Grandad's secateurs

Cleaning, fixing, using, repairing, best and worst of your mechanical aids in the garden...

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter

PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

My son's friend was clearing out his grandad's shed and found these wonderful secateurs made by Wilkinson Sword. They are really solidly made, not like today's flimsy things. The pointed ends are really useful for doing more delicate work and they have one very sharp smooth blade and one serrated so they don't slip. I can vouch for their sharpness as my thumb has just about stopped bleeding - my hand slipped when I was cleaning them. They have a very clean cut!

Now I'm going to try and attach a photo -
Attachments
Thailand, Madeira and garden 2009 019.jpg
Thailand, Madeira and garden 2009 019.jpg (634.52 KiB) Viewed 5927 times
PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

Sorry it is a bit big - don't know how to re-size it. At least I've managed to get a photo on after all these months.
User avatar
Clive.
KG Regular
Posts: 1878
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: East Lincolnshire.
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 83 times

Hello Plumpudding,

All trimmed to size... :) :wink:

Well done for saving them. :) ...
....mind the handle end does not give you a nip too. :wink:

I wonder though rather than for plant pruning....could they originally be for animal hoof pruning.??

Clive.
Attachments
Thailand%2C%20Madeira%20and%20garden%202009%20019[1].jpg
Thailand%2C%20Madeira%20and%20garden%202009%20019[1].jpg (30.72 KiB) Viewed 5893 times
sally wright
KG Regular
Posts: 722
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:32 pm
Location: Cambridge

Dear PP,
I think they might be for cutting grape bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.
User avatar
peter
KG Regular
Posts: 5836
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 1:54 pm
Location: Near Stansted airport
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 33 times
Contact:

My dad used pointy scissors for thinning bunches of Black Hamburgh grapes in the victorian vinery we use to have.
Perhaps these are for that, or are they too big?
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.

I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

Thanks for shrinking the photo Clive, I'll have to ask my son how to do it.

The secateurs would be a bit chunky for thinning grapes but would be a good design for getting at bunches. His grandad certainly wouldn't have had any grapes I'll have to ask about a horse, but they are good for quite dainty pruning as well as cutting through quite thick twigs. I had a great afternoon doing all the summer pruning on the apple trees and fruit bushes.

My thumb has just about stopped bleeding now and is held together with a few plasters and a latex glove!

I found another hazard from using them yesterday, they fall point down if you drop them, but fortunately I was wearing strong shoes or I would have skewered my foot.

Perhaps Wilkinson Sword changed the design for health and safety reasons.
sally wright
KG Regular
Posts: 722
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:32 pm
Location: Cambridge

Dear all,
I was not thinking for thinning but actually cutting the ripe bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.
User avatar
Clive.
KG Regular
Posts: 1878
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: East Lincolnshire.
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 83 times

PLUMPUDDING wrote: I found another hazard from using them yesterday, they fall point down if you drop them, but fortunately I was wearing strong shoes or I would have skewered my foot.


Sounds like they nearly went hoof pruning.. :shock: :wink:

Now what was the "call my bluff" type programme on the tele' many years ago..where the real use and two other "uses" were put forward to the other panel. :?:

My money is still on their use for trimming sheeps "toe nails" reference foot rot....Baa..:wink:

Clive.
PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

I think they would be eminently suitable for animal pedicures, sharp and strong. Certainly a very versatile tool. I'll have to try trimming the cockatiel's toe nails and beak with them too, or perhaps not, I might accidentally amputate something.
User avatar
FelixLeiter
KG Regular
Posts: 830
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:18 pm
Location: East Yorkshire

Clive. wrote:Now what was the "call my bluff" type programme on the tele' many years ago

Patently Obvious.

My money's on these being hoof shears. I have a pair of these I used to trim my sheep's feet with. I don't think they're particularly old. Notice that they have a serrated blade, which secateurs do not. Grape thinning shears have long and pointed blades, quite delicate.
Allotment, but little achieved.
User avatar
alan refail
KG Regular
Posts: 7252
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:00 am
Location: Chwilog Gogledd Orllewin Cymru Northwest Wales
Been thanked: 5 times

hoof.gif
hoof.gif (36.08 KiB) Viewed 5809 times


I reckon your right Felix. These are modern hoof shears.
User avatar
Clive.
KG Regular
Posts: 1878
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: East Lincolnshire.
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 83 times

Thank you Felix...
http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.p ... ly_Obvious
That would be the quiz show... :)

Clive.
PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

They certainly look like your hoof shears, but what a steelworker who lived on a council estate and grew veg in the back garden would be doing with hoof shears is anyone's guess.
User avatar
Clive.
KG Regular
Posts: 1878
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: East Lincolnshire.
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 83 times

Perhaps he made finest hoof shear/secateur quality steel.??.. :) :wink:

Clive.
User avatar
peter
KG Regular
Posts: 5836
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 1:54 pm
Location: Near Stansted airport
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 33 times
Contact:

Perhaps he had difficult toenails?
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.

I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic