Handsaw choices

Is there a considerable difference between stihl handsaw and silky? I currently use a stihl Ps90. It's a curved saw and cuts well, although I can tell it's not quite as sharp as it was new. I have had issues with it breaking the tip off a couple of different times, and I am pretty aggressive with it. One big positive to the stihl, the store I bought it from told me that stihl has a lifetime guarantee on their hand tools. I've owned this one saw with three additional blades now for no extra cost. Unless you consider down time an expense while it's in getting a new blade.

If there's a noticeable difference in quality I may be buying a sugoi and having my stihl repaired and kept for a backup
 
I have 3 zubats and a prosenti now....that is after owning 15 other silky's...for the work I do it has been a zubat hands down...but I love just love a prosenti.....love....
 
Zubat and Sugoi...
I use Zubat when pruning soft barked trees like maple and crabapples and such. Any oak or hardwood pruning and ALL removals, the Sugoi goes up with me to blast through 'em!
 
Reviving an older thread here, as I know a few new handsaws have hit the market. I'v been using the sugoi 420 for about a year and a half now. I have noticed the saw is not as sharp and I have cracked the scabbord which lets the saw go too far in and gets stuck on a regular basis. So with a dull saw and a broken scabbord I am in the market again for a new hand saw. Should I stick with the sugoi, the zubat arborist that I have seen good reviews on, or another saw altogether?

I primarily do removals in hardwoods. And if I'm climbing I prefer the saw on my leg, in the bucket truck i clip it to my bucket for easy access.
 
The sugoi absolutely blasts through branches but for finer cuts I love love love my 400 straight tsurugi. Zubat is a beast too though.
 
Have you sharpened the Sugoi? I have a few that I have sharpened a couple of times and it makes a big difference. Doesn't take much to get it back to "like new".

I agree with JD that the straight blade Tsurugi is also a great option - especially for smaller trees and tight branch junctions. I have several other Silky's (Gomtoro, Zubat, Ibuki, a couple of folding saws) as well as a few other brands, but the Sugoi and Tsurugi are the only 2 that get used. (well, those and the pole saw).
 
I considered sharpening the saw, but with the scabbord wearing out, I figured I'd get another saw altogether. The top is worn out enough that the saw bottoms out in the scabbord and hooks the bottom with the tip of the blade. Sometimes it's a two handed operation just to remove my saw.
 
Found ARS blades a bit harder and if I am too aggressive or saw gets pinched on return stroke the blade snaps...
Silky steel seems almost as hard but a bit tougher and even if bends can be carefully and incrementally bent back....

+1 Gomtaro for fine work and garden pruning
+1 Zubat for heavier tree work
 
For me: removals Silky - Sugoi 360, for pruning Samurai - Taisho. I find I really like the hook on the back stroke and more angled handles. VS say the zubat, I find it a bit harder to grip in general.

Work provides zubats, so most of the time that is what I use. Unless I'm in the mood to use my own gear.
 
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