What’s the Difference?

We recently added a new Tobisho model to our secateurs line-up, the Tobisho A-type (on the left in the picture).

At first glance it looks much the same as our current model, the SR-1 (on the right) - same red and yellow grips, same clever locking mechanism on the bottom of the handles, similar shape and blades. But there’s a price difference and we’ve had several enquiries about what is different about them.

The Tobisho A-type secateurs are an older, traditional design which are more time-consuming to make. The blade, made of blue paper steel, is brazed to the body - you can see a thin gold band between the two steels. This is the sign of authenticity for A-type secateurs. Blue paper steel in secateurs is unusual because blue steel is harder and more brittle than other steels - it will take and hold an edge like nothing else but is more easily damaged by rough work as a result.

The Tobisho SR-1 secateurs, on the other hand, are a hybrid cross between the A-type design and B-type design. What, you ask, are B-type secateurs? Well, take a look at the picture again.

B-type secateurs (such as the double yellow-handled Niwaki GR Pro in the picture) have more rounded, symmetrically-shaped handles. The blade and handle are made from one continuous piece of steel, which is a speedier, more modern production technique.

Now take a look at the SR-1s again. You can see that the right handle is slightly more curved like the B-type and the left handle is chunkier and has a less-exaggerated bend than the A-type. Like the B-type, the SR-1s are made using the more modern production technique of making the blade and the handle from one continuous piece of steel.