You're NOT limited to the size of the frame, you're able to cut up to *twice* the size of the frame, turn the log or cut from the other side of the circumference.
I have the Boreal and Big Boy. Sometimes take them both when car or boat camping. Given my druthers, if I had no idea what I would run into, I'd pick the Silky because of versatility. If I wanted to cut a lot of firewood on sawbucks, I'd pick the Boreal. Similar to your point of view
Both are great saws, but it's the Boreal for me. Ergonomics get more important with each passing year. You can buy a kit with the saw, case, spare blade, along with a spare parts kit for the same price as the BigBoy with one spare blade and never have to worry about it becoming unusable in the field. I tend to think that if I didn't need the ergonomics of the Boreal, I probably wouldn't need the size of either of these and would go with something smaller.
Eric Rosbottom thanks. I was completely unaware. Actually, sarcasm aside, I own numerous different brands and lengths within those brands. I agree completely. Using any tool incorrectly will inherently leads to premature failure. I just wanted to make a recommendation based on my extensive use with both. I have broken several silky blades and only worn down my bow saw blades. It is a stronger design. Thanks for the comment and best wishes.
I have a silky and the boreal and i prefer the boreal for the ergonomy with the position of the hands . A bowsaw is more comfortable to work with and make less fatigue than the silky in my opinion .
@@silverback4434 Yes but you must secure it with ranger bands or something like that. It opens in your pack and can damage your stuff (i speak from experience)
I have both the bigboy and Agawa. They make 4 blades for the Agawa. The General purpuse (Green), dry wood, bone and the sidney rancher(aggressive blade) I prefer the Agawa for how it feels while using it. The silky tends to take a toll on the forearm when using it.
So many online survival experts out there that always have a bailout plan in place if things get icky lol. Typically that bail out plan is on 4 wheels out of frame, or within a reasonable distance from where they are filming their "survival" footage. Or they may even be filming with it(cell phone) at a predetermined location of choice... Maybe some are carrying a plb. True survival can't be scripted nor can the mindset & fatigue that comes with it when you are truly screwed. Things can go south in a hurry with a pull saw once fatigue sets in whether that be mental or physical fatigue.
Yeah, the Silky BigBoy2000 can get fatiguing. What's nice about the Silky's though is getting into tight spaces, longer reach, and the back spines of Silky blades throw the absolute best sparks using flint or chert stones.
I’ll take the boreal any day of the week for what I use it for. I don’t expend that much more energy with the boreal compared to the silky.. the silky cuts slightly faster, but the boreal makes it more reasonable to replace blaces or bring different types of blades for multiple tasks (dry wood, green wood, and even a compatible bone saw)
Nice review. The silky folding saws can be purchased with different blades, some are excellent dry wood blades. As you say, same with bow saws, both green and dry wood blades are available.
Great head to head Ben , i have had my big boy 2000 for three yrs now and still really like it , but it seems to cut better with two hands, on the other hand, i really like the bucksaw the style as well cuz i think its a better one-handed tool i did notice my silky does not like hardwoods, and that is another advantage the Borreal 21 has and the under 10 bucks for different blades like soft or hardwoods, but i will still always carry my silky love it atb john
Silkys don't hang in brush like the buck saws do. Limbing is faster. If I am cutting dedicated firewood I would pick the Agawa 24 just to live in the firewood job but a silky is FAST, not just in cutting but because limbing green wood is a fact of life
curved sort of self digs better, so it's good on a pull saw. I find that the longer the saw is, the less advantage the curve has and it just binds up in the wood easier. Bowsaws cut both ways so a curve would be bad.
If your trying to cut something with a silk that is 70% of the blade length you better have Popeye forearms with a taste for slow laborious inefficient cutting Good for you
You lost me at DC... The Silky is not limited in it's cut depth. The Boreal 21 is just a rip off of the classic Bob Destrud saw. Bob was an icon and a damn fine man.
A rip off how? That it is a bow saw? I suppose then all bow saws are rip offs of others including the Dustrude. There are many ways in which the Boreal is a better option than the Dustrude. No wood to swell, 1 piece, blah blah blah. Yes, I own both. My go to is the Boreal 24 with the Sidney blade on it.
@@rivercitymetaldetecting9854 , your go to for what? Camping out of the back of your car? Everybody on UA-cam is an expert frontiersman... Just ask them...
@@CommonFolkSR I typically go out for weeks at a time solo in the winter on snowshoes pulling a pulk. Been at it for over 4 decades. My primary focus is bucking firewood for extended solos. Im not out building shelters for the hell of it. I would if the situation necessitated it only. I typically have a Hilleberg with me(I own 3 various models) and have yet on any of my forays felt the need to build a bushcraft shelter. Only when I lived off grid did that stuff matter. I climbed glaciated peaks for a long time as well but that isn't applicable here. Also was a gear tester & did a good bit of r & d work for a few very well known brands in the outdoor industry. The Boreal is a ripoff of the Dustrude the same way that a Ram is a ripoff of a F150. They are both trucks. Same as how my La Sportiva G2 SMs are comparable to my Zamberlan 966 Saguaros. They are both boots.
I will feast on tandoori chicken with a case of beer ......then I have the best dutch oven experience for you So basically you have never stopped eating shiite since you grabbed chocolate bars out of your potty
You're NOT limited to the size of the frame, you're able to cut up to *twice* the size of the frame, turn the log or cut from the other side of the circumference.
I have the Boreal and Big Boy. Sometimes take them both when car or boat camping. Given my druthers, if I had no idea what I would run into, I'd pick the Silky because of versatility. If I wanted to cut a lot of firewood on sawbucks, I'd pick the Boreal. Similar to your point of view
willy p00 my thoughts as well. Thanks for watching.
Well said!
Both are great saws, but it's the Boreal for me. Ergonomics get more important with each passing year. You can buy a kit with the saw, case, spare blade, along with a spare parts kit for the same price as the BigBoy with one spare blade and never have to worry about it becoming unusable in the field. I tend to think that if I didn't need the ergonomics of the Boreal, I probably wouldn't need the size of either of these and would go with something smaller.
Love mine. The blade isn’t near as prone to breakage on the Boreal 21 vs. the Silky. Love my Silky too, but durability goes to Boreal 21.
Improper technique will cause any blade to break
Eric Rosbottom thanks. I was completely unaware. Actually, sarcasm aside, I own numerous different brands and lengths within those brands. I agree completely. Using any tool incorrectly will inherently leads to premature failure. I just wanted to make a recommendation based on my extensive use with both. I have broken several silky blades and only worn down my bow saw blades. It is a stronger design. Thanks for the comment and best wishes.
@@Eric-ew8jt Not always. If it gets stuck on the push stroke they tend to break especially when its cold outside.
I have a silky and the boreal and i prefer the boreal for the ergonomy with the position of the hands . A bowsaw is more comfortable to work with and make less fatigue than the silky in my opinion .
This! Its much easier on the wrist. Would be cool to do a test cutting like not 1 piece but 10-20 with both saws.
@@martinerhard8447 but the silky is more small to packing . The 2 tools are good .
@@silverback4434 Yes but you must secure it with ranger bands or something like that. It opens in your pack and can damage your stuff (i speak from experience)
@@silverback4434 uh if you are taking it hiking then get the knifepointgear saw.
@@martinerhard8447 It shouldn't. Tighten the screw a bit when it starts to open too easily.
I do like that Boreal 21 for processing Firewood. shelter poles etc.
good review.
I have both the bigboy and Agawa. They make 4 blades for the Agawa. The General purpuse (Green), dry wood, bone and the sidney rancher(aggressive blade) I prefer the Agawa for how it feels while using it. The silky tends to take a toll on the forearm when using it.
Michael Cashler agreed.
wish i could find a blade for cutting metal
@@martinerhard8447 I bet you could rig a 21" hacksaw blade to fit
You can store an extra blade inside the boreal 21.
Your a legend for this! Thanks
So many online survival experts out there that always have a bailout plan in place if things get icky lol.
Typically that bail out plan is on 4 wheels out of frame, or within a reasonable distance from where they are filming their "survival" footage.
Or they may even be filming with it(cell phone) at a predetermined location of choice...
Maybe some are carrying a plb.
True survival can't be scripted nor can the mindset & fatigue that comes with it when you are truly screwed.
Things can go south in a hurry with a pull saw once fatigue sets in whether that be mental or physical fatigue.
Yeah, the Silky BigBoy2000 can get fatiguing. What's nice about the Silky's though is getting into tight spaces, longer reach, and the back spines of Silky blades throw the absolute best sparks using flint or chert stones.
I’ll take the boreal any day of the week for what I use it for. I don’t expend that much more energy with the boreal compared to the silky.. the silky cuts slightly faster, but the boreal makes it more reasonable to replace blaces or bring different types of blades for multiple tasks (dry wood, green wood, and even a compatible bone saw)
Agreed. Thanks for the comment!
Great review-Love my Silkys (especially the Zubat) Been eyeing the Agawa for awhile.
Joseph Troyer thanks for watching.
Nice review. The silky folding saws can be purchased with different blades, some are excellent dry wood blades. As you say, same with bow saws, both green and dry wood blades are available.
Great head to head Ben , i have had my big boy 2000 for three yrs now and still really like it , but it seems to cut better with two hands, on the other hand, i really like the bucksaw the style as well cuz i think its a better one-handed tool i did notice my silky does not like hardwoods, and that is another advantage the Borreal 21 has and the under 10 bucks for different blades like soft or hardwoods, but i will still always carry my silky love it
atb john
the mi woodsman both great saws.
Thanks for sharing,I have 3 silky saws , I'll have to look at the boreal 21, atb 👍
Silky saws all the way..!
I've yet to to see a bow or buck saw that will out perform a Silky!
Thanks for the video...
shadowcastre thanks for watching.
Thank you for not pronouncing it "boreel" like some other youtubers.
Got that right but not Agawa haha.
Almost aeggawa not aguyawaw
I’m getting a Boreal... great review amigo
Silkys don't hang in brush like the buck saws do. Limbing is faster. If I am cutting dedicated firewood I would pick the Agawa 24 just to live in the firewood job but a silky is FAST, not just in cutting but because limbing green wood is a fact of life
Nice saw, 10$ cheaper here in Canada. Dec 2019
I think All American Prepper would approve. Thanks Ben, The hair is still the best buddy!
Eric Rosbottom LoL, thanks.
do you find any advantage to a curved blade vs straight blade
curved sort of self digs better, so it's good on a pull saw.
I find that the longer the saw is, the less advantage the curve has and it just binds up in the wood easier.
Bowsaws cut both ways so a curve would be bad.
Great review.....i like the boreal...
Silky Sugowaza is my carry choice 👍
Great video.👍👍
I love my borel saw....great video...new sub!
Thanks Jeff
Wondering to get the boreal 21 or the Silky zubat
Toss up. The silky has a slight edge.
A Bow saw limits the size or wood you can saw ,a silky does not
Joseph O Reynolds for camping purposes I’ve never needed to saw anything larger than what it can handle so it’s a non-issue for me.
If your trying to cut something with a silk that is 70% of the blade length you better have Popeye forearms with a taste for slow laborious inefficient cutting
Good for you
Bow Saw, not Buck Saw. A buck saw is used by two people.
Better go back and learn your saws.
Buck saw ain't the 2 people saw, and the boreal isn't a buck saw neither... Much closer to be a bow saw
@@ArSeNiiKZz seems to me a bow saw is a type of buck saw, but a buck saw is not a bow saw. ...like a square is a rectangle but not reverse.
@@livingsurvivalBoreal is definitely a reciprocating saw. It goes back and forth to cut. LOL
You lost me at DC... The Silky is not limited in it's cut depth. The Boreal 21 is just a rip off of the classic Bob Destrud saw. Bob was an icon and a damn fine man.
Thanks for watching.
A rip off how? That it is a bow saw? I suppose then all bow saws are rip offs of others including the Dustrude.
There are many ways in which the Boreal is a better option than the Dustrude.
No wood to swell, 1 piece, blah blah blah.
Yes, I own both. My go to is the Boreal 24 with the Sidney blade on it.
@@rivercitymetaldetecting9854 , your go to for what? Camping out of the back of your car? Everybody on UA-cam is an expert frontiersman... Just ask them...
@@CommonFolkSR I typically go out for weeks at a time solo in the winter on snowshoes pulling a pulk. Been at it for over 4 decades.
My primary focus is bucking firewood for extended solos. Im not out building shelters for the hell of it. I would if the situation necessitated it only.
I typically have a Hilleberg with me(I own 3 various models) and have yet on any of my forays felt the need to build a bushcraft shelter. Only when I lived off grid did that stuff matter.
I climbed glaciated peaks for a long time as well but that isn't applicable here.
Also was a gear tester & did a good bit of r & d work for a few very well known brands in the outdoor industry.
The Boreal is a ripoff of the Dustrude the same way that a Ram is a ripoff of a F150.
They are both trucks.
Same as how my La Sportiva G2 SMs are comparable to my Zamberlan 966 Saguaros.
They are both boots.
@@CommonFolkSR has left the chat.
Does the 21 cut pine wood well?
I suspect it cuts pine very well
Goin boreal , thanks fer the vid.
Very good, Thank you very much
Outstanding video.
Ben, it's pronounced AGG-a-wah. Great video too.
Your silky has a leg scabbard.. best place to carry it.. from an arborist...
Try manganese Benjamin
Plastic??? It's an aluminum frame with glass filled nylon handle. Enjoyed??? Hmmm.
Umm, nylon is plastic.
@@livingsurvivali prefer "polymer" or "composite". Sounds fancier. LOL
I could inhale farts all day?
jpe2ny good for you.
I will feast on tandoori chicken with a case of beer ......then I have the best dutch oven experience for you
So basically you have never stopped eating shiite since you grabbed chocolate bars out of your potty