This tool was designed with comfort and functionality in mind, featuring ergonomically contoured grips, innovative mechanisms, and coated blades for a sharper, longer-lasting cut. Because of their design, anvil loppers can often cut thicker branches than bypass. Anvil lopper has one straight blade that cuts as it closes onto a flat edge or 'anvil' (think about it like a knife on a chopping board). This makes an anvil lopper an excellent tool for trimming back live wood before making a final, clean cut with bypass loppers. The anvil mechanism works like this: the upper blade is narrower and sharper. The wide anvil distributes pressure and supports the branch to avoid damaging or crushing the bark. A curved head or swiveling anvil provides an easier cutting action close to the joint.