Blog: On trial – cutting-edge tools, including a new bypass pruner
I’ve been lucky enough to trial this trio of Wilkinson Sword secateurs, or pruners, as the company prefers to call them. They’re affordable, dependable, and each one has a 10-year guarantee.
After being drafted in to rescue my mother-in-law’s overgrown garden, the unpruned roses, shrubs and perennials proved to be an excellent testing ground.
Wilkinson Sword secateurs – Comfort Ratchet Pruner
My favourites. The Comfort Ratchet Pruner is ideal for people like me with weak hands and wrists. The blade closes against a softer metal anvil on the lower jaw. The ratchet mechanism prevents any strain on the wrist, reducing effort. You can use them as single-stage cutters or engage a three-stage mechanism as required.
The non-stick coated blade and anvil block make the secateurs ideal for pruning woody, thick growth, up to 22mm thick, like the overgrown roses pictured, removing branches cleanly. A body made of aluminium makes them light to use. Safety-wise, there’s a protective knuckle guard and a central locking catch. They’re very comfortable to use with a soft-grip handle.
Classic Bypass Pruner
New to the market, these bypass pruners have a classic, traditional design, ideal for general pruning. Of the three, these are good ‘summer-weight’ secateurs, dealing with stems up to 22mm. Use them for green stems, not woody ones.
Great for left or right-handed use, the sprung steel handles have a secure grip with SK5 high carbon chrome-plated blades. If you only want to carry one pair of secateurs around with you this summer, the Classic Bypass Pruner is the one to choose.
Wilkinson Sword secateurs – Ratchet Anvil Pruner
Finally, the Ratchet Anvil Pruner. It’s very similar to the Comfort Ratchet Pruner but in my opinion, is not quite as good. While the Comfort Ratchet Pruner provided seamless, easy cuts, the Ratchet Anvil Pruner tended to stick a little on the thicker branches. However, it’s a fiver cheaper, so you pay your money, you take your choice!
Apart from that, it performs very much like the more expensive ratchet pruner. Good for pruning woody, thick growth, it’s suitable for left and right-handed use. For those with weak wrists, they’re extremely lightweight, made from high-strength nylon fibre, with a three-step ratchet mechanism and a soft-grip handle.
For more information, current prices and stockists, visit https://wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk/.
Wilkinson Sword secateurs: Pruner trio review updated 2025
