By the crew at Bartlett Arborist Supply — outfitting professional climbers and tree crews from Michigan since 1912.
Silky saws have earned a near-cult following among arborists for one reason: they cut faster and cleaner than almost anything else you can hang on a saddle. But Silky's lineup is deep — folding saws, fixed-blade saws, pole saws, and multiple tooth configurations — and the names (Pocketboy, Gomboy, Zubat, Sugoi) don't tell you much on their own. This guide breaks down the models in our Silky Saws collection, what each is built for, and how to choose.
Quick answer: which Silky saw should I buy?
- Everyday carry / homeowner pruning: Silky Pocketboy — compact folding saw that fits in a pocket or pouch.
- All-around arborist folding saw: Silky Gomboy — the step up in blade length and cutting capacity while still folding.
- Big folding saw for large limbs: Silky Bigboy 2000 — XL teeth, two-hand capable, still folds.
- Professional climbing saw (fixed blade): Silky Zubat — the classic curved scabbard saw most working climbers carry.
- Maximum speed on big wood: Silky Sugoi or Sugowaza — aggressive XL-tooth curved blades for production work.
- Straight-blade precision pruning: Silky Gomtaro 300 — favored for fine pruning and root work.
- Ground work on large limbs: Silky Ibuki 390 — big fixed blade, XL teeth.
- Overhead work: Silky Longboy / pole saw blades — reach without leaving the ground.
Folding vs. fixed blade: the first decision
Folding saws (Pocketboy, Gomboy, Bigboy) protect the blade in the handle, ride safely in a pocket or gear bag, and are ideal for occasional use, hiking, hunting, and homeowners. The tradeoff is a pivot joint that adds a little flex.
Fixed-blade saws (Zubat, Sugoi, Sugowaza, Gomtaro, Ibuki) are stiffer, faster, and carried in a scabbard on the saddle or belt. Working climbers overwhelmingly choose fixed blades: draw, cut, re-sheath, all one-handed.
The folding saws
Silky Pocketboy
The Pocketboy is the saw people buy first and keep forever. It's small enough for a pocket, cuts far above its size, and comes in multiple blade lengths and tooth configurations (fine teeth for smooth cuts on green wood; larger teeth for faster, rougher cuts). If you prune fruit trees, maintain a yard, camp, or want a backup saw in the truck, this is the one.
Best for: homeowners, campers, EDC, light pruning.
Silky Gomboy
Same folding convenience as the Pocketboy with a longer blade and more cutting capacity per stroke. The Gomboy 210 medium-teeth we stock hits the sweet spot for general pruning: limbs up to roughly forearm thickness without breaking a sweat. It's also a popular backup saw for climbers who want a folder in the gear bag.
Best for: serious pruning, small tree work, a do-everything folder.
Silky Bigboy 2000
The Bigboy is what happens when a folding saw grows up. With its XL-tooth blade and a handle big enough for two hands, it rips through limbs that would stall smaller folders — yet it still folds flat for transport. Popular with firewood cutters, hunters clearing shooting lanes, and anyone who wants near-fixed-blade performance in a folding package.
Best for: large limbs, storm cleanup, firewood, camp saws.
The fixed-blade professional saws
Silky Zubat
Ask ten climbers what's in their scabbard and most will say Zubat. The curved blade pulls itself into the cut, the teeth clear chips fast, and the length options cover everything from fine work to serious limb removal. The Zubat 330 we carry is the workhorse middle of the range. If you climb for a living and don't own one, start here. We stock replacement blades too — the handle outlives many blades.
Best for: professional climbers, daily production tree work.
Silky Sugoi
The Sugoi is the Zubat's more aggressive sibling: bigger teeth, faster (rougher) cuts, and a distinctive handle with a hook-style guard that lets you hang and retrieve it easily aloft. Where the Zubat balances speed and finish, the Sugoi is built for speed. The 360mm blade eats big limbs.
Best for: production climbing, big wood, climbers who prioritize speed.
Silky Sugowaza
The Sugowaza takes the aggressive XL-tooth concept even further with a 420mm blade — one of the fastest hand saws Silky makes. It blurs the line between hand saw and small chainsaw for single big cuts, without the noise, fuel, or ear protection.
Best for: ground crews, big removals, chainsaw-free jobs.
Silky Gomtaro 300
Unlike the curved saws above, the Gomtaro runs a straight 300mm blade, which gives you precise control of the cut line — the reason it's a favorite for fine ornamental pruning, Japanese-style pruning, and root pruning. Replacement blades available.
Best for: precision pruning, orchard and ornamental work.
Silky Ibuki 390
A big, XL-tooth fixed blade built for heavy cutting from the ground. Think of it as Sugowaza-class aggression in Silky's beefiest hand-saw format.
Best for: ground work, storm damage, large limb bucking.
Pole saws and reach
For overhead cuts without climbing, Silky's pole saw line (and our Longboy pole saw blades) put that same tooth geometry on extendable poles. Pair with a fresh blade — a sharp Silky pole saw out-cuts a dull powered pole pruner more often than you'd think.
Tooth size explained (fine vs. medium vs. XL)
- Fine teeth: smoothest finish, best on small-diameter green wood and precision cuts.
- Medium teeth: the all-around choice — good speed, good finish.
- Large/XL teeth: maximum speed on big wood; rougher finish. Ideal when the limb is hitting the chipper anyway.
Replacement blades: buy the handle once
Every Silky we've covered accepts replacement blades, and blades are consumables in professional use. We stock replacement blades for the Gomtaro 300, Zubat 330, Sugoi 360, and more. A new blade restores factory-fresh cutting for a fraction of the cost of a new saw.
Frequently asked questions
Are Silky saws worth the money?
For anyone cutting regularly, yes. The taper-ground, impulse-hardened blades cut noticeably faster and stay sharp longer than hardware-store saws. Professionals treat them as standard equipment, not a luxury.
Can Silky blades be sharpened?
The impulse-hardened teeth can't be sharpened with a standard file. The intended approach is blade replacement — which is why we stock replacement blades for the popular models.
Pocketboy or Gomboy?
Pocketboy if portability wins (pocket, glovebox, pack). Gomboy if cutting capacity wins (bigger limbs, fewer strokes). Many people end up with both.
Zubat or Sugoi?
Zubat for the best balance of speed and cut quality — the default professional choice. Sugoi when raw speed matters more than a clean cut face.
Do you ship Silky saws for free?
Yes — Bartlett Arborist Supply offers free shipping. Browse our full Silky Saws collection to see current stock and pricing.
Bartlett Arborist Supply has been outfitting tree workers for over a century. Questions about which saw fits your work? Call us at (989) 635-8900 — a real person who has used these saws will answer.