Gyokucho Leather-Wrapped Bud Shears 8-inch

These 8-inch bud shears come from Miki Kajiya Mura, the Gyokucho program that showcases the work of blacksmiths around Miki, Hyogo. The shears are fire-forged by Onoyoshi Hamono in neighbouring Ono City, a family forge that has made blades since 1936 and pruning shears since 1964; each pair passes through more than 100 steps before it is boxed. Both blades are sharpened, and the blade faces are ground to a ridge, which trims weight while leaving fine, pointed tips that reach into crowded growth to pinch buds on fruit trees, thin bonsai twigs and make precise summer pruning cuts. The back edges carry a small bevel for strength. What sets this model apart is the grip: each handle is hand-wrapped in natural cowhide by a specialist, giving a secure, non-slip hold that darkens and moulds to your hand with use. A metal latch holds the blades closed, and the all-steel, fully forged construction can be resharpened and re-trued over a lifetime of use. The shears come in a presentation box with a spare pine-needle (matsuba) spring. The pivot screw is a wear part and should be replaced as soon as play develops, and because of the small back bevel, flexible twine can be difficult to cut cleanly.