Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Product Information

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. The difference being on bypass secateurs is the cutting blade passes the anvil to make the cut, a bit like similar to ordinary scissors, blades passing each other. 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.

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?Beware of cheap secateurs with stainless steel blades. Stainless steel is softer than hardened steel and will not stay sharp as long, blunt blades are never a good thing on pruning shears. TheseFelco Model 6 secateurs are nearly identical to the Felco model 2. The handles are made from the same forged aluminium steel which makes them very strong, lightweight and nearly unbreakable. They have the same hardened steel blade that can be changed if needed and it produces a very precise clean cut on all the different types of stems we tested them on. Our recommendation What makes this pair of secateurs exceptional are the cutting blades. Made from the finest Japanese steel (the same as used to make Samurai swords) they are sharp, incredibly sharp and being crafted from the finest steel, stay sharp!

Revolving handle: This feature allows one handle to rotate with you as you grip, so it moves with your hand to make the movement more natural.

The most important part of any bypass secateurs is the blade. Precise cutting, sharp blades will cut cleanly through stems and branches which reduces the chance of disease and infection spreading into the the pruned cut. Less effort will also be needed as a super sharp blade should the like cutting through cucumber on a chopping board. Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges) Search for best secateurs any where on the web and these are probably 3 names that will come up, Okatsune is one of them. 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 .

Bypass secateurs are for cutting living, green growth, for example live stems, branches and plant material . Anvil secateurs are used for cutting tough, old, dead wood. 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. 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

Rescrew the bolt, and tighten to what feels right. This is how you adjust the play, with the bolt, not the nut

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 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. We really like the lifetime warranty on this product because it means total peace of mind and, even so, parts are readily replaceable if necessary which is more than you can say for most other models. You definitely want a tool that won’t cause hand blisters and ligament strain, and this one is ergonomically designed to use comfortably all day long making it perfect for professionals who really do need nothing but the best tools.Being hardened steel they keep a sharp edge for longer between sharpening’s. Handy if your not that diligent at keeping your tools sharp. 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. 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. These are perfect for beginners and avid gardeners but probably not the best choice for professionals or anyone who does lots of pruning regularly. If you tend to experience fatigue and aching hands from continuous pruning but don’t prune on a weekly basis, these secateurs are life-saving and probably the most affordable pair. 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.