Hollow shaft pruning assembly

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.