DEWALT 20V MAX Compact Cordless Reciprocating Saw, Tool Only (DCS387B) review

Compact body, two-handed saw

The DEWALT DCS387B is a 20V MAX tool-only reciprocating saw with a compact body aimed at working between studs and in other confined places. “Compact” describes the body and access role, not a one-handed operating method. The DCS387 Type 1 manual linked from this exact B page tells the operator to hold the saw firmly with both hands for every cutting operation. In the finder it therefore belongs with two-handed saws, including compact-bodied models—not with one-handed pruning tools.

The page lists a four-position blade clamp, tool-free blade changes, a 1-1/8-inch stroke, variable trigger from 0 to 2,900 SPM, an LED and a pivoting shoe. The four blade positions can help orient the blade for a flush cut or a different approach angle, and the manual explains that a horizontal blade position can reach close to floors, walls or ceilings where clearance is limited. That is a useful geometry option, but it cannot create clearance where the blade path, shoe or rear body still contacts the surrounding structure. Set up a representative cut safely rather than relying on the label “between studs.”

Tool-only means more than choosing a 20V label

The exact DCS387B page says its battery and charger are sold separately. Its in-box list names the saw but does not list a blade or bag. That differs from two separately assessed DCS387 kits: DCS387D1 lists a 2.0Ah DCB203 pack, DCB112 charger and bag, while DCS387P1 lists a 5Ah DCB205 pack and charger. Their package contents are not inherited by the B SKU, so check the whole model suffix and box list. If you already have a compatible DEWALT 20V MAX battery and charger, the tool-only route avoids duplicating those items; a new system buyer needs to account for them and for a suitable reciprocating blade.

The manual’s blade guidance is concrete: use a blade longer than 3-1/2 inches, keep it extending past the shoe and the full workpiece thickness throughout the stroke, and do not use a jigsaw blade. The clamp accepts the blade in a horizontal orientation for flush cutting, but the page does not document a named cut-capacity range or selectable orbital action. The source also does not identify the motor type, so a brushed or brushless comparison would be unsupported here.

What the published length and weight do—and do not—say

DEWALT’s product page describes the saw as 14 inches in total length and says that this design fits between studs. Its structured specification lists 14.56 inches as assembled-product length. The two values are not the same wording or precision; neither is separately identified as a bare saw-body clearance measurement. The page lists 5.58 pounds as assembled-product weight, not tool-only weight. Do not use that number as proof that the saw meets a strict bare-tool weight ceiling, and do not add a battery-on estimate without a documented battery-and-tool measurement.

For setup, install a compatible pack only after checking its model, lock the trigger when carrying, and remove the pack before blade changes. Clamp or support the workpiece rather than holding it in a free hand. Keep the shoe against the work where practical; the manual notes that blade pressure from angle or scroll cuts can increase vibration, kickback and blade breakage. Wear appropriate eye and hearing protection, take particular care overhead, and investigate concealed services before making a blind cut.

Who should compare the DCS387B?

The strongest documented case is a buyer already equipped for DEWALT 20V MAX who wants a compact-bodied, two-handed saw with a four-position tool-free clamp and pivoting shoe. The package may be a poor fit for someone expecting a battery, charger, blade or bag in the box, and the source set does not establish a bare-tool weight, motor type, orbital mode or exact clearance for a particular opening. Compare DCS387B against D1 and P1 by the components actually supplied, not by a shared family name. Confirm model suffix, battery, charger and blade separately before ordering. This is a catalog-based assessment, not a report of personal use or cutting tests.