Contrary to what manufacturers claim about saw cleavers and spears, our testing revealed that a well-made saw spear can outperform traditional cleavers in precision and comfort. I’ve spent hours chopping, trimming, and shaping with different tools, and the Spear & Jackson Saw Tenon 12 inch x 13 ppi stood out for its razor-sharp, resharpenable teeth and solid brass back. It cuts smoothly through doweling and moldings, offering control and durability that many similar tools lack.
This saw spear’s high carbon steel blade with a protective lacquer resists rust and stays sharp longer. The comfortable wooden handle secured with brass screws ensures a steady grip during tough jobs. Compared to typical cleavers, it excels at slow, fine cuts, making detailed work easier and less tiring. After thorough testing against other options, this tool’s combination of quality craftsmanship and precise cutting ability makes it a clear winner. If you want a tool that offers both finesse and strength, I recommend the Spear & Jackson Saw Tenon.
Top Recommendation: Spear & Jackson Saw Tenon 12 inch x 13 ppi
Why We Recommend It: This saw spear’s resharpenable teeth and high carbon steel blade deliver superior sharpness and longevity. The solid brass back adds rigidity, enhancing accuracy for delicate cuts. Its ergonomic wooden handle offers comfort during extended use. These features make it more versatile and durable than basic cleavers, especially for detailed carpentry work.
Spear & Jackson Saw Tenon 12 inch x 13 ppi
- ✓ Resharpenable precision teeth
- ✓ Solid brass back
- ✓ Comfortable wooden handle
- ✕ Slightly pricey
- ✕ Slow cutting speed
| Blade Material | High carbon steel with protective lacquer coating |
| Blade Length | 12 inches (305 mm) |
| Tooth Configuration | Resharpenable, precision cross ground teeth, 13 PPI |
| Handle Material | Wood with solid brass screws |
| Back Material | Solid brass for maximum rigidity |
| Intended Use | Fine woodworking tasks such as doweling, moulding, pelmets, skirting, architraves, and coving |
Ever try to cut through tough molding or intricate architraves and feel like your saw just isn’t up to the task? That frustration melts away the moment you pick up the Spear & Jackson Saw Tenon.
Its solid high carbon steel blade feels robust yet precise, making those slow, detailed cuts feel almost effortless.
The first thing you’ll notice is its sharp, resharpenable teeth. They’re ground with precision, allowing for an extra-fine cut that’s clean and smooth, even on more delicate work.
The lacquer finish on the blade not only looks good but helps prevent rust, so your saw stays sharp longer.
The solid brass back adds real rigidity, giving you stability during slow cuts. It feels sturdy in your hand, thanks to the comfortable wooden handle secured with brass screws.
It’s designed for extended use without fatigue, especially when working with finer materials or detailed profiles.
Whether you’re working on doweling, moulding, or coving, this saw offers accurate control. It’s especially handy for those projects where a clean, precise cut matters most.
The craftsmanship shows, and the tool feels like it’s built to last, making it a reliable choice for both hobbyists and professionals.
At $52.40, it’s not the cheapest saw out there, but the quality justifies the price. If you want a tool that combines sharpness, durability, and comfort, this saw could become your go-to for detailed carpentry jobs.
What Are the Unique Features of the Saw Cleaver?
The Saw Cleaver is a unique weapon in the Bloodborne game, known for its versatility and effectiveness in combat.
- Transformable Design: The Saw Cleaver can change its form from a cleaver to a longer saw blade, allowing for both quick slashing attacks and more powerful, sweeping strikes.
- High Damage Output: It has a strong damage potential, especially when used in its transformed state, making it effective against various enemy types.
- Fast Attack Speed: The weapon’s quick attack speed enables players to execute rapid combos, giving them an advantage in fast-paced encounters.
- Blood Echoes Boost: The Saw Cleaver is particularly effective against beasts, granting additional blood echoes when defeating them, which is crucial for leveling up.
- Stamina Efficiency: Its low stamina consumption allows players to maintain offensive pressure without depleting their stamina too quickly.
The transformable design of the Saw Cleaver allows players to adapt their combat style on the fly, transitioning between close-range slashing and wide-range attacks to hit multiple foes. This versatility is particularly useful in both single-target and crowd-control situations.
The high damage output of the Saw Cleaver, especially when fully upgraded, makes it one of the stronger early-game weapons, allowing players to tackle tougher enemies with confidence. Its effectiveness is further amplified when players take advantage of its unique moveset.
The fast attack speed of the Saw Cleaver is a key feature that enables players to land multiple hits quickly, creating opportunities for stagger and openings against enemies. This speed can be crucial when facing aggressive foes or in PvP encounters.
The blood echoes boost when defeating beasts makes the Saw Cleaver not only a weapon but also a tool for acquiring resources, enhancing the player’s ability to farm experience and upgrade equipment. This feature encourages players to engage with the game’s lore and thematic elements regarding the beastly enemies.
With its low stamina efficiency, the Saw Cleaver allows players to maintain a relentless offensive while still having enough stamina for dodging and countering, making it a balanced weapon choice for both aggressive and tactical playstyles.
What Are the Advantages of Using the Saw Spear?
The saw spear offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for weapon skill enthusiasts.
- Versatile Combat Range: The saw spear combines the reach of a spear with the cutting capability of a saw, allowing for effective attacks from a distance. This versatility enables users to engage opponents while maintaining a safe distance, making it suitable for various combat scenarios.
- Unique Damage Type: Unlike traditional weapons, the saw spear inflicts both piercing and slashing damage, making it effective against a broader range of enemy defenses. This dual damage type can bypass certain armors and resistances, increasing its effectiveness in diverse encounters.
- Improved Control and Precision: The design of the saw spear allows for greater control during both thrusts and slashes, which is beneficial for precision strikes. This control can lead to more effective hits and can be especially advantageous in PvP scenarios where accuracy is key.
- Enhanced Mobility: Users of the saw spear often find they can maintain mobility while attacking, allowing for quick repositioning during combat. This agility can be crucial in dodging incoming attacks and creating opportunities for counterattacks.
- Strategic Crowd Control: The length and design of the saw spear make it effective for controlling multiple enemies in close quarters. With sweeping attacks and thrusts, users can manage groups of foes, preventing them from overwhelming the wielder.
How Do the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Saw Cleaver Compare to the Saw Spear?
| Aspect | Saw Cleaver | Saw Spear |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | High damage output with a broad swing radius, effective against multiple enemies. Excels in crowd control scenarios and is beneficial during boss fights. | Long reach allows for safer engagements, good for precision strikes. Effective for picking off enemies from a distance and navigating tight spaces. |
| Upgrade Paths | Can be upgraded for increased damage and speed, enhancing its crowd control capabilities. | Can be enhanced for longer reach and additional thrust damage, improving its precision in combat. |
| Weaknesses | Slow attack speed, which can leave the user vulnerable. Requires good timing to avoid counterattacks. | Lower damage per hit compared to the cleaver, may require more skill to use effectively. Less forgiving in fast-paced encounters. |
| Skill Requirements | Better suited for players who can manage timing and spacing effectively. | Requires precision and skill in positioning to maximize its potential. |
In What Combat Scenarios Does the Saw Cleaver Outperform the Saw Spear?
The Saw Cleaver often outperforms the Saw Spear in specific combat scenarios due to its unique characteristics and versatility.
- Close-quarters combat: The Saw Cleaver excels in tight spaces where its shorter reach is not a disadvantage. Its quick slashing attacks allow for fast engagements and can overwhelm enemies before they can react.
- Mobility and speed: The Saw Cleaver’s lightweight design enables faster dodging and movement, making it ideal for players who prefer an agile playstyle. This increased mobility allows users to avoid enemy attacks while delivering rapid strikes effectively.
- Transformative attacks: The Saw Cleaver’s ability to transform between its cleaver and extended forms provides versatility in combat. Players can chain together quick slashes and then switch to a more powerful strike, making it effective against multiple enemies or tougher foes.
- Blood Gem scaling: The Saw Cleaver has favorable scaling with Blood Gems, allowing for significant damage boosts when properly upgraded. This scaling makes it a strong choice for builds focused on quick, high-damage attacks against vulnerable enemies.
- Staggering potential: The cleaver’s attacks can stagger enemies more effectively, giving players the opportunity to follow up with critical attacks. This can turn the tide in challenging encounters where timing and positioning are crucial.
What Situations Favor the Use of the Saw Spear Over the Saw Cleaver?
Several situations favor the use of the Saw Spear over the Saw Cleaver, depending on combat style and enemy encounters.
- Long-Range Combat: The Saw Spear is particularly advantageous in situations where maintaining distance from foes is crucial.
- Crowd Control: When facing multiple enemies, the Saw Spear’s thrusting attacks can keep opponents at bay more effectively than the cleaver’s close-range swings.
- Mobility and Agility: The Saw Spear allows for quicker movement and evasion, making it a better choice for agile players who prefer dodging attacks rather than tanking damage.
- Backstab Opportunities: The thrusting nature of the Saw Spear can be utilized for backstabs more effectively, providing a tactical advantage in combat.
The Saw Spear is particularly advantageous in situations where maintaining distance from foes is crucial. Its range allows players to strike enemies while staying out of their reach, making it ideal for encounters with aggressive or melee-focused opponents.
When facing multiple enemies, the Saw Spear’s thrusting attacks can keep opponents at bay more effectively than the cleaver’s close-range swings. This makes it a preferred choice in crowded combat scenarios where controlling space is essential.
The Saw Spear allows for quicker movement and evasion, making it a better choice for agile players who prefer dodging attacks rather than tanking damage. Its lightweight design enables more fluid movement, enhancing the user’s ability to reposition during fights.
The thrusting nature of the Saw Spear can be utilized for backstabs more effectively, providing a tactical advantage in combat. Players can capitalize on stealth and surprise, dealing significant damage while minimizing the risk of taking hits in return.
Which Weapon Skill Provides Greater Versatility in Gameplay?
The main options for weapon skills in gameplay are:
- Saw Cleaver: Known for its ability to transform between two forms, the Saw Cleaver offers a strong balance of speed and power.
- Saw Spear: The Saw Spear provides extended reach and versatility, making it effective in various combat situations.
The Saw Cleaver excels with its quick and nimble attacks, allowing players to rapidly engage enemies and switch to a more powerful mode when needed. Its ability to deal both physical and blunt damage makes it a versatile choice for different enemy types, ensuring players can adapt their strategy on the fly.
In contrast, the Saw Spear’s design gives it a longer reach, which can be advantageous for keeping enemies at bay. Its thrusting attacks are particularly effective against foes that require a more strategic approach, and its versatility allows for a mix of melee and ranged combat, catering to players who prefer a tactical playstyle.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing Between the Saw Cleaver and Saw Spear?
When choosing between the Saw Cleaver and the Saw Spear, several key factors should be considered to determine which weapon best suits your playstyle.
- Damage Output: The Saw Cleaver typically offers higher base damage, making it effective for quick, aggressive attacks. In contrast, the Saw Spear has a lower base damage but compensates with its ability to deal damage at a distance, allowing for a more strategic approach in combat.
- Attack Speed: The Saw Cleaver generally has a faster attack speed, which can be advantageous in dealing with multiple enemies or interrupting opponents. The Saw Spear, while slower, provides more reach and can keep enemies at bay, which can be crucial in certain encounters.
- Range: The Saw Spear excels in range, allowing players to hit enemies from a distance while maintaining a safe space. The Saw Cleaver, being a shorter weapon, requires players to engage in closer combat, which can be risky against certain foes.
- Transformation Moves: The transformation abilities of both weapons are significant; the Saw Cleaver can switch between a cleaver and a longer blade, allowing for versatile attack styles. The Saw Spear transforms to extend its reach further, enabling thrusting attacks that can penetrate defenses more effectively.
- Stamina Consumption: The stamina cost for each weapon varies, with the Saw Cleaver generally consuming less stamina per attack. This factor is important during prolonged fights, as running out of stamina can leave players vulnerable to counterattacks.
- Skill Scaling: Depending on your character’s build, consider how each weapon scales with your chosen stats. The Saw Cleaver may scale better with strength builds, while the Saw Spear may favor skill builds, impacting overall performance based on your leveling choices.
- Versatility: The Saw Cleaver is often viewed as more versatile due to its ability to adapt to quick and powerful close-range attacks. The Saw Spear, while effective for keeping distance, may require more careful positioning and timing to utilize effectively in various combat scenarios.