Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Product Information

The Okatsune 104 bypass pruners are particularly suitable for the large hand with their length of 210mm (8mm longer than model 103). 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, of such as shrubs, roses, fruit trees, and creepers. Part No. 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 My advise is to buy branded secateurs from a reputable, well known manufacturer in its field. I have mentioned the leading brands above.

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? Many people literally have secateurs for a whole lifetime. If you buy a decent pair then there is no reason you won’t have yours to pass on to future generations. Being hardened steel they keep a sharp edge for longer between sharpening’s. Handy if your not that diligent at keeping your tools sharp.

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.

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. 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.These are, without a doubt, the best ratchet secateurs we have ever had the chance to review. We have tried quite a few ratchet secateurs in previous years and we can confirm we have never come across a better pair of secateurs with the ratchet feature. Mechanism: bypass (see FAQ at the bottom of this feature for the difference between bypass and anvil secateurs)

The Model 2 secateurs are solid pruning shears. The razor sharp, strengthened carbon steel blades give a crisp, effortless, clean cut through stems, roses, shrubbery and light branches. The Okatsune 103 is the most popular pruner in the range. With its length of 202mm this model is 20mm larger than model 101, and 8mm smaller than model 104. The blades of this razor-sharp pruner are forged from the finest Japanese steel and enable you to effortlessly cut through branches up to 25mm. Designed with a slightly longer handle for gardeners with a medium/large hand. The cuts are really clean with no tearing or crushing of plant material, which is good news for your hands in avoiding repetitive strain issues . Simple, sharp and strong, with a direct action, resulting in a very clean, efficient cut. The big chunky catch at the bottom has a crisp action that’s easy to use, even with cold wet hands or muddy gloves, and the spring is well secured and never accidentally pops out. Red and white handles? Red shows up in daylight, white at night, for all you nocturnal gardeners. Standard size fits most, while the small model is great for those with smaller hands or as a second pair and for flowers in the house etc. Large size have longer handles giving you more leverage. Tips

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). Okatsune secateurs were once described as ‘Life-Changing’ by Bunny Guinness at The Telegraph and we couldn’t agree more. They are available in different versions and are the only secateurs we think truly compare to Felco’s quality and cutting performance. Okatsune models include model 101, model 104, model 108 and model 109, but it is the Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs that really caught our attention. 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.