Best Folding Pruning Saw and Clearing Sickle for 2026
By The DIYPicks Team · Updated July 2026
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Two hand tools handle jobs pruners and loppers can't: a folding saw for branches thicker than 2 in, and a curved sickle for clearing grass and weeds at ground level. Here is the best of each.
A premium folding saw that starts where loppers stop: branches thicker than 2 in. Fast, clean pull-cuts and a lockable, pocketable body make it the go-to woody-branch hand tool.
- Branches
- Deadwood
- Thick limbs
- Backpacking
Pros
- Pull-stroke Japanese teeth cut fast and clean through green and dry wood with little effort
- Folds safely and locks in two open positions, so it is pocketable and travels well
- Impulse-hardened blade stays sharp a long time and takes replacement blades when it finally dulls
Cons
- Costs far more than a big-box folding saw, and the hard-chrome blade is not resharpenable at home
- Aggressive teeth cut on the pull only and can grab; awkward technique leads to skips and binding
- Real cut depth is limited by the 9.5 in blade - very large trunks still need a bow saw or chainsaw
A traditional Japanese kama for clearing grass, weeds and bed edges by hand. It fills the job no pruner or shear does - close, controlled slicing at ground level.
- Clearing grass
- Weeds
- Harvesting
- Trenching edges
Pros
- Curved blade hooks and slices through grass and weeds faster and closer than a trimmer near delicate plants
- Lightweight stainless blade resists rust and resharpens easily - low upkeep for a clearing tool
- Long hardwood handle gives leverage and reach for weeding beds, edging and harvesting
Cons
- Single-edge hand tool with no guard - the sharp hook demands careful technique and a glove
- Strictly for grass, weeds and soft stalks; it will not cut woody stems or branches
- Stainless blade holds an edge less long than carbon steel, so frequent users will resharpen often
Still deciding? Compare them
Frequently Asked Questions
- When should I use a pruning saw instead of loppers?
- Switch to a pruning saw once a branch exceeds about 2 in, or when it is dry, hard deadwood that jams a bypass lopper. A folding saw like the Silky Gomboy cuts on the pull stroke and handles limbs well beyond lopper capacity.
- What is a garden sickle for?
- A curved hand sickle (kama) clears tall grass, weeds and soft stalks close to the ground, and is handy for edging beds and harvesting. Its hooking, slicing cut works where a trimmer is too aggressive - but it will not cut woody branches.