
Spear & Jackson Back Saw 22-inch
Score: 78/100
Suizan Ryoba
Score: 92/100Rankings

The Suizan Ryoba is a professional-grade Japanese pull saw featuring a 9.5-inch double-edge blade with 9 TPI for rip cuts and 15 TPI for cross cuts. It utilizes razor-sharp Japanese steel with a thin kerf to deliver clean, precise cuts with minimal effort, available in folding and fixed handle variants.

The Spear & Jackson 9500R is a traditional 22-inch skew back hand saw designed for general-purpose woodworking tasks. It features a high carbon steel blade with 10 PPI precision cross-ground teeth, making it suitable for cutting along or across the grain on various wood-based materials. It is best suited for DIY woodworkers and carpenters needing a versatile hand saw for fine to medium cuts.
| Attribute | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
22 inchesbest | 9.5 inches | |
10 TPIbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.32 lbs | 0.44 lbsbest |
25.2 inchesbest | 23.62 inches | |
1 mmbest | 0.5 mm | |
— | 2.5 inchesbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
Handle & Ergonomics(2) | ||
Handle Material | Wood | Cane-wrapped or Polypropylene |
Handle Type | Traditional Handle | Interchangeable |
Dimensions & Weight(2) | ||
Weight (lbs) | 1.32 lbs | 0.44 lbs |
Overall Length (inches) | 25.2 inches | 23.62 inches |
Performance & Usage(4) | ||
Intended Use | General-purpose woodworking | Woodworking |
Saw Type | Skew Back Saw | Japanese Pull Saw |
Cutting Action | Unidirectional | Pull |
Suitable Materials | Wood, Chipboard, Plywood | Wood |
Blade Specifications(4) | ||
Blade Length (inches) | 22 inches | 9.5 inches |
Teeth Per Inch (TPI) (TPI) | 10 TPI | 9/15 TPI |
Blade Material | High carbon steel | Japanese Steel |
Blade Thickness (mm) | 1.00 mm | 0.5 mm |
Build & Durability(2) | ||
Blade Coating | Lacquer | null |
Replaceable Blade | false | true |
General(1) | ||
Warranty | Quality Guarantee | null |

Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).

No direct quotes from professional reviewers or editors appear in the search results. Manufacturer and retailer specifications emphasize its fast, rapid, and clean cutting action, positioning it as a reliable traditional tool suitable for precision work on planed wood and trim.
Search results contain no consumer reviews, ratings, or testimonials. Common praise and complaints cannot be detailed due to the absence of user feedback data in the provided sources.

“My personal favorite for all around hand sawing”

“Razor-sharp cuts immediately; smooth, clean edges on various woods”




Professional reviewers, including Jonathan Katz-Moses, praise the Suizan Ryoba as a personal favorite for all-around hand sawing due to its weight balance, sharp edge, and thin kerf. Experts highlight the efficiency of the pull-stroke design and the durability of the Japanese steel, though they note that users must adapt to the non-cutting forward motion.
Everyday consumers commonly praise the saw for its immediate sharpness, smooth cutting performance, and lightweight efficiency compared to Western saws. Users appreciate the versatility of the dual-edge blade and the value for Japanese quality. Recurring complaints focus on the difficulty of cleaning cane handles, the initial learning curve for the pull stroke, and occasional cosmetic cracks in the hand-wrapped handles.