Ratchet Pruning Shears Gardening Tool – Anvil Pruner with Assisted Action – Ratcheting Pruners for with Heavy Duty, Nonstick Steel Blade – Garden Tools by The Gardener's Friend

After trying two pruners from a different manufacturer and returning both of them, I ordered this. It arrived today and it works great. The lock mechanism works with just my thumb and the sharp blades and ratchet action cut through small limbs quickly.

I love these pruners! The blade is sharp and the rachett action allows me to cut thick branches with minimal effort. It even has an oil pad in the handle so I can keep the blades oiled and sharp!

Very easy to use

I've used (and worn out) many ratchet anvil pruners. This pruner works well and I just bought my second one. Can't seem to find replacement blades?? If blades are not available, to me that will be a deal-killer regarding any future purchases.

What a great design!I purchased a similar device on Amazon recently. It worked fairly well. That item "disappeared", so I searched for a different design. It's not easy to judge a device like this until you start using it.The new clipper looked fine. I started using it, I was astounded at the difference between the two devices. The new device has a ratcheting system that works as it's supposed to work! I had to train myself to let the device do what it's supposed to, and not struggle to get the device working.I'm glad that the design and operation of this clipper is so well done, that it's not work that I'm doing. I'm enjoying this new "partner" in gardening. No more: "Oh no, I have to trim bushes!!" I have "The Gardener's Friend 3-Stage Ratchet Pruner" I've loved good tools from the time I was taught to use them properly by my grandfather. This pruner is a gem!!

I have had several of these over the years and the are very good for pruning shrubs and small branches. The rachet feature is very effective when cutting thicker branches.

I expected better for the price and quantity of the 5 star ratings I saw. 1st and foremost, toss the majority of 5 those star ratings. Anyone who’s used shears before, or used these to any extent would not in their right mind give 5 stars for this product.As soon as I saw the packaging, I was disappointed. The shears were packaged in a typical Taiwanese plastic/cardboard package that did not convey any sense of quality. The label on the shear was crooked and not firmly affixed. There was a spare blade oiler in the package and now I know why. But you’re not reading this to see if the package was up to snuff, are you?Construction: The pivots are all rivets, there are no bolts and nuts holding it together but there is no noticeable looseness or wiggle of the cutting blade. The handle was able to accommodate my normal sized hand with a medium duty glove on. I see others had issues with gloves using this, I did not.Performance: The shears were razor sharp out of the package and initial cuts were effortless. The ratchet mechanism worked fine and there was no blade flex when trying to cut large branches at an awkward angle.I found the ratchet mechanism worked well and with each squeeze and release it indexed properly allowing quick cuts. There was never a time where this did not work. I was able to cut the smallest twig to about 1 inch saplings without any problems.As cutting progressed, i did have to exert slightly more effort, but the shears did not exhibit any major change in its ability.As others mentioned, the blade oiler that is stored in the handle disappeared along the way (thus the spare in the package) and locking the blade is difficult.They did the job today and hopefully they’ll continue to do the job in the future. But in the end, they’re just okay.

My wife and I have 'grounds' and we have roses and crape myrtle and what-not. We use an arsenal of tools to shape plants and to open them to the air. Over more than a decade, I have had to replace these items on a yearly basis, usually with items purchased from one 'big box store' or another. These days I do more shopping on Amazon than elsewhere for ease of delivery and for range of choice. ...So, I ordered these.What I got was a sturdy design with a 'big' blade (like on long-handled loppers) and a ratchet mechanism, which also allows the jaws to open wider. I had hoped that this design would offer a mechanical advantage over other similar units but that is not what 'ratchet' means. The ratchet mechanism allows you to leave the blade in the cut and returns things so that you can continue the cut as often as needed to complete it. A nifty touch is the snap-on; snap-off oiler pad which provides instant access to blade protecting lubrication. However, as the distributor points out, this pad is easy to lose and should be stored separately. (I should have believed him because, while I thought it snapped firmly in place...I lost mine.I have small hands for a man and so I have to use two hands if I want to open the jaws on this unit to their widest capacity. This is not a problem while trimming roses but it can become an issue if you don't happen to have full-sized loppers at hand. Based on my experience with a variety of high-end cutlery steel, I would say this blade is as good as any on offer for this type of tool and that it is better than some. My unit came with a usefully 'sharp' edge--clean cutting but not so fine as to bend out of line after an hour or so of regular use. Because the jaws open so widely, I can use my WorkSharp belt sharpening system to maintain the blade edge and that means something for users who have more than the occasional plant to trim.In my experience, Valspring Group offers exceptional (proactive) customer service. When the company thought I might have received and used the shears, they sent me an e-mail asking for feedback and offering any assistance I might need if I did develop issues. We put these things to vigorous use during a full season and it remains to be seen if these will last into next season or not. So far, they are comfortable to use and are offered at something less than 'heirloom' prices. (I don't know how my roses feel about 'Rosewood' handles anyway.)