Straight or curved?

Mrsmorningwood

Mrsmorningwood

Location
Venice, FL
I am just learning to climb, and at 38, I don't want to overtax my brain (or major arteries) with learning to use a chainsaw as well.
I have had my sights set on a Zubat but would like to know what the difference is b/w the curved blade of a Z and the straight blade of a Natanoko?
 
Firstly, BE VERY CAREFUL when you first start to use these saws! the Zubat and Natanoko are both great saws, but they can both equally can cause terrible cuts to your hands and arms.

The Zubat is lighter, and I have found that due to curved design of the blade you tend to apply your force along the middle 70% of the blade rather than 100% of the blade you get with a Natanoko.

I like the feel of the Natanoko, it is weightier than the Zubat and has a nice balanced controllability to it.

When making precision pruning cuts I found the Natanoko to give a cleaner finish than the Zubat.

Also, when you are climbing out on the end of branch doing a hand held section, you want to be able to find your scabbard and slot the blade in easy, to throw the branch with both hands, that is another reason I like the straight blade it will go into the scabbard both ways.

I find the straight blade of the Natanoko allows you to make more accurate felling notches if you ever need to make a small directional notch during technical rigging operations and you are in too unstable a work position to use your chainsaw.

I know climbers who have always used curved blades and find it weird to use a straight blade, but I started using straight bladed handsaws, and have tried to switch to the curved blade a few times. I always go back to the Natanoko.

The Natanoko is also a great saw for removals. Cheaper than the Poseur's Sugoi and more robust.

Whichever saw you use take it nice and slow when you start to use these saws. Maybe think about the smaller Gomtaro saw with a shorter blade until you are confident enough to use a bigger handsaw.

The diminutive Gomtaro (photo)

Also a great saw.
 
Zubat is Japanese for 'dirtbag of the cave'
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Natanoko is Japanese for 'Righteous Sky God'
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I use the Zubat and like it. Be careful though because a new blade has a real affinity for flesh.
 
Best way i found not to cut yourself; is to keep both hands on the handle! 2nd best is keeping 1 hand in pocket or out of the way as to not 'complete the circuit' in electrical imagery. Also; totally keep free hand out of in-line of fire/ where saw might slip to; always visualize what would happen if hand saw or chainsaw slipped; or chainsaw kicked back; and adjust appropriately.

i think that a curved down blade allows more shoulder to be placed on top or behind saw at the same handle position as compared to a straight blade; for easier cutting with the curved variety.
 
All Silky's are awsome. My first handsaw was a Zubat, still have it and love it. I also use the Gomtaro Prosentei (staight blade with the very tip of the blade being fine tooth and the rest corse) and its a nice saw if you come across smaller trees like crabs or trees with soft wood.
 
Iknow all about the injury factor when it comes to handsaws. Hubby's used a chainsaw forever and never had any incidents, yet Every Single Time he touches a handsaw...bad mojo or something.

"dirtbag or Sky God"...cracks me up!!

Thanks for all the input, guys. I appreciate it
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from what I understand from the silky salesman, the curved blade helps with the effeciency of the cut. Being curved, it sinks the teeth into the wood for you rather than you having to do that little extra work. This is good for bigger limbs. The straighter blade, grover is right, is designed to be a little cleaner but also a little less agressive. It is easier to fit into tighter corners and you have a little more control, but you have to work a little harder to get it through a big limb.

I too have the zubat and gomtaro prosentei. I have had my lustful eye on the natanoko for some time now. Shoot, if I had the money I would buy them all. If I were a collector of things I would collect silkys, their wood working saws are incredible as well.
 
The reason that Silkys are the best handsaws in the world. Is that when all the old Master Samurai sword makers went out of business because of the feudal system dieing out, they put all their energy into peaceful art of making Silkys for the Arborists of the world.

This is the reason that you feel all powerful when you have a Silky in your hand, it is the spirits of the ancient Samurai Warriors coursing through your veins.

I for one, thank Japan and the legendary Master Samurai Sword makers for their ingenius little saws. Although why does the Hayauchi pole saw always fall apart after about two months??!!Maybe they give the pole saws to the apprentices to make?

Who knows?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm a convert from Silky

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From Silky to Samurai!
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Thats like going from Marlyn Monroe to Anna Nicole Smith!
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I think it really depends on the type of work that you do. I much prefer the straight blade (I now use a gomtaro and love it, although the fanno straight 13" is great as well). Personally, I do a lot of pruning work, where accuracy and clean cuts are really important, and I find that the straight blade allows you to get a better angle on your cuts in certain situations. Also, as Grover mentioned it helps when you are in a weird stance, and you don't have much room to wiggle about and shift yourself to slide a curved blade into the scabbard.

On the other hand, if I was doing big removals I would want a zubat or whatever they call it, those things almost cut like chainsaws. Sometimes will put a bigger curved silky on for a removal day, it all depends. Good luck!

jp
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[ QUOTE ]
Being curved, it sinks the teeth into the wood for you rather than you having to do that little extra work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct, which is why most pole saws have curved blades.

But I still prefer a straight bladed handsaw.
 
Mrs Morningwood, I too shun the Silky saws for the superior cut of the Kanzawa Samurai. The Ichiban blade RIPS! I'll cut 6" oak limbs with it in a pinch. Definitely try them out at some point. You and Don can test drive a Samurai if you come to the KY TCC this October!
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[ QUOTE ]
Mrs Morningwood, I too shun the Silky saws for the superior cut of the Kanzawa Samurai.

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Blasphemy!
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The Samurai Saw Appreciation Society is certainly gaining momentum.
 
I see right through your evil plan, Kentucky Sawyer!

Hey, totally cool though. We're comin anyway. You don't need to use cheap ploys. Don't even mention raw fish though or I'll barf on your boots. Tequila yes
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Sushi No
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The only time I wish I had straight blade is occasionally when doing removals, or doing removal of large limbs. I like to make the notch and most of the chainsaw with the chainsaw, then put the stihl away and use a few strokes of the handsaw to finish the back cut, that way it's sorta kosher to "one hand" allowing me to use the other hand to guide the falling limb.

A curved blade mostly cuts on the outside edges of the back cut. A straight blade, obviously, would cut evenly along the back cut.

love
nick
 
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