Best Folding Pruning Saw and Clearing Sickle for 2026
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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Two kinds of jobs defeat pruners and loppers: branches thicker than 2 in, and clearing grass or weeds at ground level. Hand saws and sickles handle both. Our three picks are a fine-tooth Silky Gomboy folding saw for clean cuts on green and medium limbs, a coarse, aggressive Corona RazorTOOTH folding saw that powers through dry 5-6 in deadwood, and a curved Nisaku sickle for slicing grass, weeds and soft stalks close to the soil. Together they finish the work your cutting tools can't.
A premium folding pull-saw that starts where loppers stop, cutting branches and deadwood roughly 4-5 inches thick; its impulse-hardened Japanese blade cuts fast and locks open or closed to pocket safely. Catches: it costs far more than a big-box saw, isn't home-resharpenable, cuts only on the pull and can grab, and big trunks still need a chainsaw.
- 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 tall grass, weeds and bed edges and harvesting near delicate plants, its 7-inch curved stainless blade slicing on the pull and resharpening easily. Trade-offs: it is a bare single-edge tool with no guard, so wear a glove; it cuts only grass and soft stalks, not wood; and stainless dulls faster than carbon.
- 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
The benchmark folding saw: a 10 in curved, impulse-hardened blade with three-sided razor teeth that cut on the pull stroke through limbs up to 5-6 in, far beyond lopper capacity. It folds into its handle for safe carry and takes replacement blades, so one saw lasts years. Coarse and aggressive by design, it is a wood tool, not a finish saw for delicate live pruning.
- Thick deadwood
- Pull cut
- Replaceable blade
Pros
- 10 in curved blade with three-sided razor teeth rips through 5-6 in limbs faster than most folding saws
- Impulse-hardened high-carbon blade stays sharp for seasons and is fully replaceable
- Folds safely into the handle and locks open, so it rides in a pocket or tool bag
Cons
- Aggressive pull-stroke teeth are made for wood and will tear, not slice, green grass or soft stems
- Coarse ~6 TPI pitch leaves a rougher cut face than a fine-tooth finishing saw
- Folding pivot must be kept snug or the blade develops side-to-side play over time
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.
- Silky or Corona - which folding saw should I choose?
- Both are excellent pull-stroke folding saws; the difference is tooth pitch. The fine-tooth Silky Gomboy leaves a smoother, cleaner cut face that heals well, ideal for live pruning on trees and shrubs. The coarser Corona RazorTOOTH removes wood faster and shines on dry, hard deadwood up to 5-6 in. For pruning living plants pick the Silky; for fast bucking of dead limbs pick the Corona.