Why own a knife? Why not scissors instead?

H

Hal

Joined
Feb 26, 1999
Messages
805
Tactical/defence reasons are not permitted, as they are self explanatory. Why invest so many $$ on an object that is inferior to a cheap pair of scissors for clipping coupons? I have my own reasons, but would like to hear others. Yes,I honestly believe scissors work better for coupon clipping, bandage cutting and a host of other chores. My wife has a pair of (ugh!)plastic scissors, at least 8 years old, that get a daily coupon workout. They have never been or needed sharpened.

Please, this isn't meant to be a troll or to stimulate flames. I really need help on this to explain it to the non-Knut people
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A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined;
George Washington Jan 8,1790--There can be no doubt about the Second Amendment.



[This message has been edited by Hal (edited 29 December 1998).]
 
Hal
One of the most compelling reasons I can think of is its pretty hard to carry scissors in you pants pocket.For those that really need scissors pick up a SAK that has them then you have the option of either.
Bob
 
"Clipping coupons"? Come'on man! Just for that, a (small, folding) knife is easier to tote than scissors. Also, it's more fun and gets you more exercise (e.g., cutting a coupon from below).

Other than that, it's easier to, e.g., sharpen a pencil with a knife than with scissors, to cut some thicker material with it (who knows what's "behind" the innocent coupon, her mama, perhaps), etc., etc.

Seriously, it is a good guestion, under what circumstances a "half of scissors" (a blade, admittedly without some restraints related to relative movement) is a better tool than the scissors, and especially, *why*.

 
Well, yeah, you have a point there. For daily urban chores, you could probably easily get away with just having a heavy duty scissors. Out in the fields though, a sturdy blade still reigns supreme.
 
Try using a sharp (of course) knife to cut wrapping paper for gifts. Compare the speed and ease of use to using scissors. Knife wins hands down IMHO.
 
With your scissors, try:

Opening a securely taped package or parcel

Coring an apple

Peeling fruit

Slicing a bagel (or anything else in need of slicing)

Cutting a rope

Whittling (or sharpening a pencil)

Or any cutting chore that involves materal that is thicker/tougher than paper or lightweight cloth, or which you can only come at from one side.




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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com

 
Scissors aren't practical to carry around, they don't fit in small pockets etc. And scissors can't compete with knives in piercing things; at their best, they are poor piercers and usually it's just impossible to pierce anything stronger than cardboard (and often piercing cardboard with scissors is more like "punching" them through...). I knives also work on wood and hard plastic just to name a few. I used to carry a pair of folding scissors attached to my keychain, but the short, scissors' chain broke one day and that was it. Fortunately, I got a Leatherman Micra as a gift a while after I stopped carrying the pair of scissors.

My two bits,
Jani
 
Reasons I use knives...

1. Scissors don't come with pocket clips
2. Scissors aren't as comfortable to use for long periods of time
3. Knives are cooler. You can't whip out a pair of scissors.
4. When scissors get dull you throw then away. When knives get dull you sharpen them again.
5. Its a real pain to cut any heavy materail with scissors(Heavy carboard, rope, plastic etc.)
6. Scissors aren't as useful in as many ways as knives are. They can only cut. Knives can cut, poke, pry, pierce, clean your nails and start conversations.
7. Scissors are for dorks
biggrin.gif


Sincerely,
Adam

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"There are 2 kinds of people in life. The ones who don't post on this forum and the ones who are going to heaven" ;)
 
I tried carrying some small folding scissors a couple of years ago. I think they're called Slip N Snips. They're pretty handy but micras or SAKs are more size efficient and have more tools.

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Frank
jqsurf@worldnet.att.net
 
Scissors don't make a cool "click" when you open them.
smile.gif


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Ciao

MM
 
You beat me to it Gus! Christmas Eve (present wrapping time) I started out with a pair of scissors and quickly got frustrated. My Spyderco Calypso Jr took their place and did a much better job!

A. Dale McLean
<A HREF="http://www.nt.net/~admclean/Index.htm" TARGET="_blank" >ADaM Sharps Cutlery - Canadian Knife Dealer</A>
 
Scissors Are BORING! Plus people don't think you crazy if you flick open a pair of Wilkinsons. But the biggest reason is pocket safety.
Nick
 
Thanks for the help on this. I've tried most of the above, and still get "The rolling eyes" when I mention my Birthday is in 2 more months, and I really need an EDI. The Coupon Mauler,(AKA:My Wife) just can't seem to understand the *cool* part. I mean here I am telling her I need a $100.00 Plus knife to cut food, open letters, clip coupons, and sharpen a pencil. Meanwhile, she pulls out a round nose pair of plastic(UGH!) scissors, priced about $.89, a pencil sharpener(The kind from a kids back to school thingie), priced about $.25, and a Serrated kitchen knife she got free for listening to some sales pitch. She even has the gall to tear open letters by hand, before I can decide which knife gets to do the honor. Now I have cut a lot of wallpaper, not the vinyl stuff, I mean the real old fashioned paper, wallpaper. Nothing comes close to a good pair of shears for cutting wet paper. Scissors can be kind of fun to open and close, if they are the real big shear kind. But how can I argue against the logic of her spending 2 or 3 dollars to accomplish what I feel would take at least an $80.00 or more knife? She can take her plastic(UGH!), scissors, and her little pencil sharpener anywhere in her purse. I, on the other hand generally set off the metal detector just driving past an airport. Help me fellow Knuts, I'm losing this round Big Time. I need an EDI

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A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined;
George Washington Jan 8,1790--There can be no doubt about the Second Amendment.



[This message has been edited by Hal (edited 29 December 1998).]
 
Don't ask for an EDI, just ask for a $100 worth or birthday money!

New idea. Say something like this, and she will never know what hit her. THEN THE EDI IS YOURS!!!

"Collecting knives is my most treasured hobby. And this new knife will make me, your loving partner happy. Very happy. And in the end... life is not about, how nice our car is, or how much money our paycheck is. It's about happiness. Squeezing every second out of life before it is too late. And in the long run, Scissors come, and Scissors go. But a EDI Genisis brings happiness. Which lasts forever."

Sincerely,
Adam



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"There are 2 kinds of people in life. The ones who don't post on this forum and the ones who are going to heaven" ;)
 
Simply a case of the right tool for the right job. I don't cut coupons with a knife, I don't cut packaging material with scissors and I don't hammer nails with a screwdriver.

Jonathan

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Live every day as if it was your last, for some day it shall be.
 
Don't you get it man??? Scissors give you a reason to use your favorite knife in an overtasking effort! Just can't see an orange pair of scissors sticking out of my back pocket! Not ment to offend, purely a joke. Just buy a nice knife and carry it a month...you'll find the fascination.

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We could carry scissors in a sheath if we wanted to. Obviously a scissors is a specialized tool; there are many jobs it can't do at all, some of them mentioned above, and cutting rope is another important one -- important to me, anyway.

A better question to my mind is: are there any jobs a scissors is better at than a sharp knife in skilled hands? Certainly not cutting coupons -- I can cut a coupon out of the middle of a newspaper with my knife much faster and neater than I could possibly do it with scissors. The page I've cut the coupon out of is still intact and I don't cut through the page below it, either. Of course that requires some skill and it requires a sharp knife, too. I guess most of the people who think scissors are kewl have never used a sharp knife -- unless it was a disposable blade utility knife, or one of us let them borrow ours for a minute.
smile.gif


I'm trying to think of something scissors are really better at. The kewl way to cut paper is with a knife and a straightedge; you can do really precise work that way, fast and easy. Cutting cloth, maybe -- some kinds of cloth, anyway. Maybe some other things I can't think of at the moment.

Regardless, a scissors is no substitute for a knife -- at best it's a supplement to use for a few specialized jobs.

-Cougar Allen :{)

 
It all boils down to the right tool, for the right person, for the right job. My wife would find the task of dressing out a deer, or any game for that matter impossible with her scissors. Decent, heavy scissors work better for cutting rubber hose than a knife. Scissors work better than a knife for cutting wet paper. Knives dull faster than scissors. Scissors are safer,in the round blunt nose flavor. Scissors are more PC(Like I really care
smile.gif
). Scissors cut foam rubber better than a knife. Scissors cut cloth better than a knife, most of the time. No way though am I going to give up my knives. I will continue to use a knife for all of the above mentioned jobs. I am after all a Knife Knut.

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A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined;
George Washington Jan 8,1790--There can be no doubt about the Second Amendment.


 
Please fellow Knuts don't take me wrong on this matter. I am 100%,pro knife. There is no scissorsforum.com that I am aware of. There may be some custom made shears out there, I believe I have seen a couple on some makers site. There is no IRC channel for scissors. And lastly you tend to look goofy pulling out a pair of orange handled scissors to cut a steak.

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A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined;
George Washington Jan 8,1790--There can be no doubt about the Second Amendment.


 
Cougar
In answer to your question on what scissors are really good for.A haircut.
Bob
 
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