As far as saws go, I really like my 15-inch D-handle Fiskars Woodzig. It cuts aggressively on the backstroke (reducing blade binding -- actually, eliminating it if you cut from the top so that the weight of a weakened limb doesn't pinch the blade). I bought mine at Home Depot. Fiskars makes a smaller folding Woodzig model, but I don't have any experience with it.

I've used my 15-incher a lot, along with a Fiskars pole saw/pruner -- they've saved me a lot of money over having my trees trimmed. I don't like heights, so climbing up a ladder isn't a viable option. The key to using a pole saw is simply to extend it far enough that you're standing out from under where the limb will fall -- my pole saw also uses a Woodzig blade.

I've never used a Silky, but it really wouldn't surprise me if it out-cut all of the choppers. The big advantage for heavy blades is when it come to splitting or shaping wood.