Looks cumbersome to me, but of course, I've never used. My bypass does minimal crushing already. I'll just stop there 'cause who knows, in a year or three, I could be a convert! But I doubt it.

+oM

I've been using my bonsai concave cutters (the same set)for pruning branches up to 3/4" for more than 25 years - never have had to sharpen. They make extremely clean cuts with no crushing, and stay very sharp for a long, long time.

I prefer the best tools I can afford, so this is what I use.

My second choice would be this tool from Joshua Roth.

Both are high quality tools, make cleaner cuts than the Okatsune bypass pruners, which in my estimation are already superior to tools like Felco makes.

Al

Huh. I like.

I always wanted a giant pair of side cutters but yours look interesting.

What concerns me is the bluntness of the cutting front surface. Might be a bunch of hooey, but at first look, it seems too fat to fit into narrow crotches, etc. Then again, you guys might laugh to know I prefer my old Corona-forget the model number but it's their biggest non-Felco-looking one-to Felcos, etc. Just gets into the axil better IMO and cuts every bit as large of stuff as the more famous product.

+oM

The first picture above (orange grips) isn't a pruning tool. It's a pair of dykes/ diagonal cutting pliers - used to cut wire, nails, etc.

Al

tapla,

Seems the orientation of those blades would be perfect for snipping those stubs off grafted plants?

I'm always jacking up the stub left behind on grafted plants due to the angle of the rootstock

Tom,

Its mainly the branches with a tight crotch angle that I have an issue with. The blunt side (bottom blade) tends to slide around on the cambium, esentially crushing it, since its coming in at an angle.

Looking at the link the OP first posted, it looks like there is no blunt side (such as with an anvil pruner): it looks to me like both edges are sharp. It would probably work well, except for getting in to narrow crotches. The two reviewers on the A.M. Leonard web site give it 5 stars, but are using it for cuttings, not general pruning. Amazon carries it but, surprisingly, there are no reviews posted yet. Until I can read more reviews I'll stick with my trusty Felco pruners.

I have been wondering the same thing. They crush and leave thin bark shreds around the cut. I won't be paying $50.00 bucks though + shipping. I will check around locally for double blades. I may pay $30 but not much more. I use a saws-all for thick and med branches.