Bahco 396-JS Review (2026)

Name: Bahco 396-JS
Brand: Bahco
Price: 28.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 8.6 (1 reviews)

The 396-JS is Bahco's toothing variant built for orchard and vineyard work — cutting live, green wood quickly rather than dry deadfall. The wider gullet between teeth gives sawdust and wood chips more room to clear during the cut, which prevents the blade from binding in sappy, fresh-cut branches the way a standard fine-tooth blade can.

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$28 retail

8.6

/10

TrailCraft Score

What Works

Wide-gullet JS toothing is specifically designed for fast cuts in thick green branches
Same Swedish steel and hard-point teeth durability as the standard Laplander
Locks securely open and closed like the rest of Bahco's folding saw line

Limitations

Optimized for green wood, so it's less efficient on dry, seasoned deadfall than a hard-point-only blade
Same size and weight as the Laplander, so choosing between the two comes down to intended use

Specifications

Blade Length7.5" (190mm)

Teeth5 TPI hard-point, wide gullet

HandleTwo-component plastic

LockLocks open and closed

Country of OriginSweden

Score Breakdown

Cutting Speed (green wood)

9.2

Durability

9.0

Ergonomics

8.8

Value

8.7

What Sets It Apart

For campers, that makes it a strong pick specifically for clearing live low branches, saplings, or brush around a campsite, complementing rather than replacing a standard dry-wood saw like the base Laplander.

Bahco's wide-gullet toothing built specifically for fast cuts in thick, green branches

Who This Is For

The Bahco 396-JS is right for: campers doing site-clearing work on live branches and saplings, anyone who already owns a standard Laplander and wants a green-wood complement, and users cutting fresh-cut wood who've noticed a standard blade binding or clogging.

A note on pricing and links: Prices are current as of July 2026. Some links are affiliate links.

How It Compares

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Common Questions

How is the 396-JS different from the standard Bahco Laplander?

The 396-JS uses wider-gullet JS toothing specifically designed for cutting thick, green, live wood faster, while the standard Laplander's XT toothing is a more general-purpose grind that handles both green and dry wood reasonably well.

Can the 396-JS cut dry firewood?

It can, but it's optimized for green wood — for dry, seasoned deadfall and firewood processing, the standard Laplander or a hard-point-only blade will generally cut faster and more efficiently.

Does the 396-JS use the same handle as other Bahco folding saws?

Yes — it shares the same two-component ergonomic handle and open/closed locking mechanism as the rest of Bahco's 396-series folding saws, so the ergonomics carry over directly.