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Many times out on the trail we come across a tree blown down on the trail. For this reason, I bring  a Pack Saw on every trail ride. My current Pack Saw is an 18" Fiskars cut-on-the-pull. I am sure many of you are familiar with Oregon Pack Saw. Fiskars bought the Oregon Pack Saw company in 2001. They kept the 15" and 18" sawsexactly the same and we carry these now. Fiskars discontinued the 24" saw that Oregon had made, so we chose a 24" cut-on-the-pull saw from Fanno to replace it. The 15" and 18" Pack Saws can be sharpened with a 5/32" chainsaw file. The 24" Pack Saw from Fanno has a different tooth design but can be easily sharpened by a professional.
How to hang a pack saw on your saddle. I prefer to tie my pack saw handle with the rear saddle strings and then secure the blade under my leg. However, the pack saw scabbard has  a versatile design that would allow you many options. Whichever way you choose, remember to offset the added weight of your saw by loading your horse saddlebags or horn bags heavier on the opposing side.
I always take a Camp Axe with me on any trip longer than one day. I prefer a camp axe for chopping firewood and there are some cases where they just work better than a Pack Saw. Since I generally take a pack mule with me on longer trips, I usually attach my Camp Axe to the outside of my pack load, offsetting the weight with other gear or by packing the opposing side that much heavier. You can, however, easily attach a Camp Axe with a sheath to your saddle. A Camp Axe sheath is usually designed with rings on either side, which can easily be tied to you saddle strings. This puts the Camp Axe at a nice angle to slide the handle under your leg.
Why do I need a pack saw or a camp axe? The obvious answer here is for windfall blocking the trail. It is not always possible to go around a windfall nor would you necessarily want to get into that habit as the new trail you would create only adds to the erosion of a potentially fragile area. It is better instead to simply clear the  trail. The standard rule for clearing trail is to clear 4 feet out from center on either side. Clearing trail is a good Leave No Trace practice. You will be helping out the Forest Service, the Backcountry Horsemen or any other local riding associations and any of your friends that may ride that trail later. And it is good exercise for you while giving your horse a break.
Besides clearing trail, a Pack Saw or Camp Axe could save your life if you get into a bad situations. I have heard stories and seen situations where a horse has gotten stuck after a wreck and the only way to get him out was to saw through the limbs holding him down. Additionally, if you have any sort of accident or get into a bad situation that leaves you stranded, especially in bad weather, the ability to chop firewood and keep yourself warm can mean the difference between life and death.
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Fiskars 18" Pack Saw with Scabbard
TrailMax™ Medium Single Bit Axe Sheath
Our Complete Line of Pack Saws and Scabbards
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Russ On... Leave No Trace Ethics
Russ On... Balancing your Load
Campfire Equipment
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