blades - This type of blade also has triangular teeth which are arranged in groups of 4,and these are separated by what is called a raker tooth. This raker tooth is designed to remove wet waste wood and stop the blade from clogging up. The majority of bow saws will use this type of blade.
Every bow saw blade has large aggressive teeth that have a deep gullet. Peg tooth blades tend to have 6 to 8 teeth per inch and Peg and raker blades tend to have 4 to 6 teeth per inch. Most bow saws are sold with a blade and many also have a set of spare blades with the saw. This will vary from brand to brand.
Bow Saw Handles
Almost every bow saw has a closed pistol grip handle. These give you a strong grip and that allows for faster and more aggressive cutting. It is the type of handle that allows you to get a full hand grip. Some of these will have comfort style grips that are easier to hold. Many also have a finger/knuckle guard to stop the fingers from getting cut or damaged.
Bow Saw FAQ
Are bow saws good for cutting trees?
Primarily a bow saw is designed to cut trees, branches and logs and they do that easily. Bow saws are the best choice for cutting trees.
How big of a tree can you cut with a bow saw?
You are usually restricted by the depth of the bow saw. That is the distance from the blade to the top of the frame which is typically around 4-5". Most bow saws have a blade of around 21-24" so in terms of length of stroke that is what you will get. Some people use a bow saw to cut on both sides of the tree so you can get 8-10" that way.
What's the difference between a buck saw and a bow saw?
A buck saw has a H-shaped frame and is an earlier version of a bow saw. The buck saw was really designed to be used by two people holding the frame on each side, and then using a very long coarse toothed blade.
Is a bow saw better than a hand saw?
Hand saws are the most popular and ideal for cutting most types of wood. Bow saws are made to cut wet wood such as trees or branches, Hand saws have fine teeth that allow for neater finished, whereas bow saws have wider and coarser teeth for ripping through wet woods.
Bow Saw Summary
Hopefully we have provided you with enough information to help you pick the best bow saw for your own needs. If you are working outside and doing any type of cutting from branches through to trees, then a good quality bow saw is the best affordable solution.
