Sven-Saw 15" Folding Saw | 60th Anniversary Edition

In 1960, Richard Swenson and his brother met two men on a portage between Knife Lake and Carp Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. One had badly cut his foot with an axe and was heading to the hospital. Richard thought there had to be a better way. By 1961, he'd created a compact folding saw with a blade protected by its handle, patented the design, and founded Swen Products. The company remains family-owned and operated, with parts manufactured and packaged in Minnesota. In 1962, Richard and his wife traveled to Seattle for the World's Fair and introduced the saw to Jim Whittaker at REI, then a small one-man shop. Whittaker ordered six saws initially, then twelve more before Richard arrived home. Over the years, the company has sold saws through L.L. Bean, ACE Hardware, Boy Scouts of America, and numerous independent local stores. Parts are shipped to Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka, a Minnesota nonprofit that provides job training and employment for people with disabilities, where they are packaged and shipped to distributors and retailers. This 15" blade folds into the handle, which is engraved with the inventor's signature. Weighs 10.6 oz. Folds to 17.25" x 1.5" x 5/8".

We did the math.

• 15" blade
• Blade folds into handle for safe storage
• Handle engraved with inventor's signature
• Weighs 10.6 oz
• Folds to 17.25" x 1.5" x 5/8"
• Parts manufactured and packaged in Minnesota
• Handle engraving doubles as proof you're taking this more seriously than necessary
• Designed for camping, backpacking, hunting, and yardwork