Thoughts on High Performance Scissors

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'm tossing the idea around with getting a run of semi-custom high-performance scissors done up by the good folks at Heritage Cutlery and am looking for feedback on what model you consider most appealing for use as the base pattern. The modification that would be done to the selected model would be a thinning grind with acute points as shown below:

Possible patterns:

Stainless Options

P758LR Stainless (440C)

OAL: 9"
Length of cut: 3"
Notes: I own a standard pair of these personally and they're excellent for making tough cuts. If this model was selected it would be given a break-apart pivot like the next model.

VP41 Stainless (440C)

OAL: 8"
Length of cut: 2 3/4"
Notes: This is shown mostly for illustrative purposes. If this model were selected it would actually be the P758LR but with a break apart pivot and bent shanks. It would look just like this, but would have an extra 1/4" of cut length.

Carbon Options

8210LR (nickel over carbon)

OAL: 10 1/2"
Length of cut: 4 1/2"
Notes: Could be possibly done without the nickel plating for a more rustic look, but would be more corrosion-prone. Blue rubberized grip would not be used, as I find it to cause irritation with extended use.

212LR (nickel over carbon)

OAL: 12 1/2"
Length of cut: 6"
Notes: Could be possibly done without the nickel plating for a more rustic look, but would be more corrosion-prone. Blue rubberized grip would not be used, as I find it to cause irritation with extended use.

What do you think?

 

[richard j]

have you seen the japanese scissors that have the convex edges? i cant remember any brand names but i can find out for you. i sharpen a lot of them and they can be made freaky sharp just like a knife. they would not need to be modded like in the drawing.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's not an issue of edge sharpness--it's about acuteness of the point. The rest of the blade would be robust for hard use, with approximately the last inch of blade with the modified grind for piercing (starting the cut) and precision work. These aren't intended to be dainty affairs, but rather "use them for everything" type pieces. Also, working with a Japanese maker would be a comparatively complicated process--Heritage makes great stuff and it's all done in the USA.

 

[Leading Edge Fab]

FTB,

Looks like a great idea, kinda ironic but I had scissors thoughts a couple days ago.
The best is your looking at using a US manufacturer.

Mark

It's not an issue of edge sharpness--it's about acuteness of the point. The rest of the blade would be robust for hard use, with approximately the last inch of blade with the modified grind for piercing (starting the cut) and precision work. These aren't intended to be dainty affairs, but rather "use them for everything" type pieces. Also, working with a Japanese maker would be a comparatively complicated process--Heritage makes great stuff and it's all done in the USA.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I honestly think that one of the reasons that we as knife people tend not to focus on scissors/shears very much is both because of the overall poor quality of the average, commonly available household pair, and also because we get so many "well I just use scissors" responses from non-knife people after we explain to them why we carry. The fact is, a high quality forged-variety pair of shears is a dream to use for a variety of common tasks. Their use goes back about 4,000 years or so, so they've certainly proved their worth!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Come now, gentleman--at this many thread views I'd expect at least a few more votes let alone responses!

 

[vwspdshp]

I use carbon core laminate forged 6" scissors. They're Japanese handmade with convex edges. My vote was for 6" non plated carbon. I love a good patina, and 6" is a good size for a variety of chores. It took a lot of pocket and camping knives for me to develop a taste for scissors, kitchen knives, and razors, but I'm never going back!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Thanks for the input.

In may day job doing MS4 environmental compliance work for the University of Maine I found a pair of 10" (overall length--4.5" length of cut) shingle-cutting shears down in a storm drain. They're of similar design to the 8210LR's above and boy are they tough! Took a lot of rehab work on them (storm water runoff from roadways is pretty corrosive, plus they were covered in silt! ) but they're built like a tank. The administrative assistant in the office called them "murder shears" I now want an even bigger nastier pair, so I hear you with the 6" length of cut!

 

[amcardon]

I handled a bunch of THESE and was really tempted to buy a pair but then I remembered that I never use scissors... I had my wife answer your poll but she wanted to point out she only has experience with 1 pair of high quality scissors (that I bought her) for sewing. She's had them for 5 years or so now, uses them A LOT and they are still wicked sharp so now she's converted to a quality edge (and it gives me an avenue to explain/justify quality knife purchases).

Out of curiosity, what are you doing that you need a pair of custom scissors??? I dig your design and am curious to see what you end up with. Good luck!

 

[harkamus]

I guess I'm gonna have to rethink my answer when someone asks me why I carry a knife. The old answer was, "Because I don't run around with scissors in my pockets."

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'm finding that scissors on the market are either low quality, or difficult to track down. Furthermore, there aren't any truly high-performance shears on the market designed for the sort of daily use that folks like us might have--they're aimed at either the common fellow who doesn't care about the quality, or for specific industries like carpet, textile, poultry, etc. And there are many of us who work in circumstances that prevent us from carrying a pocket knife. A pair of scissors is uniformly looked on as an innocuous tool by most of society, and the pieces outlined above would be able to fill a knife-like role for most urban settings.

Ultimately, scissors are to urban settings as axes are to woodlands--a tool to match the environment. And while usable for knife-like tasks when needed, they have a more specific set of tasks that they excel at. A pocket knife is the best general carry tool as a result of it being maximally versatile for the widest range of tasks, while scissors would represent a more urban/home/office carry item.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I guess I'm gonna have to rethink my answer when someone asks me why I carry a knife. The old answer was, "Because I don't run around with scissors in my pockets."

:thumbup:

 

[harkamus]

I'm guessing my break apart it means the scissor halves can be removed so that one 'blade' can be used as a knife?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup! The same way that kitchen shears typically do. Makes for easy disassembly, cleaning, and maintenance, as well as allowing the two halves to be used independently.

 

[amflud]

I voted 4 1/2" plated carbon, but I could just as easily go stainless. Non-plated carbon is out for me since I cannot be positive my wife would maintain them when I'm not around. It's a great idea, btw!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Thanks! It's actually pretty amazing how much goes into a pair of shears--the geometries and precision of the mating surfaces is rather involved!

 

[Call_to_Arms]

My father was a leathercrafter by trade and he had 3 or 4 shears like the very first picture in this thread. Now one was a cutco, one was from Tandy and one was from the leather factory and other than the logo on the blade they were all identical, so we theorized they were made by one supplier and then sold with different retailers names on them. The demo he was shown when he bought the cutco's was a salesman cutting pennies in half, and ive done it on occasion with those scissors. I need to find a pair of these.

 

[guyfalks]

Tandy & Leather Factory have merged and still sell them (bought one on sale last year). A pair with break apart hinge would interest me.

 

[Call_to_Arms]

I guess I just dated myself, the ones he had were take down models..... I believe, I have to track down a pair of them again.