secateurs & knife recomendations?

[JJSH]

I need to buy both a pair of secateurs and a gardeners knife. I want to buy (or should I say, 'save up for' ) something decent that will last me several years. What brand(s) would people recomend I look out for?

[rustylady]

IMHO you can't beat Felco secateurs. I was lucky enough to receive a pair in my pressie when I was MOM and they are brilliant. As for a knife, I use one of my old small kitchen paring knives - sharpens like a dream.

[JJSH]

Thanks, rustylady. They don't look too expensive either, compared to some of the stuff I had seen on the net, at around £30-£40, rather than over £150.

[Hans Mum]

if you want some Felco;s go into somewhere that stocks them and try them as they are an investement and they do different sizes, then you can order online if the price is better

[smallblueplanet]

I think these look absolutely fab and would like one of the rosewood ones. But I've got a plastic handled one that still cuts fine...

Pocket Knives Made in Sheffield by Little Mester Trevor Ablett

[Two_Sheds]

I had a Felco pair until Sunday, when OH decided to chop wood with them

I'm getting a pair of Wolf Gartens (for extra small hands) to replace them.

[Pies]

You can get the blades on there own

[Two_Sheds]

He didn't just break the blades though, he snapped the whole head, trying to cut 2 inch thick branches

[rustylady]

He didn't just break the blades though, he snapped the whole head, trying to cut 2 inch thick branches

Doesn't he own a chainsaw? (no, probly not a good idea)

[Glutton4...]

I had a Felco pair until Sunday, when OH decided to chop wood with them

I'm getting a pair of Wolf Gartens (for extra small hands) to replace them.

You'll go back to Felco! I threw my Wolf's away after using Felco!

I also use an Opinel knife - very useful. Most of the time I carry my old faithful Swiss Army Knife, and don't laugh, I use it EVERY day, at east once!

[Alison]

Thanks, rustylady. They don't look too expensive either, compared to some of the stuff I had seen on the net, at around £30-£40, rather than over £150.

£150! What makes have you been looking at?

[PAULW]

I had a Felco pair until Sunday, when OH decided to chop wood with them

I'm getting a pair of Wolf Gartens (for extra small hands) to replace them.

What did you cut his fingers off ?

[sewer rat]

I have several pairs of secateurs -
Wolf Garten Bypass - This is my main gardening set and they suit me just fine.
Yeoman Anvil - Was given these as a pressie but really only used for pruning shrubs and woody plants.
6 pairs of Lidls Finest 99p a set - I have these solely for use in the forest for pruning sycamores which is hard on them and as they are so cheap I buy in bulk - they are not a bad tool actually - I am prone to hanging them from tree branches whilst I take a phone call, have a smoke, drink a cup of coffee etc and can never find them again - have lost countless sets like this - no doubt in years to come I shall smack my head against them and think what a damn fool place for some eejit to leave a set of secateurs
As for knifes - old kitchen devil set does me, plus a machete for cutting cabbages etc.

[JJSH]

£150! What makes have you been looking at?

Can't find the link, but it was some swiss make on a site that specialised in knives. It was about that time that I thought 'mmmm, I need to get some advice here'!

Knives generally are a bit like that as well ~ I've got a fair few for skinning and butchering game, but the two I always go back to are my Buck with a gut hook (USA made one, not the China sourced junk ~ about 50 squid) and a hand made one I picked up at a game fair (about 40 squid, IIRC) that's better for small game. Both are mid range stuff, nothing flash, but will last. I could chuck the rest away and not notice, if I'm honest. You can, however, shell out ten times that on a knife without breaking a sweat if you really get into it (handmade stuff, etc). But you always hit the law of diminishing returns. So when I saw the range of stuff on offer I thought it would be wise to see what others used. Glad I did, excellent advice as always, cheers guys.

So, I'll pick up a set of Lidl 99p specials to get me going until I can afford a Falco. Thanks to Hans Mum for the sizing info ~ is that why they have 'Classic No.7, Classic No.5, etc' on the stockists websites?

As for the gardening knife, it appears a case of 'whatever suits', so I'll go for a victorinox or similar folder ~ simple and safe choice? Although I am really tempted by smallblueplanets suggestion. Can you really get a hand made Sheffield knife for less than £30? Tempting....

[roitelet]

Opinel serpant knife every time for me. Really good curved blade cuts when you pull it. Easy to sharpen too.