a pruner assembly having hollow shaft with a longitudinal axis , a lower end , and open upper end , and a handgrip portion slidable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second position . a shearing mechanism attaches to said open upper end of the hollow shaft , which mechanism includes a body having a hook adapted to receive and hold a limb , a cutting blade pivots on the body and against the hook to cut the limb . an arm member pivots to the body and couples to the blade so that pivotal movement of the arm member pivotally moves the cutting blade . a pulley is mounted to the arm member distal end and a cable guide pulley is coupled to the hollow shaft adjacent the open upper end for guiding a cable into and out of the open upper end without the cable contacting the walls thereof . a cable is provided for moving the cutting blade with respect to the hook . the cable extends in operable engagement with the arm pulley and the guide member pulley , thus forming a two - pulley system for reducing the pull force needed to operate the assembly and cut the limb . the above mentioned pruner design applies to both fixed and adjustable length pruners .