Hand forged in Yamagata, Japan by Yamakawa san
Niwaki Tokusen Barracuda: longer, more slender blades
Niwaki Tokusen 165mm: small but perfectly formed
Blacksmith Yamakawa san (and cat)

Niwaki Tokusen Set

A trio of very fine, handmade Japanese pruning tools, wrapped in hand dyed tenugui cotton, presented in a Paulownia gift box.

More Information

When you go on the hunt for great stuff in the mountains of Yamagata, you either come home laden with fruit - delicious, perfectly formed cherries in particular - or secateurs.

We chose secateurs, and here they are: all three of the Tokusen range, wrapped in hand dyed tenugui cotton, within a Paulownia gift box. The set comprises

Tokusen 165mm: exquisitely finished pair of smaller secateurs that fit beautifully in the palm of the hand. Although not as substantial as their full-sized siblings, they’re perfect for light garden pruning, deadheading and cut flowers. Not just for small hands either - the hand forged blade, solid build and ergonomics more than make up for their diminutive size. Rather like a derringer, can get you out of all sorts of scrapes.

Tokusen 210mm: these are really rather special - very beautiful, powerful secateurs hand forged in Yamagata, with a punchy spring and coil cushioning for heavy and more demanding pruning. Less suitable for smaller hands.

Tokusen Barracudas: longer, more slender blades than regular secateurs, but still with the chunky bypass for woody pruning, these hand forged pruners cover a wide range of roles in the garden, falling just short of heavy duty pruning, but easily covering most day-to-day work. Exceptionally well made, and beautifully finished, deep within the mountains of Yamagata.

All three pairs have been hand forged in Japanese S58C Carbon Steel, which is easy to sharpen to a very keen edge.

There’s something here for pretty much everyone, not that you’ll want to share.

Tips

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

More about the maker

Yamakawa san started working for his father the day after he graduated from high school, and has been making secateurs ever since. His Yamagata factory is home to five stray cats, each fed on fresh sashimi!

Options

Tokusen Set	$595.00
	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.

Niwaki Tokusen Set

850g
Made in Japan
Includes 3 Pcs/ Paulownia Box
In Stock - Available to dispatch worldwide, contact us for showroom stock availability

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.

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).