Kitchen Garden Forum

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 -

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.

Hello Plumpudding,

All trimmed to size...

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

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

Clive.

Dear PP,
I think they might be for cutting grape bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.

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?

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.

Dear all,
I was not thinking for thinning but actually cutting the ripe bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.

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..

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..

Clive.

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.

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.

I reckon your right Felix. These are modern hoof shears.

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

Clive.

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.

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

Clive.

Perhaps he had difficult toenails?