Pruners, shears, and bypass pruners

J

jurisprudence

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Jul 17, 2009
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414
I have been looking at some pruners, shears, and bypass pruners, and I thought that some of my fellow knife fans may have some opinions. After all, we do appreciate quality tools that hold an edge.

Felco, Toro, Corona, and Bahco are on my list. Pruners will likely be Felco. Considering the other brands for shears and bypass pruners. Opinions and experiences would be appreciated. Also, regarding shears, manual only. Power tools have their benefits, but manual will be my choice.
 
I have a bunch of different brands, but I always go back to an old Corona bypass pruner. Mine have the handle and blade forged in one piece and made in the USA. If what I'm cutting is too large for these, I either use a lopper or a folding saw.

Corona Clipper BP 3160

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I have a pair of these that my sister gave me a few years back. http://www.amazon.com/Bahco-Ergo-Bypass-Pruner-PX-M2/dp/B000288W96

I love 'em. Before these, I didn't know what the difference was between cheap pruners and proper ones. They never bind up, I haven't had to sharpen them yet (though I should probably touch 'em up a bit) and as long as I have the strength to squeeze 'em, they can cut whatever fits between those blades.

Other than this, I have a set of no-name hedge shears, Fiskars loppers and a folding saw that I've used a few times.
 
id go with the felco pruners for sure. I am a pro gardener and find they have never let me down. They hold an edge well, easy to sharpen and are very ergonomic

Personally, havent found any shears I have been super happy with at this point, I tend to use power hedgers so they arent really used much
 
I was a nurseryman for 20 plus years. I could do alot with Corona 80s or 60s. However, Felco is a grade above Corona.
 
i picked up a new set of hand shears at the beginning of last season, some bahco ph-51 with the extended aluminum handles, which really helped out. on a 6' foot laurel hedge i usually had to go onto the neighbours to finish the last bit, with the longer handles i can finish everything from the clients yard. they have 12'' forged straight edged blades that i didn't need to touch up till the end of the season. the only complaint were the dummy stops on the handles. they were to big so that the blades would not cut to the very tip with out pressure, so i had to cut them down. but that is it.
 
You really ought to try Felco. I have a #2 that I got in the 70's as a kid and only recently replaced the blade on it. Smooth as butter and comfortable in the hand.
 
If you're serious about using the best pruners available, don't bother with Felco, Corona, etc. Check out Okatsune pruners. I have used the same pair of 8" pruners professionally for the last 9 years and they will definitely outlast me.
I don't know anything about this vendor as I bought mine at a trade show but at least you can see them here:
http://www.niwaki.com/store/okatsune-secateurs-pruners/
If you'd like to know some of the reasons I feel they're better than Felco's just let me know.
 
hoopster said:
If you're serious about using the best pruners available, don't bother with Felco, Corona, etc. Check out Okatsune pruners. I have used the same pair of 8" pruners professionally for the last 9 years and they will definitely outlast me.
I don't know anything about this vendor as I bought mine at a trade show but at least you can see them here:
http://www.niwaki.com/store/okatsune-secateurs-pruners/
If you'd like to know some of the reasons I feel they're better than Felco's just let me know.
Click to expand...

Please elaborate. I am ready to learn something, and love the Japanese edged tools I have owned.
 
Bill1170 said:
Please elaborate. I am ready to learn something, and love the Japanese edged tools I have owned.
Click to expand...

The Okatsune pruners have excellent steel. I don't know what it is (def. not stainless but I've never had rust, just patina) it takes a sharp edge and holds it like a good japanese steel should. The spring is a wire loop instead of the accordion style felco uses. I think it even came with a replacement spring but I'm not sure as I've never had to replace it. I've seen rusted and twisted felco springs before. The handles are all steel covered by a rubber/plastic tool handle covering and I could easily put these pruners on a thick branch and hammer with a 5 pound sledge without worrying about breaking them. They are also comfortable for hard or prolonged use as are the felcos.
The locking mechanism is at the rear of the handles and works the same every time with a solid "clack" unlike the little felco lock which can get loose or gritty or stuck.
I have never had to adjust the pivot in 9 years.
They just have a quality feel that's hard to explain but very few tools I've ever handled could rival.
I do carry them in a leather felco sheath though. :D
 
Thanks, Hoopster. They sound really nice. Does the design allow you to sharpen/polish the flat side of the blade where it meets the other blade? I mean by taking the pivot apart. The newer Felco blade steel seems less good than the older stuff, so I am interested in these for personal use.
 
Bill1170 said:
Thanks, Hoopster. They sound really nice. Does the design allow you to sharpen/polish the flat side of the blade where it meets the other blade? I mean by taking the pivot apart. The newer Felco blade steel seems less good than the older stuff, so I am interested in these for personal use.
Click to expand...

I think you could sharpen the flat by taking them apart but I've never had them apart. I just sharpen as much as I can reach of the beveled side with a diamond rod and run a dmt diamond stone across the flat side just to make sure there aren't any burrs. They really don't need much sharpening unless you run into some barbed wire in a branch or something like that.
Most people will be happy with felcos, coronas etc. for normal use but I consider them throw away tools. For just a few dollars more one could have a lifetime tool if so desired. The average Felco pruners run in the low $40's, The Okatsunes roughly $50. I don't let anyone borrow my Okatsunes unless it's for a quick cut and I'm watching so I get them right back. ;)
 
Thalestin said:
Personally, havent found any shears I have been super happy with at this point, I tend to use power hedgers so they arent really used much
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ARS and Okatsune both make serious shears, not "American/Western" style shears. Watch your fingers. :p

BTW, here's what A.M. Leonard's website says for the okatsune pruner steel, "Izumo Yasuki steel, Rockwell hardness of 60+/-61."
 
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When researching Okatsune, I stumbled across Tobisho pruners. Tobisho are hand-made and have laminated steel blades. Check them out here at http://botanysaurus.com/jg/tools.html

I ordered the Tobisho's today. Okatsune's are probably more practical, with the rubber coated handles, but I was drawn to the craftsmanship of the Tobisho's.
 
Those Tobisho's look nice! The craftsmanship looks top notch, it would be interesting to compare the feel in hand of those two and the cutting angles as well. I can tell you that the Okatsunes are comfortable and efficient for hours on end of hard cutting. The great thing about both of these pruners is that you can buy and try some of the best in the world for $50-$70. You can't say that about knives :)
ARS also makes some great pruners but they also have some models I was not as impressed with.
Enjoy!
 
I bought a Felco #2 hand pruner 15 or 16 years ago and have been using them gardening and pruning on my acreage ever since. They came with an extra blade, which I have no idea where it is the original is still going strong.

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