Are pruning saws mostly the same from brand to brand? I certainly thought so. They cut things (some better than others), and some fold or have a pole attached, but otherwise, pretty similar in how well they function, right?
Nope! After trying at least 10 brands of saw over the 16 years I’ve run a landscape maintenance business, I’ve finally found a brand that blows the rest away – the Professional Pruning Saw from Garrett Wade. It’s well-made and has the simple elegance of a tool that’s built to last.
The handle is a beautiful hardwood laminate and is contoured for a secure grip. Because it has finger grooves, you may be concerned that it won’t fit your particular hands comfortably, but I asked a number of men and women to test it out, saying “be honest!”, and everyone found the fit of the handle exceptionally comfortable.
But where it really shines is in that gorgeous curved blade. My old saws have all had a straight blade and I think of that as the standard. But a slight curve lets the teeth of the saw really bite into the wood, so it reduces the amount of force you have to use to make the cut, and it cuts fast, too. It’s so well-designed that it feels like the saw itself is trying to help me prune! Contrast that with my old straight-bladed saws, which definitely felt as though I was doing all the work.
Another element I like is that this saw has a snub-nosed tip. Most saws have a pointed tip, which tends to catch in the wood because that tiny bit of metal at the end is too flimsy and floppy to hold up. Pretty much every saw I own has the tip broken off because it binds up in the wood while I am pruning and I snap it, which leaves a jagged end that is unsafe and makes pruning more difficult. The people who designed this have obviously had the same problem, since they built this saw with a smooth, blunt tip. Yay!
The saw is made with extremely high-quality Japanese metal, and is manufactured in nearby Chico, California. Garrett Wade sourced this tool from Fanno Saw Works, which is a company that’s been handed down for three generations and has a reputation in professional circles as being THE professional saw brand.
However, the one thing that has been a bummer about this saw in the past is that the original Fanno scabbard is – there’s no other way to say it – kind of lame. These people know their saws, but aren’t really leatherworkers. So Garrett Wade upped the ante by having leather scabbards custom-made for the saws by an Ohio company which makes tack for the Amish. These scabbards are the real deal, made of premium leather and perfectly-suited to this gorgeous line of pruning saws.
Is there any downside to this saw? Um, no, not that I can see. The price is even in line with or cheaper than the other saws I have purchased over the years, and I like those other saws a lot less. They do sell the scabbards separately from the saw itself, but this thing is sharp enough that I’d really recommend springing for the scabbard as well, because if you’re not as obsessive about wearing gloves as I am, the teeth on this thing could give you a nasty cut. But that’s a good thing. Better to use protection than use a wussy tool, right?
As if that weren’t impressive enough, Garrett Wade also carries these heavy-duty loppers. Loppers are another type of tool in which most companies just don’t innovate. Yet this lopper has two features which set it apart.
First, it has a ratcheting action which makes short work of thick branches. Have you ever started to prune a branch and realized it was just too big to cut with your loppers? Well, that unfortunate moment is what this tool was designed to fix. When you start trying to cut the branch, you can get more power by opening the handles a second or even a third time to allow the ratcheting action to give you more leverage to finish the cut. The blade cuts through even hard wood (like that of conifers) with ease.
The other handy feature is that the handles telescope! This is fantastic for when something’s just a bit out of reach, either when pruning from the ground or up a ladder. Another benefit of an extending tool is that you can use it to avoid bending down or crawling under a shrub. I often thin shrubs from the base, which requires some maneuvering, but the fact that I can extend these loppers means it’s easier to get in and prune low in a shrub without having to get low myself.
I also have a number of clients and older friends who garden from a wheelchair or a seated position, and the dual benefits of an extended reach and an easier cutting mechanism make this a great tool for those with arthritis or who have trouble standing or bending.
The one issue with it is that it is a tiny bit heavier than most loppers, but the fact that it is almost a multi-purpose tool, cutting thicker branches than usual and giving you the option of height, makes me think the bit of extra weight is worth it to be able to get so much more work done. I’ve started carrying this tool for heavier work, and just keeping a smaller, lightweight lopper for roses and other light pruning.
The bypass version that I have is best for pruning live wood, because it makes a clean, smooth pruning cut that discourages damage and disease from pruning. But if you are cutting branches for kindling or clearing a property of dead wood, I’d recommend picking up the anvil-style lopper as well. The anvil head cuts branches up to two and a half inches in diameter! But the crushing action of an anvil pruner isn’t recommended for fine pruning of plants in the garden.
You can pick up these tools from Garret Wade here, and I’d highly recommend them if you do a lot of pruning or just like to know you’re working with the finest tools available.
100 responses to “Garrett Wade’s Professional Pruning Saws and Loppers”
Love the ratcheting action on the loopers! That would come in real handy!
Garrett Wade always carries the best quality, and that heavy-duty by-pass loper looks to have the “muscle” I could use to tame my pruning chores.
These would be great for all the rehab pruning in my neglected orchard
Garrett Wade always carries the best quality, and I have no doubt that heavy-duty bypass loper has the “muscle” I need to tame my pruning chores.
Garrett Wade sells high quality tools. I’m sure their pruning and gardening tools are as professional grade as their shop tools, of which I have purchased several. Living in the woods, I could certainly use a set of these premium tools being given away! Pick me, pick me!! 🙂
Would love to have a saw and scabbard for use on pruning and cutting out dead wood in my home orchard.
Climbing trees with a saw in hand can be dangerous, especially when you start getting some age on you! Bring on that scabbard!
oooohh…aaahhh…..tooools….
I’ve definitely had the lopper problem – these look great!
These look awesome, as a new comer to having trees on a property, I could see how the tools would be great. I’m interested to see how the ratcheting mechanism works.
You always have great giveaways!! I hope I’m lucky this time.
Hmmn. I have some bushes and trees that would like an introduction to saw and loppers.
These loppers have made my gardening tasks a pleasure. Pruning has become practically effortless for me now that I have these. I am reluctant to loan them to my neighbor in fear that they will not be returned any time soon!
What great products. Thanks for the giveaway!
Garrett Wade is a name teamed with quality. When you invest in a Garret Wade product, you invest in a name you can trust.
I would love to win these great garden tools…I’m currently using some rusty, hand-me-down pruning tools and it’s time for an upgrade. Thanks!
Just broke my Fiskars… Time for an upgrade?
I’m ready to lop till I drop; no wait that was some other activity. I know a quince that could use a trim.
I would love to win one of these!
Great Prizes! I would love to win these!
Thanks for the giveaway, wish me luck!
Your review of these amazing products had me ready to purchase them . I even had them in the cart then I remembered wow I could win them.Thank you for your honest and heart felt reviews.I love gardening and the older I get the more I love working in the gardens.I use very few tools so the ones I have really need to work for me.I don’t want to lug a lot of tools around the yard.
Happy days gardening
g
Wow, great quality products. Thanks for the opportunity.
We could really put these to use around our house! Thanks for a great giveaway!
My rusty tools make me stop,
Sad to see no bumper crop.
If I had these tools to saw and lop,
My garden would be over the top!
Really enjoy learning so much from the regular emails I get from your site. Great advice from a lady with an obvious passion for her work. When I was a young mother, I had a fine pruning business, and still love to whip out a sharp tool and transform a wallowy mess into a thing of beauty.
Oh Wow !! Would I love to own these tools …got some limbs just waiting for good cutting tools !
I’d love to give these a try! Sounds like they don’t really have a downside.
I’m swooning!
My loppers are hand-me-down and I always seem to have the wrong saw. Either of these would be welcome additions. Thanks!
I would love to win these great tools! I don’t have either a pair of loppers or a pruning saw.
I’m jumping up & down, waving my arms “Oooooo pick me! Pick me!” These items and a 10′ orchard ladder would do wonders for my yard—with, of course, my participation.
I too have tried many different tools over the years. Some work better than others, but I have found the best (usually) are very simple and sometimes a little additional engineering can make a huge difference.
Oh, how I love good tools! I could sure use these on my homestead. I keep finding myself trying to use my big anvil loppers or my little hand pruners inappropriately, so if I won this set, I would be set!!
Thanks for the review, Gen. I managed to lose my last set of long handled ratcheting loppers in some client’s yard. 🙁 And the pruning saw! Excellent. If I’m not the lucky winner, I’ll be heading over to buy one of those. I’ve gone through quite a few over the years, and most of them *suck*. 🙂
Man oh man, I have tried every saw in the store and never found a decent one. This looks like a winner to me. Hope I am the real winner here!
Frances
High quality tools make all the difference! I would love to have these to add to my toolbox! Thanks, Genevieve!
Would I ever like to win these tools~I’ve got invasives to take down and loping and pruning them to size will help in the process. Thanks for sharing! gail
They both look wonderful! I love good craftsmanship!! Keep the great videos coming!!
The art of pruning is best accomplished with quality tools.
Ooooh! I planted a small orchard last year. I’ll bet these would come in handy very soon!
Wow! What an awesome set of pruning tools. I’ve been shopping for a pruning saw and also happen to need a new pair of loppers. If I don’t win these tools, I will buy them!
So fantastic! Again? Another cool give-a-way!! Wow! What a great pair of tools and I could use them both too!! Your videos are truly wonderful & very informative thanks for taking the time to make them!! 🙂
Last week I got my loppers stuck in a branch I could barely reach. Had to get the ladder to get leverage, still not enough, had to wait till husband got home. I could use a ratcheting loppers. If I don’t win the drawing, I’ll purchase. Thanks for the timely review. Shirley
Your description is enough to make me drool for some new tools!
Thank you for the opportunity at another giveaway! It is always great to find out about tools that work well before spending a lot of money on the ones that don’t. Thanks for the reviews!
You betchya! I have an elm to tackle.
When I clean up the garden by pruning, it really clears my mind. I hope I win some new tools with which to achieve my zen-like state!
Very nice! I’d love to win these, as we have a new place that’s more than a bit overgrown.
A perfect pair of tools to make quick work of it!!
Just broke my cheap saw on a Japanese maple….. Definitely time for an upgrade. Love to read your tool reviews, always spot on.
Ps. I envy your hair. Gorgeous!
Thanks, reading back through the replies I didn’t want to be the first to mention those golden locks. Wow! What a head of hair!
Saw? What saw? Saw? There was a saw? What kind of saw, huh?
Other pics and vids from the site never even gave me a clue? As a balding middle-aged man I’m more than envious, my rescinding ponytail is cowering in envy!
Gorgeous for sure, thanks for saying it first!
Having owned a version of both of these gardening tools, life has been a much easier chore than gardening. I mean, gardening has been…..
Really; if you are serious enough and get true therapeutic value from shaping your
environment, these are the tools to own.
Nat Yutzman
My old loppers and straight pruning saw told me it was time for them to retire. They are adding their extra bit of luck to this note. Peace, John
These Garrett Wade pruning tools look and sound like the real deal. What gardener wouldn’t love to have these to make pruning chores a lot easier?
Nice tools. I had a curved saw for years and finally it got too dull. Feels good to buy American made. You are giving needed advice to garden rookies by explaining about anvil vs bypass pruners. Wanted: dead or alive! Aloha, James
This is exactly the reason I never get new tools – I figure they’re all basically the same. It’s nice to find quality, durable products.
Will save me having to order the loppers, which I was about to do.
Thanks for your beautiful, informative blog – and for the great give away!
I like garden tools.
Oh I have loads of dead wood around here.
I’ve visited their website (Garrett Wade) but never sampled any of their goods. I’ve recently covered my bases in regard to brand new loppers (both bypass and anvil). No torture test to date…Not telescopic but not a feature I desire or feel a need for with the exception of hedge shears. The Japanese models I’ve been shopping are scary expensive to purchase without handling.
The saw is interesting, been shopping saws as well. If you could “see” my “saw” I would certainly be the winner! Mine started life as a Craftsman folder, after the first hour it became a “fixed” saw as the lock-out/folder aspect failed miserably. Still a tool, not a happy tool, but I use it. It’s ugly, no longer folds and wasn’t designed for a scabbard but it hasn’t hit the trash can yet, it serves it’s purpose of getting in where a bowsaw can’t.
As always, a good read, thanks for the write-up! Tools of the trade are always of interest!
Oh, ratcheting…I have a lilac that needs some, ahem, help.
Spring is time to go crazy in the garden.
How I would love to introduce our ugly alder to either one. She needs some time with the stylist to get preeetty. 🙂
I used to climb my trees or the ladders and use my chainsaws; however, I’ve been fighting bone cancer for the last year and a half and lost the use of my right lower leg, so my feet now stay on the ground while I work. These tools will provide me access to the work above and give me some exercise to help keep my strength up. Whether I win the contest or not, these tools will be mine before long. My place is really overgrown and I really need to at least try to keep it semi-maintained. Oh, and ratcheting action…I don’t need to say how much help that would be…
I could Wade right in with those cool tools.
And store them in my impenetrable Garrett to ward off any fools.
Between the critters and the over-growth, my wife and I are trapped on a one-acre rain-forest in our new home in Atlanta. These tools look like they might give us a fighting chance. We’re keeping hope alive!
Looks like I shouldn’t live without those tools!
I have purchased several tools from Garret Wade and have not been disapointed I have no doubt from the discription of these tools they will be the same quality
Garrett Wade’s tools are highly regarded, would love some of their pruning tools as my first items from them!
Wow…Perfect timing too!, mine just broke last weekend. That would be awesome!
Thanks for the review! You addressed some of the questions I had. I would like a little more info on the difference between bypass and anvil loppers, I have only used a (cheezy) pair of bypass loppers. Would love learn more.
Thanks for opportunity to win the saw and bypass loppers!
Just found your blog! Great tips!!!
Garrett Wade has the best tools. Every homeowner needs to look at Garret Wade.
Hope I win! I’ve got enough projects for them after this winter to REALLY give them a good trial! I’ll report back how it went!
I’ve been through so many pruners and loppers. Snapped yet another blade last week. These look great. I’ll be shopping for them–and California made, even better!
wow ! these look great. i would love to attack my back jungle, er garden, with these!
10750coupons at gmail
Ohhh. I love the curved handle! We’ve been looking for a new curved saw but they’re hard to find! We’ll be checking this one out! Thanks for sharing.
With more than 50 roses in my garden, pruning is my life in the spring. I always enjoy new tools to help.
These sound AMAZING! Especially for those of us who wish our own arms could telescope. (It’s great to be short on a commercial airliner, not so great as a gardener…)
For those of us who don’t win, do you have a favorite mail-order source for these tools?
A woman can never have enough garden tools!!!
These tools sound great. I hope I win!
My first purchase from Garrett Wade arrived today — a set of gimlet hand drills I haven’t seen, but have been wanting, for twenty years. My wife does our gardening & after seeing the catalog which came with my order she too is a fan. Garrett Wade, you want her to have the professional pruning saws & loppers!
I have yet to be disappointed for “any” reason, by “any” purchase from Wade Garrett.
Just the thing for me here in Macon , GA! With nearly 12 acres of once formal Camellia gardens, suffering from what the realtor kindly referred to as 50 years of “benign neglect”, these tools would go a long way toward restoring the former glory.
I’ve been using cheaper sets of pruning shears thinking that they were the better deal. Getting a better quality tool up front and keeping it clean and sharp pays for itself in the long run.
Great review of the tools, There is nothing like Quality tools and Garret Wade carries quality. I would rather buy old used quality than cheap new tools anyday.
Through the years, I have purchased a number of woodworking tools from Garrett-Wade. Only recently did I realize that they also had a full line of gardening tools as well. If the quality of the loppers and pruning saw are anything like their woodworking tools, then I know I’ll have a good tool for a long time. I just might have to order the loppers for my gardening work.
Garrett Wade products are always the best, I am sure these are up to their standard as well!
Don.t have pretty hair. Not a poet. No web sites. BUT…..I do have 6 acres of always growing Florida brush, weeds, palms, mean spirited green thingies that seem to defy cutting. THEREFORE……..please send ASAP, things are growing……if GW is in the mood, I will also need 3 of their Hurricane Lamps, season approaching…..they are in my cart now, so, I’ll get them, with wicks and extra globe…….hope that I never use them this coming season……Keep in touch……Adios
I would love to have those tools. They would really help me out with my gardening .
Garrett Wade sellections of tools have always been, and still are of the highest quality
for the customers selection. Needless to say, that the pruning saw & the lopper would be a prize to anyone’s tool collection and performance in their garden .
You guys are putting out so may good tools these days. I just recently stumbled upon your gardening stuff. It’s probably because I have Spring on the mind. Keep ’em coming!
So happy to read your comments re these 2 tools; I have struggled so with sawing limbs from older established shrubs & had to resort to breaking them off. This lovely saw would make life so easy to get nice clean cuts. The bypass loppers would be the answer to an older person’s gardening prayers – a good quality tool that just gets the job done and work the way it should. I am a small woman and have to be creative to get some of my gardening chores done. I have some other Garrett Wade tools I’ve purchased since discovering them last year and many of them are the best I’ve had; my pro digging tool (trowel) I never let it out of my site, pricey but work so well. Couldn’t garden without their lovely tools. Absolutely love to have these 2 tools in my arsenal of quality products. Nearly 70 and lots of yrs of good gardening ahead, with the right tools, how sweet it can be!
The pruning saw would look great alongside by old 22″ arborist saw! That old one already has hundreds, if not thousands of inches of cut on its teeth. New York north of the Adirondacks has plenty to trim.
We don’t have any of your pruners yet but have ordered other items from your catalog and we are always pleased with the quality. I must say some quality pruners such as yours would have come in very handy this last winter when we had a foot of snow and then freezing rain which broke several branches from trees around us. Lots of clean up!!
The handle on the saw looks like it would be comfortable to hold and the loping shears would sure do the job with the ratcheting gear.
These sound like some great tools, I do trail maintenance with the Ozark Trail Association and It would be nice to have a set of my own loppers/saw. I might just pick them up from Garrett Wade, if I don’t win 🙂
I need a good set of pruning tools badly, have used cheap tools before and have broken them and have been frustrated by how quickly their sharpness goes away.
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a fine tool.