If the trees and shrubs in your yard are overgrown they can look unruly and reduce the appeal of the yard you’ve worked so hard to turn into your little piece of paradise. A pruning saw is the perfect tool to restore your yard to its former glory and ensure that your greenery continues to be healthy and vibrant. In most cases there’s no need for expensive power tools – these simple hand tools are all you need.
Selecting the right pruning saw for your gardening needs can be a challenge, but we’ve reviewed the best on the market today to help make your decision a bit easier. Read on for our reviews of the best pruning saws for cutting tree branches and shrubs in 2024.
Recent Updates
August 1st, 2021: We’re constantly improving and updating our site to provide you with the most up-to-date information and reviews. In keeping with our commitment to providing you with the most relevant content on all of your gardening needs, we’ve recently updated this article to replace reviews of any discontinued saws with reviews of the latest products on the market. We’ve also refined our text to improve the clarity of our reviews and to create a better reading experience for you.
1. Samurai Ichiban GC-330-LH
There are dozens of great pruning saws to choose from, but the Samurai Ichiban GC-330-LH stands out in a crowded field. It may be a little more expensive than some of the other options on the market at just under $50, but it’s worth extending your budget to make sure you have the best tool for the job. This is a sturdy saw that will hold up well to repeated use over many years.
There are several reasons we’ve selected the Ichiban GC-330-LH as one of our best pruning saws, starting with its 13-inch blade with impulse-hardened teeth. Its lightweight design, just 12 ounces, makes it easy to wield and the ergonomic cushioned handle provides a comfortable feel as you work. The blade itself is made from top quality Japanese Kyoku steel that will last through years of heavy use. This saw also comes with a sheath and a belt loop.
We couldn’t find too much wrong with this impressive little blade, but you do have to be careful when handling it as it is razor-sharp. Also, when compared to some of its top competitors you may notice it bends a little easier than some other products on the market.
- 13-inch blade.
- Impulse hardened teeth.
- Lightweight design.
- Made from quality Kyoku steel.
- Sheath and belt loop included.
- Razor-sharp requires extra care.
- Bends noticeably when used.
The Samurai Ichiban GC-330-LH is a great saw for cutting tree branches and shrubs. It’s made from top-quality steel, features impulse hardened teeth and its lightweight design makes it easy to use. It does tend to bend a bit more than similar products, but overall it holds up well after repeated use over several seasons of use.
2. Corona RS 7120 RazorTooth
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense pruning saw that gets the job done you won’t do much better than the Corona RS 7120 RazorTooth. This is a versatile product at an affordable price – it usually retails for well under $30. It’s a great hand saw for cutting trees that will fit in most budgets.
The RS 7120 is equipped with a 13-inch blade made from strong Japanese SK5 steel with a durable reputation that’s built to last. It features an ergonomic design that will fit comfortably in your hand and a gradual curve that makes it easy to saw through tree branches up to 7-inches in diameter. The 3 sided razor-sharp teeth make it easier to cut through branches in minimal time.
There are a couple of things we didn’t like about this saw. First, the handle may be ergonomically designed, but there isn’t a lot of cushion to it so you will feel the vibration of the cut as you work. We were also disappointed to learn that it doesn’t come with a permanent sheath – just a basic cardboard one that doesn’t hold up to a lot of wear and tear.
- 13-inch SK5 durable steel blade.
- Ergonomic design.
- Cuts through branches up to 7-inches.
- 3-sided razor-sharp teeth.
- Not enough cushion on the handle.
- Cheap cardboard sheath.
For an affordable product, the Corona RS 7120 RazorTooth is a great tool to cut down small trees. Its durable SK5 Japanese steel blade is ideal for most pruning jobs and its razor-sharp teeth make the task an easy one. We would rate this blade a little higher if there was a little more cushion on the grip and if it came with a permanent sheath for storage, but this is still a great option at a price that makes sense.
3. Bahco 396-LAP Laplander
The Bahco 396-LAP Laplander is easily one of the most versatile pruning saws we’ve included in our reviews. This product of Sweden is designed with ease of use and convenient storage in mind. Best of all it comes with a great price tag, generally retailing for between $30 and $40.
One of the best innovations of the 396-LAP is that it can be folded away for safe storage so the blade isn’t exposed reducing the possibility of accidental injury. That doesn’t mean that they’ve compromised on the practical design of this saw. It’s still equipped with a sturdy blade that features 7 teeth per inch, made from high-quality steel. On top of that, it has a special rust-resistant and low friction coating. Bahco has also included a leather strap that you can slide over your wrist to help secure the saw during use.
We did find a couple of potential problem issues with this pruning saw. For one thing, the handle is made from basic plastic that can break if dropped repeatedly. It’s also not ergonomically designed so it can be a little hard on the wrist if you’re using it for an extended time period.
- Affordably priced.
- Folds for safe easy storage.
- Sturdy steel blade.
- 7 teeth per inch.
- Rust-resistant, low friction coating.
- Basic plastic handle.
- Handle isn’t ergonomically designed.
While the Bahco 396-LAP isn’t perfect, we think it’s a good choice if you want a pruning saw with a foldable design. The blade’s razor-sharp and capable of cutting through some decent sized branches without a lot of trouble. It would be better if they upgraded the handle a bit and made the design more ergonomic, but this is still a versatile product at a great price.
4. Silky Gomboy 121-24
For homeowners that don’t mind paying a little extra for a durable pruning saw with a foldable design, you won’t find much better than the Silky Gomboy 121-24 hand saw. This blade retails for just under $100, but it’s an effective tool for the job if you’re willing to stretch the budget to purchase it.
The first thing that caught our attention with this product was the impressive length of the blade at 9.5 inches, which is exceptional for a foldable pruning saw. We also like that it’s equipped with 8.5 teeth per inch that allows it to cut through some fairly thick branches with ease. At just slightly more than 0.5 a pound in weight, it’s nice and lightweight as well. You’ll get many years of use out of this saw as well, due to its high carbon, impulse-hardened steel design.
One of the few drawbacks of this pruning saw is that the handle isn’t ergonomically designed and that can make it a little awkward to wield. We were also less than impressed with its clear plastic carrying case, which probably won’t last as long as the blade does.
- 9.5-inch foldable blade.
- 8.5 teeth per inch.
- Lightweight.
- High carbon impulse-hardened steel blade.
- Handle isn’t ergonomically designed.
- Plastic carrying case.
The Silky Gomboy 121-24 is one of the most popular folding saws on the market for good reason. This is a great tool with an impressive 9.5-inch blade. We were also impressed with the 8.5 teeth per inch that make cutting a breeze. If they were to upgrade this pruning saw with an ergonomically designed handle it would easily move to the top of our list.
5. Tabor Tools TTS32A
If you’re in the market for a pruning saw, but you’d prefer to keep the budget under $20, the Tabor Tools TTS32A is easily one of your best options. This is a quality product that doesn’t make compromises just because it’s easier on your wallet. You’ll find this perfect for cutting small to medium tree branches and bushes.
The TTS32A comes with the option of a straight 10-inch blade or a curved 13-inch blade for a few dollars more. It has a chrome-plated steel blade for longevity and it’s rust-resistant as well. The handle has a nice ergonomic design as well which fits comfortably in your hand as you cut. When you purchase this pruning saw it also comes with a durable scabbard for safe storage when not in use.
It wasn’t easy finding any faults with this saw, but we should caution that you do have to take care when removing it from its scabbard – the razor-sharp blade does fit quite snugly and you can easily cut your hand if you’re not careful when removing it. It’s also not designed for use on branches more than 4-inches in diameter.
- Choice of 10-inch straight or 13-inch curved blade.
- Chrome-plated, rust-resistant steel blade.
- Ergonomic handle.
- Comes with a durable scabbard.
- Removing blade from scabbard can be tricky.
- Not suitable for branches more than 4-inches.
For smaller branches, the Tabor Tools TTS32A is a great choice at a great price. You have two different blade configurations to choose from and the chrome-plated, rust-resistant steel blade is designed to last for years. You do have to be careful when removing this pruning saw from its scabbard as it fits a little too snugly. Also, this isn’t the right choice if you’re planning on cutting thick branches more than 4 inches in diameter.
6. WilFiks 13-Inch Saw
If we had to choose one saw based on value, durability and cutting power we’d choose the WilFiks 13-inch heavy-duty hand saw. This is a nice product and best of all it retails for under $25. It doesn’t have many peers when it comes to value and usability.
There aren’t many hand pruning saws with a longer blade than this WilFiks blade which comes with an impressive 13 inches cutting length. It has a nice, comfortable, ergonomically designed handle with a cushioned rubber grip that helps it to absorb the shock so that your hands don’t have to. The blade has a curved as well which allows it to bend around branches easily as you cut. As a bonus, a polypropylene scabbard is also included.
While the 7 teeth per inch design is okay, there are pruning saws on the market that are equipped with more. The blade is also has a bit more give to it when compared with similarly priced products.
- 13-inch cutting blade.
- Ergonomic handle for comfort.
- Rubber grip reduces vibration.
- Curved blade design.
- Polypropylene scabbard included.
- Limited to 7 teeth per inch.
- Blade bends fairly easily.
The WilFiks heavy-duty hand saw isn’t the sturdiest pruning tool on the market, but it’s still a great product for the price. It has a nice large 13-inch blade and the curve design makes it easier to cut with. You’ll get years of use out of this pruning saw and you can’t do much better on the price.
7. Flora Guard Folding Saw
One of the most innovative compact pruning saws on the market today is the Flora Guard folding hand saw. It’s great for home use and ideal for camping trips as well. It’s also widely available at a great price of less than $25.
The first thing we noticed when reviewing this saw was the design of the handle, it has a comfortable hand contoured, no-slip design that you don’t usually find on other folding hand saws. The secure locking button is a great feature that ensures greater safety whether you’re using the blade or storing it for later use. It’s also equipped with an SK-5 steel blade that’s durable and rust-resistant.
It’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t ideal for use on larger branches because of its short 7.7-inch blade. It’s best used on smaller thinner branches and bushes. The blade is also designed to cut mainly on the pull action so it may require a little extra effort to cut through branches than some of the other pruning saws we’ve reviewed here.
- Foldable design.
- Ergonomic, non-slip handle.
- Secure locking button included.
- Durable and rust-resistant SK-5 steel blade.
- Short 7.7 inch blade.
- Limited to cutting on the pull action.
For a foldable pruning saw, the Flora Guard folding saw is a top quality product. We’d like it better with a longer handle, but it’s still the perfect tool for cutting smaller branches and it’s great for camping trips to remote locations. With its ergonomic, no-slip handle it’s comfortable to use and designed to last.
A pruning saw is a great tool to have around the house and there are plenty of affordable options to choose from. We believe all of the products we’ve reviewed here are great options, but if we had to choose one we’d opt for the Samurai Ichiban GC-330-LH. It has an impressive 13-inch blade made from durable Japanese steel and it comes with a protective sheath for storage. Although anyone of these pruning saws will make short work of those unruly tree branches and make sure your garden looks beautiful all season long.