Pocket Chainsaw

Product Description

Increase your chances of survival out in the wild with the indispensable pocket chainsaw. Its sturdy construction paired with the stainless steel teeth make ... [Read more]

Top Reviews

This saw saved me a 20 mile walk today.
by kenny (4 out of 5 stars)
November 6, 2013

I usually never write reviews for products that have so many. But this thing saved my bacon today, and I had to write a review.

I have had this for over a year now, and never tried it out. I always meant to, but I forgot it was in the car. I just stuck it in my emergency bag. Today I went hunting, wanted to get out before dawn. Drove waaaay out into the mountains. It is Wednesday morning, so I figure no one will be out here and I will have the place all to myself. I was right. For miles and miles and miles, no other car tracks in the snow. On my way back out, a tree had fallen across the road in the heavy snow. I said two words and the first one was "Oh." I had my little bone saw, but this was a real tree, approx 2' diameter. No match for a 6 inch handsaw. Too heavy to lift and it was all wedged in other trees so I couldn't just push it with the car. I was debating walking the twenty miles out to try and find someone with a chainsaw or grabbing my hatchet and going all angry beaver on it. I figured I'd try the hatchet first, and I saw this mystery black pouch sitting next to it. Huzzah, the emergency saw! I ended up rigging a pulley on my trailer hitch, running a rope through and attaching each end to one of the handles. Wrapped a bit of branch in the rope, and sat on the tailgate and "rowing" like some redneck crew champion. I was amazed at how awesome it worked. I'm pretty sure this is a real chain from a chainsaw. It devoured that tree. I just ordered a few more so I can give them to friends and have a couple extra for me. Can't recommend this thing enough.

UPDATE- So as I mentioned, I ordered more. I was surprised that in the same box I received a couple different variations. One is exactly like my old one, the others are different. My original review was 5 stars. I am downgrading to 4 with the new ones. Let me explain the points that changed, and why I am downgrading. But first, this is not a regular chainsaw chain. When I looked at it closer, they had cutting teeth that cut in opposite directions (more efficient for a handsaw). A real chain has only one direction, since the chain only runs in one direction.

My original purchase and the "5 star" version:
-Came in a bag that had a "chainmate" cardboard hanger printed with the name, logo, etc. I'm not sure what you call it. But you know what I mean, the cardboard hanger with product in bag, it hangs on the hooks in a store...
-The carry case was heavy duty. Two layers of nylon fabric sandwiched with a layer of some sort of material. Slightly stiff, cut resistant, etc. Like a nice nylon holster. Keep in mind we are storing a thing that has several nasty little biting and cutting surfaces.
-The wrist wraps were very large, very easy to fit over gloves. And when you had to use it, you could grab onto the extra length instead of the chain. Very nice. When I figured I had to cut the trunk into several pieces to be able to move them off the road, I switched to the pulley system to save effort. But *please note*: I was able to try this out first, and slip it over gloves and grab the straps for extra pull. Keeping my gloves on was a huge plus for me. In winter conditions, it is very very hard to warm your hands up, and you can cold them up in an instant. Keeping gloves on is a huge factor for me.
-There is a triangle shaped piece of metal that rivets to the chain on one vertex, and then the opposite side has a slit that the strap (black nylon webbing) runs through. This was painted black and was sturdy and rust free.

The *3 star* version.
-Hence the 4 star rating. Average between the two.
-Came in a plastic bag, stapled shut, with a printed white label that said "chainmate" etc. Like if you went down to the store and bought a couple avery labels and printed it at home.
-The chain is the same. So I am assuming the chain part, with the multi directional teeth, is some sort of OEM product.
-The cary case is much smaller, one layer of nylon on the outside, the liner is cheap plastic and thin. Nicks everywhere. Remember, we are storing a chain with angry piranhas on it, and they decided to wrap it in something that isn't even as thick as a good contractor trash bag.
-The same triangle piece is "blackish" and has rust spots.
-The wrist straps... My goodness. This is where it is so different I would have made my original rating lower. They are so small, I can barely get my bare hands through them. And I'm not a giant guy. I'm 5'10". My hands are a bit big for my size, I suppose. I have big shoulders and hands and legs etc. for my height. But I am by no means a giant, or even very exceptional. And putting the two side by side, the straps are several inches shorter than in the Good Version.

So, if you do order this, (which I still think you should) if you get it in a pack that only has a white printed label, or it looks like someone just printed this at home and sent it to you, send it back immediately and order a new one, repeat until you get the version that actually looks like something they would have hanging in your local sports shop.
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This Chainmate 24-Inch Survival Pocket Chain Saw is something that even John "Lofty" Wiseman would a
by D. Fowler (5 out of 5 stars)
December 18, 2011

When I was setting up a very basic camping kit, one of the things I purchased was this Chainmate Survival Saw. One of the suggestions that John "Lofty" Wiseman made in his SAS Survival Handbook was to purchase a flexible saw to put in a survival kit. He also recommended adding certain items to an old tobacco tin (or something along those lines). I agreed with Wiseman's suggestions and decided to add a few things to this basic survival/camping packet in an old tobacco tin and seal it with masking tape. Some of the things that will fit in a tin are Tinder Quik Fire Tabs
, an Emergency Fire Starter and some UCO Stormproof Matches
. Together they can figuratively (and perhaps literally) be a lifesaver when you need to start a fire in inclement weather.

This flexible Chainmate Survival Saw is much more compact that many others that come with large rings. Wiseman says that when you get your saw, in order to protect it "from rust and breakage cover it in a film of grease" and that these saws "can be used to cut even quite large trees." I haven't attempted any large trees, but I have no doubt that if need be I wouldn't have a problem. This 24-inch saw is in a convenient pouch that can be tucked inside a backpack or, if you prefer, can be worn on a belt. This Chainmate Survival Saw is a fantastic bargain that you might want to add to your list of "needs" and "must haves" to your camping/survival pack.

After this video was shot we cut through a hardwood tree 8" in diameter. It took a few minutes, but it was amazingly easy.
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Two excellent pocket saws compared
by PGA (5 out of 5 stars)
July 30, 2018

I purchased this 24" saw and the more expensive 36" Sportsman Pocket Chainsaw (for car and home).

Both are excellent, and as far as I can tell, the chains are identical, except for length. The straps, too, are nearly the same (slightly wider on the Chainmate version). The carrying cases are identical.

Both cut branches equally well. The 36" Sportsman offers these advantages:
1) More length might come in handy if you are attempting to saw something huge, like a 12" tree trunk.
2) The extra length allows you to stand straighter if you are cutting something which is lying on the ground.
3) The 36" Sportsman comes with a solid, easy-to-use spark maker.

Beyond that, either will do the job.
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It's the same exact thing as a SaberCut
by Hedonism Bot (4 out of 5 stars)
July 17, 2010

This is the real deal w/ the modified carbon steel chainsaw blades - not the crappy model w/ the thin folding-saw type blade.

This thing EATS wood and weighs nothing!! It takes a little bit of effort but you can chew through a hardwood tree half a foot thick in literally a couple minutes; half that if you use two people (one on each end).

My only advice would be to spray it down with some wd-40 before you head out to smooth out the action and reduce kinks.

Would def. recommend if you're into winter/fall camping and overnight hunting.
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Awesome chainsaw once you get a feel for it
by Harry C. Bryant IV (5 out of 5 stars)
July 23, 2018

I have the 24". This thing is a camping must have. It's lightweight, small, and can make quick work of a small tree or branch. I use it mostly on 8" diameter or smaller sections of dry wood. The longer versions would certainly work for larger rounds.

One piece of advice is to let the chain do the work. Pull on one side then allow that side to go completely slack as you pull from the other. Then go back and forth. When you allow the chain to go slack, simply support it in the air with zero tension. Your looking to pull the chain fast not "hard" if that makes sense. Speed will cut the tree faster. Strength will slow down the cut speed, use more energy than needed, and cause the chain to get stuck more often.
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Works for high live limb pruning
by Bill White (5 out of 5 stars)
October 3, 2018

I have a 25 foot cypress tree in my yard that started to fork at the top. Two 3.5 inch branches sprouting out in opposite directions. So I needed to cut the side the tree was tilting to to rebalance the tree and encourage it to grow straight again. So I tied this saw between 2 lengths of 30 feet of nylon rope and threaded one side up into the tree and around the limb. This was the most difficult part since I had to use 2 ten foot metal conduit poles bound together with hose clamps and a right angle shelf bracket on the end to maneuver the end of the rope up and around the limb. I used a heavy 2 inch washer shaped fitting on the end so the rope could be strung. The setup then got stuck in the tree fork and I had to poke at it several times to get the chain in position. Luckily it landed in the correct position with cutters on the limb side. (Note: Obviously the cutting side needs to be on the limb side to work.) With the setup in place it only took about 10 minutes to cut through the limb so the chain works well even on green live branches. Note 2: I got 95% through the branch and it fell to the side but was still holding on. This caused the chain to lock up and not move. So I tied to rope ends to my trailer hitch and pulled the branch down with my car. Task completed. I recommend this item.
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THIS is the one you want!
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
April 19, 2019

Looking for a pocket/camping/survival chainsaw? Obviously or you wouldn't be reading this review. This is the one you want. It is MADE IN THE USA, need I say more? The handles are large and made of medium thickness nylon (reminds me of ratchet strap material) and connected to the chain with a steel piece. The chain is surprisingly sharp! It's not like a regular chainsaw blade, it's thinner and narrower, but the teeth are similar.

I bought this to throw over some high tree limbs that I need out of the way, and I think it will do the job well.

EDIT - after using the saw a few times, I'm still very happy with it. It's durable! I've cut several larger tree branches with it and with a good sawing action, you can cut through in just a couple minutes. It's IMPORTANT to keep the saw moving, or else it risks getting jammed in the cut. I can attest to it's durability, because I managed to jam it and used an ATV and rope to PULL IT OUT. It came out just fine, not bent at all. Used it to cut another branch right after.

This belongs in your go bag or camping kit!
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No ladder needed for the high limbs. Cut as high as you can throw.
by Proud American (5 out of 5 stars)
September 30, 2017

I love it! I only wish it had D rings on it instead of strap handles.

I just finished cutting a 2"-3" branch off a HARD wild cherry tree that's been overhanging my back garage roof and clogging up the gutter with leaves and crap.

This thing works great! I put some 550 cord on the ends, fastened a couple of short metal rods to the cord as handles to make it easier on the hands.

I just threw it over the limb I wanted to cut, and a few minutes of sawing later, I was finished. It's not hard to use either.
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Great
by Will (4 out of 5 stars)
August 16, 2012

Wow got this 2 days ago and it doing pretty well i used this on my tree to cut some branches but forgot to record, my bad, but i can honesty say its really a good survival pocket chain i got threw 3 or 4in branches with no problem. the thing comes sharp straight out of the box and is very well made. the only con is that its a bit hard to use alone you will probably get tired after the third or fourth log so keep that in mind if your trying to save energy. Also keep in mind its a survival saw not a every day use item i see reviews that say that after a week or 2 it has no more ware well duh! its not meant for that much use only in survival situations or if someone forgets the axe, uncle, but in all well its a solid piece of equipment. A solid 4 see pics above for more details.
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Works for high limbs and tricky jobs; but expect a few frustrations and struggles when cutting high
by ScholarlyBeard (4 out of 5 stars)
July 14, 2016

This is a comparative review of the Chainmate 24 inch survival pocket saw and The FiveJoy 18 inch double sided pocket chainsaw. I was not paid for this review.

The situation:

We recently wanted to cut down two high limbs from trees on our property. These limbs were 20-45 feet up, very high for some inexperienced tree cutters. We duct taped together some poles, used a gardening claw as a hook and grip at the end, tossed over a tennis ball with rope attached, and reeled over our rope line. Once we got a rope around we attached both ends to the chain blades and began alternating pulls on either side (a two person job). One three inch diameter log went down from 20 feet very fast with the chainmate. After a longer and more difficult cut with a higher and larger 5 inch limb we decided to get the double sided FiveJoy saw. However, the FiveJoy saw is a joke in comparison.

Comparative Specs and Review:

The Chainmate is near as thick as a chainsaw blade (which if broken from a loop would work as well). However, because it is one sided it is difficult to work limbs from high up - you take a 50% chance of the blade spinning and ending up on the dull side only flossing the tree. Also, when the limb cracks from high it will pinch the blade and you'll likely need to tie the tree up and twist it till it comes down. All in all, the Chainmate will do an expensive high limb trim job for less, but it will require two people, some muscle, a rope, a bit of ingenuity and some time.

Chainmate: 4 stars.

The FiveJoy is laughable, looks like a children's necklace. Though the teeth feel sharp, and the double sided idea is smart, the chain is so thin that it cannot take any sort of pulling from a distance. In other words, unless you're standing over the branch and cutting small 3 inch limbs it will not work for your purposes. In these instances, I'd reckon a jack knife saw blade would be near as effective.

FiveJoy: 1 star.

Chainmate CM-24SSP 24-Inch Survival Pocket Chain Saw With Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026OOS60/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_X38HxbAHM6BZ0

FiveJoy Pocket Chainsaw (18" Long) - Double Side Teeth Rope Saw - For Camping Hiking Backpacking Hunting - Comes in a Pouch with Belt Loop - Must-Have Outdoor Survival Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017JQ4ANK/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_S48HxbWTFDBE8

Photographed:

Left is the Chainmate,

Right is the FiveJoy,

Key included for scale at center.

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