Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Swanstrom.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Fast Bucksaw back around 1980, though at the time I didn’t realize it would turn into anything bigger than a small project for friends. We were out camping, and everyone kept complaining about the saws available. They were bulky aluminum things that didn’t fold, or if they did fold, they had loose parts that got lost too easily. The blades were exposed and would tear up packs, and honestly, none of them felt solid in the hand.
That got me thinking: there had to be a better way.
I tinkered with the idea of a bucksaw that could fold up neatly, with no loose parts to worry about, and a blade that was safely stored inside the handle. After some trial and error, I figured out a design that worked. The three pegs on top and bungee cords on each end kept everything tight, and when it was put together it felt like one solid piece of equipment—strong enough to take on an 8-inch log without question.
At first, I only made these saws for friends. But once I had a way to produce them in larger numbers, I started sharing them more widely. Since then, I’ve heard from so many campers who’ve told me the same thing: it’s the best saw they’ve ever used. That means a lot to me. The fact that it’s been written up in camping magazines is just the icing on the cake.
For me, the joy has always been in figuring out how to fix problems and then following through. Fast Bucksaw is a piece of that spirit—born from the campfire, made to last, and still something I’m proud to put in people’s hands today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Perhaps the biggest challenge for the business itself is that it is such a labor intensive product — and I’m a one-man show! I take pride in the craftmanship and design that goes into each saw so cutting corners is not an option. Each step of the manufacturing process is specifically laid out with set-ups for all the cutting, mitering, drilling, sanding and wood finishing processes involved.
Now, at age 83, while I can still ski down the side of a mountain, I no longer have the drive to continue mass producing the Fast Bucksaw. I would like to find someone who is interested in taking it on either as a business or hobby. The important thing to me is that this fabulous product can be enjoyed by those who appreciate how good it is.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Former Jr High Science Teacher
General Contractor
Inventor
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory, and probably still true to this day, is just fixing things! It starts with analyzing how things work, then using that knowledge to apply a fix. Fast Bucksaw was created by analyzing how something (the inferior saws) worked and then fixing the flaws.
Pricing:
- $90
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fastbucksaw.com/
