A portable pruner (10) for cutting limbs comprising a hollow shaft (27) havi ng a longitudinal axis, a lower end (30) and an open upper end (28). The slidab le grip portion (32) is slidable along the longitudinal axis between a first an d a second position. A shearing mechanism (14) is attached to the upper open e nd (28) of the hollow handle (27) and includes a body (16) having a hook (22) adapted to receive and hold a limb. A cutting blade (24) is pivotally attach ed to the body (16) and selectively pivots against the hook (22) to cut the selected limb. The pruner (10) includes means (26) for pivoting the cutting blade (24) with respect to the hook (22) wherein the pivoting means (26) is responsive to movement of the sliding portion (32) between the first and second positions.
