Today we’d like to introduce you to Linnea Swenson Tellekson.
Hi Linnea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My father invented the Sven-Saw, the first folding bow saw, in 1961 as the result of a trip into what is now the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A party was rushing out because a man had cut his foot with an ax. My dad thought, “there’s got to be a better way.”
Within a year he had invented it! In 1962 he went to the World‘s Fair in Seattle, and his second sale was to Jim Whitaker at REI, when REI was one store with that one employee.
We have been manufacturing Sven-Saws in Minnesota ever since.The only imported part is the Swedish steel blade.
REIs, outdoors, and hardware stores all across the country and Canada sell Sven-Saws to people eager for outdoor adventures. The Sven-Saw makes cutting wood easy, whether it’s in the wilderness or the backyard.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
With 65 years of experience, we’ve had bumpy and smooth roads all along the way. Occasionally, there are manufacturing problems, but because we are all within Minnesota, problems are easily addressed and fixed.
The biggest complaint we ever get about the Sven-Saw is that people lose the wing nut that attaches the blade to the handle and safely hides the blade when not in use. The simple solution was to include an extra wingnut with every saw!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We make the most durable folding camp saw on the market. We regularly hear from customers who bought their Sven-Saw in the 1960s or 70s. We are proud to be able to continue to help them and keep their beloved tool working for them.
We have always been family owned and run. My aunt, my mother, and my father all ran it before I took over with my husband in 2020.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I had a long and full career in public education as a teacher and administrator before I accepted this honor from my dad, who was then 87 years old.
Pricing:
- $59.95, 21” Sven-Saw
- $49.95, 15” Sven-Saw
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Svensaw.com
- Instagram: @svensawofficial
