Longriders and packing

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I was looking for Del's sawbuck and stumbled on a discussion of packing with mules or horses;

http://www.thelongridersguild.com/oriental-wonder.htm

[Tsalagidave]

Nice find Charles. Another resource that I highly recommend is DC Beard. He covered packing  and driving in 2 of his books. An unexpected source is also the US Army Special Forces Guide Book. The module on packing and driving is quite extensive and mostly uses tried and true methods from our period of interest.

-Dave

[Blair]

I have to wonder if a bow saw, with a cross cut blade, would not be a lot more practical?
As for a sawbuck that two men would use with this saw? Would not the spokes on a wagon wheel work as well for a one man bow saw?
I guess my question is, Why carry all of this extra stuff around with you if your on the move all the time.
My best,
Blair

[pony express]

I doubt if a plainsman roaming around the plains carried a two man saw.

However, I expect the settler following along after him probably had one, although it wouldn't be much use until he got to the mountains and found large enough trees.

[The Elderly Kid]

When the western rivers opened up to steamboats, somebody had to go ahead of them first to establish woodlots to provide them with fuel. These "woodhogs" undoubtedly packed in bucksaws along with their axes and other tools. You could cut up trees into cordwood much faster that way.  Otherwise I think they would have appeared only with the first towns. In frontier America, every town had at least one sawpit where logs were sawn into planks.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The bucksaw, factory or DIY;

https://www.google.ca/search?q=buck+saw&biw=1252&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=EbbwVKiyKsetogSqqoLoAg&sqi=2&ved=0CCMQsAQ

Improvised sawbuck;

https://www.google.ca/search?q=buck+saw&biw=1252&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=EbbwVKiyKsetogSqqoLoAg&sqi=2&ved=0CCMQsAQ

I recall a sketch of a sawbuck made with a single X and a longer log slanted on it. (Google failed to confirm!)

[Blair]

All of this is great information.
The number of, and/or tooth design of the saw blade helps determine the best quality of the cut the saw maybe used for.
Some very large frame saws are used in sawing boards from heavy timbers, much like a pit saw might. These are usually two man type of sawing operations, again, much like the two man cross (grain) cut saw.

The frame or bow type saws could also have several saw blades with several very different numbers of  tooth counts that allow a different quality of wood cutting.
The really cool thing of these types of saw frame types is that they could be disassembled and stored in a rather small amount of space.
Transportation for such items  is going to be very important, not only for those that are constantly on the move, but also for those planning to be stationary.
My best,
Blair

[Don Nix]

Am I missing something or is this discussion about Sawbuck saddles or buck saws.I thought the initial posts were about horse and mule  packs.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Con Permisso! My thread!  Consider it part of a number of  threads where cast iron cooking morphed into a discussion of fuel, then then means to process the fuel, while on a trail drive, in the 18th Century West..............

You have to stay loose here.  Consider the whole picture

[Blair]

Perhaps I am the one that should be apologizing.

My original reply was based off of the "Longriders and packing" posted by Sir Charles. And, my reply was indeed based not only off of this thread, but, also off of several other posting within this same general gender.
My intent was not to hijack the thread, but was meant to try to tie them together with a bit of forethought and planning and still be able to keep your load on a horse or mule.
My best,
Blair

[Blair]

As a side note here, I don't recall having ever registered on this forum either.

Dave,
If that is the case... I again apologize.
Please sign me up.
My best,
Blair

[Don Nix]

I am sorry,wasnt being critical I just thought I had missed something.It went from pack saddles to buck saws. I thought naybe some one was confusing sawbuck saddles with buck saws. my mistake. I'l shut up

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I am sorry,wasnt being critical I just thought I had missed something.It went from pack saddles to buck saws. I thought naybe some one was confusing sawbuck saddles with buck saws. my mistake. I'l shut up

The traditional pack saddle is called the `sawbuck`. Does that clear it up

[pony express]

A little bit of "thread drift" just keeps things interesting....

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

One of the minor rules of thread hijack or thread drift is the consent of the original poster, actual, implied or assumed.

I just did a google translate check on my Spanglish; CON PERMISO

[Tsalagidave]

As a side note here, I don't recall having ever registered on this forum either.

Dave,
If that is the case... I again apologize.
Please sign me up.
My best,
Blair

It's done my friend. I just sent the request to the Marshall so that I can add you to the Stockade.

-Dave