Demonstration of felling with axe and hand saw
Photographs courtesy of Robbie Bruce, Drummuir, who with his three brothers took part in a felling demonstration using axes and cross cut saws in Glenlivet forest possibly around 1995-1998. Charlie, Jimmy and Gordon Smith and Robbie Bruce sharpened up some old axes, reset and sharpened old hand saws and proceeded to lay in, fell, sned and cross cut some modest sized Norway spruce trees in the forest.
This is a view of Gordon and Jimmy Smith (on right) on the cross cut saw cutting off the felling hinge of the recently felled tree. Note the use of the ‘measuring spoke’ to lift the butt clear of the ground to allow the saw clearance to cut right through to the bottom of the butt. Jim is actually holding the spoke in place using his knee as he works the saw.
The ‘measuring spoke’ was used to measure the lengths of the products the tree was cut into. Normally there were several lengths marked on the spoke for the different products being cut. The cross cut saw has very wide gullets and is possibly an American make such as a Disston
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Northeast Scotland , Tools, equipment and clothing