Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Product Information

Shopping for pruners can get overwhelming, but really all you need are clippers that cut cleanly without hurting your hands. As a professional gardener, for over 20 years, I need a decent pair of bypass secateurs that will stay sharp and be able to withstand daily use without failing. 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.

According to topiary expert Darren Lerigo, most gardeners will find bypass secateurs to be the better bet, because they make for a cleaner cut. How do I care for the blades of my secateurs? New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).Davoen is a British manufacturer that you can always rely on for high-quality affordable products and are best for busy home gardeners. The Davoen Pro Bypass Secateurs have a quirky design that makes them stand out from the competition. The handles of these secateurs are well designed, with their auto-rotating feature that allows you to spread your fingers and use the tool without too much effort. Issues such as hand fatigue, muscle cramps and blisters are not common with these secateurs and that’s really a good thing. Those who suffer from hand ailments or the elderly will benefit greatly from these secateurs and you won’t find a better-priced pair. When buying the best secateurs for your own use there are other makes and models suited for individual needs. Below are my best secateurs suited for individual needs. 1.) Felco 2 – Best Overall 2.) Okatune 101 – Best for Small Hands 3.) Felco 9 – Best for Left Handed Gardeners 4.) Jardin de France – Best Ratchet Secateurs 5.) Gardena A/M – Best Anvil Secateurs 6.) Okatsune 103 – Best Japanese Secateurs Oil sponge: It’s quite rare, but some pruners feature an integrated oil sponge which you can use to clean and lubricate the blades after use.

After many hours of research and testing, there’s just no beating the Felco range of selectors, especially the Model 7 with its rotating handle, their superior quality and clean straight cutting performance as well as how they feel in your hand, makes them better than any other model we have looked at. 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?Blade: High-quality, sharp blades will create more precise results. Blades are normally made of steel, some stronger and more robust than others. The A/M is designed for the medium to large handed gardener and my first impressions this would suit medium to heavy use. 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

What will strike you with these secateurs is the quality of the blade. Made from the same steel used for Samurai swords the 103 effortlessly cuts through anything up to 25mm in diameter in its stride. This can also vary more than you expect, a pair of secateurs can weigh anywhere from under 100g up to 400g. A lighter weight is ideal for continued use and fine pruning, but heavier models can feel more robust. Replaceable blades and springs The blade has been grinded in two angles, so it will also smoothly cut through wood, and will not unnecessarily damage the plant. Due to the unique shape of the hollow ground blade the sap flows away from the blade, and the blades will not come apart. The V-shape of the spring ensures that the cutting load is distributed evenly over the length of the spring which guarantees a smooth closing. The Okatsune secateurs 103 are the most popular pruner in the range, with its length of 202 mm. The blades of this razor-sharp pruner are forged from the finest Japanese steel and enable you to effortlessly cut through branches up to 25 mm. Designed with a slightly longer handle for gardeners with a medium/large hand. An impressive 26mm cutting capacity means roses, shrubs and small branches can be pruned with ease.

These secateurs are of the optimum quality, crafted with top quality metal and are made from just two pieces of steel which makes them incredibly strong. Cuts are super clean and finished with a satisfying snip, that being said, we don’t think they have quite as much grip as the Felco models, however, other people might think differently. 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. My advise is to buy branded secateurs from a reputable, well known manufacturer in its field. I have mentioned the leading brands above. How smoothly the contraption can be manoeuvred one-handed will impact the efficiency of your green-fingered endeavours. Just make sure you invest in a quality product – which means good, sharp steel. The sharper the blade, the stronger the cut and the less force is required, which makes it the gentler on the wrists, says topiary expert Darren Lerigo who runs the Modern Mint online tool and gardening shop. If the blades can be sharpened, all the better.