For hand-operated garden shears, in particular tree-pruning shears, with a ratchet mechanism, it is proposed that, between a hand lever (H2) and a scissor lever (H1) between which a ratchet lever (RH) can engage in different latching positions according to the ratchet mechanism, there is also provided, in addition, a preferably rotatable abutment surface (AF) on the hand lever (H2) and a mating bearing surface (GF) on the lever extension, or vice versa, which, at the end of an initial closing operation with the ratchet lever (RH) in a first ratchet position, allow a continuation of the cutting operation as a direct cut without further use of the ratchet mechanism.
