Mainichi Snips These snips from Niwaki are made in Japan with carbon steel blades and yellow vinyl covered handle. The snips are very similar to the Niwaki GR Pro range but have a slightly different blade shape and also a different grade of steel for the blades. The steel on these snips is SK85 carbon steel. The yellow vinyl covered handles are comfortable in the hand and (theoretically) the yellow handle makes them easier to spot when you have put them down somewhere . . . but cant remember where! Snips differ from secateurs in the use that you put them to. They are ideal for picking and cutting stems for flower arranging or for dead heading, as a general rule they should not be used for pruning The maximum cutting diameter when you are using these secateurs for pruning is 5mm. The blades are 55mm in length. For cutting stems or branches of a greater diameter than 5mm you are probably better off using a pair of secateurs or a small saw. Good tools such as these should be well maint