Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Product Information

Topiary expert Lerigo devoutly describes his chosen make of Japanese secateurs, Okatsune, as a bit of kit that Marie Kondo would approve of: simple, effective, and capable of sparking joy, time and time again. The Hitachi Yasugi high carbon steel of these Okatsune secateurs stands out, producing a clean, precise, efficient cut. Apparently, they’re made with “Izumo” iron sand, which was used in the manufacturing of ancient Japanese swords.

Leather Holster 133 – Okatsune Leather Holster 133 – Okatsune

The thing you need to pay close attention to is what the blade is made blade. Some blades are made from quality hardened stainless steel and will last a lifetime, staying razor sharp even after lots of pruning. They can also be sharpened using a tungsten carbide blade or ceramic stone when needed and this should be done as soon as they start to feel less effective and take a little more effort to use. Look for hardened steel, most cheap secateurs often break at the blade. How your hand size effects which model to considerSearch for best secateurs any where on the web and these are probably 3 names that will come up, Okatsune is one of them. The non slip, red coated handles make these garden secateurs easy to find in sunny conditions (if your forgetful like me). They are comfortable in the hand and feel well balanced.

Okatsune Secateurs - Beechfield Bonsai Okatsune Secateurs - Beechfield Bonsai

If you suffer fromcarpal tunnel, arthritis or have the distinct disadvantage of having smaller or weak hands, then these are the best choice for you. However, topiary expert Lerigo says he found the latch used to open them involved too much fumbling around on ladders for his liking, a situation not helped by cold, numb or gloved hands. As much as I wanted to love them, and despite the superior, precise blade, Lerigo was right: the catch mechanism used to open and close them is fiddly compared with its smoother competitors, and nigh impossible with gardening gloves on or one-handed, up a ladder, because the clasp requires a thumb to be operated. I also found that my own hands were slightly too small for them. Choosing a new pair of garden pruners is not as easy as you might think. First of all, you need to consider what type of secateurs would be best for your needs. Are you just looking for an everyday pair for light trimming, or do you often face heavy set branches? Next, you need to think about comfort, do you need extra cushioning or even a revolving handle to make the job a little easier? My advise is to buy branded secateurs from a reputable, well known manufacturer in its field. I have mentioned the leading brands above. No comprehensive guide to secateurs would be complete without referencing Wilkinson Sword: as well as Felco, these are some of the most ubiquitous, lower budget pruning shears to be found in the UK. I was reasonably impressed: they come with a 10 year guarantee and are made with fairly good quality SK5 Japanese steel blades. The cast aluminium handles are strong and lighter than many others (they weigh 216g in total), and the grip is fine.

With its ingenious rotating handle the P961 takes up to 3x less effort when pruning. This is due to the load being spread across all joints. Finally, they have a good cutting capacity of 25mm and can cut in tight areas where some other models might struggle, especially anvil models. Our recommendation

Okatsune Okatsune

Leading pruning specialist Jake Hobson learnt the craft of tree training, pruning and rootballing in rural Osaka, and founded Niwaki (it means “garden tree”) to bring Japanese techniques to Western gardens. “A good pair of secateurs is the single most important bit of kit for any gardener,” he explains. His range of secateurs doesn’t disappoint. The bypass designs have a simple, chunky catch at the bottom, just like the Okatsune.Mechanism: bypass (see FAQ at the bottom of this feature for the difference between bypass and anvil secateurs) With anvil secateurs, the blade comes down and meets the anvil to create the cut. Think of a crushing action.