Tobisho Shears
Karikomibasami

Hand made to order - please expect a wait. It’s worth it.

More Information

Prepare to be amazed. 8" blades of finest blue paper Hitachi steel from Yasuki in Shimane (if that means nothing to you, don’t worry - it simply means it’s the best quality steel available) coupled with handles of Magnolia obovata, make these absurdly light and beautifully balanced.

The blades are curved, which stops leaf resin building up on the insides - the blades are only ever in contact with each other at the point of cutting, so they never get clogged up with green gunk. Absolutely perfect for box clipping, cloudpruning and niwaki work- but not great for hedges or straight lines!

Stunning quality and craftsmanship- even the squared nails used instead of rivets are hand-forged. These can be hand-made to order (worth the wait), although we try to keep small numbers in stock whenever possible.

Tips

Not for hedging. Obviously - avoid woody cuts.

Clean with a Niwaki Crean Mate rust and sap eraser
Sharpen with a Niwaki #1000 grit stone
Protect with Niwaki Camellia Oil

More about Tobisho

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Tobisho Shears	$649.00
	exVAT

Delivering to US (Paying in USD) Edit

Please note: By law, we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18. By placing an order for one of these items you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over. These items must be used responsibly and appropriately.

Tobisho Shears

687g
708 x 165 x 25mm
207mm blades
YCS-3 Steel
Magnolia handles
Made in Japan
Includes Leather Sheath

Delivery

UK: (excluding Tripod Ladders)

Free delivery for orders over £100*
£4.00: Standard service via Royal Mail Tracked 48; typically 2–5 working days.
£7.50: Priority service via Royal Mail Tracked 24, DHL, FedEx, or UPS; typically delivered next working day by 6pm (excluding Sat/Sun and UK Bank Holidays) for orders received before 12pm GMT Mon–Fri (excluding UK Bank Holidays).

Global: (excluding Tripod Ladders)

Free delivery for orders over £/$/€100*
Price depends on location - adjust the COUNTRY tab in your basket to see the price.
We use DHL, FedEx, or UPS, and we’ll email you the tracking info.

*Customs fees may apply and are estimated during checkout. Surcharges may apply to some larger or heavier items to some areas.
* Please note Niwaki are not responsible for any import duty, taxes or fees incurred and these will be will be collected by our courier during customs clearance — For EU countries, when possible DHL will provide an estimate on the order confirmation page.

Which Shears?

What you want with a pair of shears is a strong, simple action that doesn’t interfere with the job: whether you’re using them as hedge shears, topiary shears or something more sinister.

The simple answer, if you needed to ask, is the Niwaki Garden Shears: they’re perfect for just about everything - great balance for detailed work, tough enough for thrashing away at a hedge and good quality steel that holds its edge well but is forgiving enough if treated unkindly. BUT, they’re not very long, and if you need extra reach, choose the long version. Great for hedges and large topiary.

If careful clipping is your game, have a look at the Niwaki Topiary Shears. The long, blue steel blades are finer quality and fantastic to use, but you mustn’t use them for heavy duty work, as the steel is too brittle. Bit like taking the jag off-roading. Sharpen these with our Niwaki Stones and the edge you’ll get is amazing.

Finally, the remarkable Tobisho Shears. Rather like Arsenal of late - sublime, on their day (box clipping in June) but laughable on a wet December evening away to Stoke (cutting back an overgrown Laurel hedge.) Nice length, great steel, heavenly balance. Not for everyone, obviously, but try them, and they could well be for you!

One more thing: keep them clean and keep them sharp.

Caring For Your Tools

Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they may, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…

1. Correct Use:

Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

2. Keeping Them Clean:

Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place

3. Keeping Them Sharp:

New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).