A felling saw is generally less stiff than a bucking saw and the backside, as well as the cutting side, is usually curved inward.

Felling saws are more often used to cut down standing trees, so the thinner, lighter design is easier to use without gravity holding the blade against the cut.

Felling saws were used to fell the trees, and bucking saws were used to cut felled trees into lumber.

Larger saws used for forestry and logging work include both one-man and two-man saws, and both bucking and felling saws.

In America, crosscut saws were used as early as the mid-17th century, but felling saws only began to replace axes for felling trees in the late 19th century.

The two applications require slightly different designs: a felling saw has a narrower blade, allowing wedges to be more easily inserted, while a bucking saw has a wider blade, giving it more strength.