Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum looking for a freedom saw

I hear a lot of talk about Japanese saws and American hand saws but I don't hear anything on these forums about bow saws. I've only ever used them growing up cutting Christmas trees or cutting branches that got too close to a building. But, I had a boss in a shop once that talked about a framer he had that had one and said it cut quite quickly. Does anyone use them for framing on a regular basis? If so how?

I got my rip saw from an antique tools collector with a barrel full of hand saws. He liked the collecting aspect of it but his wife told him he had to sell some before he could buy more.

They may steer hard through deeper cuts, but with practice I am told they work well. I have often wanted to try one. You will want a good quality saw, not one of the cheese knock offs, I think Sanvic sold out to ??? I believe it would make a reasonable substitute for one of those orange saws. I don't see them working well in a combination rip/cross cut problem, say on a principle rafter.

Tim

p.s. Be careful of you thumb they jump around when starting and bite.