Scissors or shears are hand-operated cutting tools that consist of a pair of pivoting blades whose sharpened edges slide firmly against and past each other when the handles (shank) on the opposite side of the pivot are squeezed shut. This causes the target material in between the blades to be divided by the combined effort of both cutting and shearing. Scissors are usually used for cutting thin materials such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, cloth, rope and wire, although a large variety of scissors/shears exist for specialized purposes, and their design details often dictate which is best for the intended job.
While all scissors largely follow the same working principle, heavy-duty scissors intended for cutting tough materials tend to be called shears instead of scissors (e.g. pruning shears and grass shears), and some larger, two-handed implements are called trimmers instead (e.g. hedge trimmer). Choosing the optimal type of scissors/shears is crucial, as otherwise it can cause unwanted damage to the target material and/or the instrument itself. For example, hair-cutting shears and kitchen shears are functionally equivalent scissors, but hair-cutting shears have specific blade angles ideal for cutting heaped bundles of hair, and using the incorrect type of scissors will result in increased damage or split ends, or both, by breaking the hair; kitchen shears, also known as kitchen scissors, are intended for cutting and trimming tough food materials such as meat, tendon and bones. Surgical scissors, used to divide tissues and trim/reshape implants during surgical operations, have even a greater variety to deal with different anatomical and procedural circumstances.
Most scissors have a ringed handle to allow readily opening for repeated cutting, and some even have spring between the shanks to assist opening (especially for shears with straight handle). While historically inexpensive, mass-produced scissors often have bare metal handles, modern scissors are often designed ergonomically with composite thermoplastic and rubber covering on handles, which are more comfortable for the hand.
Terminology The noun scissors is treated as a plural noun and therefore takes a plural verb (e.g., these scissors are). Alternatively, the tool is referred to by the singular phrase a pair of scissors. The word shears is used to describe similar instruments that are larger in size and for heavier cutting.
History
Early manufacture The Hangzhou Zhang Xiaoquan Company in Hangzhou, China, has been manufacturing pivoted scissors made of a hand-forged, hardened steel cutting edge inlaid in an iron frame since 1663. Company founder Zhang Sijia pioneered this design during the Ming dynasty as early as 1580. Modern Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, in common use throughout China, are still produced today using the same design and hand-forged construction methods.
In 1761, Robert Hinchliffe of Sheffield produced the first pair of scissors made of cast steel intended for the mass market. His major challenge was to form the bows; first, he made them solid, then drilled a hole, and then filed away metal to make this large enough to admit the user's fingers. This process was laborious, and Hinchliffe improved upon it in order to increase production. He achieved strong sales in London and elsewhere.
Modern manufacturing regions
China
The vast majority of global scissor manufacturing takes place in China. As of 2019, China was responsible for 64.3% of worldwide scissors exports. When combined with Chinese Taipei exports, this rises to 68.3%.The Observatory of Economy Complexity, trade data for scissors as of 2019 . Retrieved 11/29/21.
The Hangzhou Zhang Xiaoquan Company, founded in 1663, is one of the oldest continuously operating scissor manufacturers in the world. The company was nationalized in 1958 and now employs 1500 people who annually mass-produce an estimated seven million pairs of inexpensive scissors that retail for an average of US$4 each.
France
In the late 14th century, the English word "scissors" came into usage. It was derived from the Old French word , which referred to shears.(2014-11-03) "History 101: Scissors" , Daily KOS. Retrieved 12-04-21
There are several historically important scissor-producing regions in France: Haute-Marne in Nogent-en Bassigny, Châtellereault, Thiers and Rouen."Re-editions of Vintage Scissors" , Sajou Blog. Retrieved 01-06-22 These towns, like many other scissor-producing communities, began with sabre, sword and bayonet production, which transitioned to scissors and other blades in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.Official Website for Tourism in Champagne-Ardenne . Retrieved 01-06-22
Thiers, in the Puy-de-Dôme department of Auvergne, remains an important centre of scissor and cutlery production. It is home to both the Musée de la Coutellerie, which showcases the town's 800-year history of blade-making,Alastair (2020-01-12) "Thiers: Cutlery Capital of France" . Mechtravller. Retrieved 01-06-22 as well as , an industry tradeshow that advertises itself as one of the largest annual gatherings of artisanal blade-makers in the world.
Germany
Germany was responsible for manufacturing just under 7% of global scissors exports in 2019.The Observatory of Economy Complexity, trade data for scissors as of 2019. Retrieved 12/04/21. Often called "The City of Blades", Solingen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been a center for the manufacturing of scissors since medieval times. At the end of the 18th century it's estimated that there were over 300 scissorsmiths in Solingen.Zautor, Capital (2019-04-13) "How the Knife Makers from Solingen Survived" . Retrieved 12/04/21
In 1995 the City of Solingen passed The Solingen Ordinance, an update to a 1930s law that decreed "Made in Solingen" stamps could only be applied to products almost entirely manufactured in the old industrial area of Solingen. In 2019 this applied to approximately 150 companies making high-quality blades of all kinds, including scissors.Zautor, Capital (2019-04-13) "How the Knife Makers from Solingen Survived" . Retrieved 12/04/21
Friedrich Herder, founded in Solingen in 1727, is one of the oldest scissors manufacturers still operating in Germany.Friedrich Herder: Company History. Retrieved 12/04/21
Italy
Premana, in Lecco Province, has its origins in ironworks and knife manufacturing beginning in the 16th century. In 1900 there were ten scissor manufacturing workshops, 20 in 1952 and 48 by 1960.Municipality of Premana: Economy. Retrieved 11/27/21. Today, Consorzio Premax, an industrial partnership, organizes over 60 local companies involved in the manufacture of scissors for global markets.Ecco Lecco Tourist Guide to Lecco Province: Premana. Retrieved 11/27/21. In 2019 Italy exported 3.5% of scissors manufactured globally.The Observatory of Economy Complexity, trade data for scissors as of 2019. Retrieved 12/04/21.
One of the oldest Premanese scissor manufacturing firms still in operation is Sanelli Ambrogio, which was founded in 1869.Ambrogio Sanelli: Company History. Retrieved 11/27/21.
Japan
Scissormaking in Japan evolved from sword making in the 14th century.Sibert, Jake (2018-09-19) "See Why This Pair of Scissors Costs $35,000 USD" , HypeBeast Great Big Story. Retrieved 12-04-21. Seki, in Gifu Prefecture, was a renowned center of swordmaking beginning in the 1200s. After citizens were no longer permitted to carry swords, the city's blacksmiths turned to making scissors and knives.Visit Seki Official Guide, Gifu Prefecture. Retrieved 12/04/21 There are many specialized types of Japanese scissors, but sewing scissors were introduced by American Commodore Matthew Perry from the United States in 1854.Kitajima Y., Kito K., Migaki M., Matsumuro K., Murata Y., Hamada H. (2015) Process Analysis of Manufacturing of Sewing Scissors by All Forging Process and Understanding of Its Sharpness. In: Duffy V. (eds) Digital Human Modeling. Applications in Health, Safety, Ergonomics and Risk Management: Human Modeling. DHM 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 9184. Springer, Cham.
The Sasuke workshop in Sakai City south of Osaka is run by Yasuhiro Hirakawa, a 5th generation scissorsmith. The company has been in operation since 1867.Ken (2019-12-27), "Sasuke: Witness the Art of Japanese Blacksmithing in Osaka" , Matcha Japan. Retrieved 12/04/21. Yasuhiro Hirakawa is the last traditional scissormaker in Japan, making scissors in the traditional style where the blades are believed to be thinner, lighter and sharper than European scissors.Kazue (2021-04-19) "Discovering Quality Japanese Scissors and Knives" . Retrieved 12-04-21 In 2018 he was profiled in a documentary that featured a pair of his bonsai snips which retailed for US$35,000.Sibert, Jake (2018-09-19) "See Why This Pair of Scissors Costs $35,000 USD" , HypeBeast Great Big Story. Retrieved 12-04-21
Spain
In Solsona, Spain, scissor manufacturing began in the 16th century. At the industry's peak in the 18th century there were 24 workshops, organized as the Guild of Saint Eligius, the patron saint of knife makers.Pallarès Solsona: Company History. Retrieved 11/27/21. By the mid-1980s there were only two, and by 2021, Pallarès Solsona, founded in 1917 by Lluìs and Carles Pallarès Canal, and still family-operated, was the town's sole remaining artisanal scissor manufacturer."The Makers: Carving a Place in History" , Reste Journal. Retrieved 11/27/21
United Kingdom
Sheffield was home to the first mass production of scissors beginning in 1761. By the 19th century there were an estimated 60 steel scissor companies in Sheffield. However, since the 1980s, industry globalization and a shift towards cheaper, mass-produced scissors created price deflation that many artisanal manufacturers could not compete with. The Sheffield scissor industry consisted of just two local companies in 2021.Scissor-Making: Red List of Endangered Crafts , British Heritage Crafts Association. Retrieved 11/27/21
The two remaining Sheffield scissor manufacturers are William Whiteley, founded in 1760,William Whiteley: Heritage. Retrieved 12/04/21 and Ernest Wright, which was established in 1902. Both now focus on high-end/niche crafting of "products for life" rather than mass production.Floyd, Charlie (2021-04-04) "Why Ernest Wright Scissors are so expensive" . Business Insider. Retrieved 11/27/21 Between these two firms it is estimated that there are no more than ten "putter-togetherers" or "putters" who are the master-trained craftspeople responsible for high quality Sheffield scissor assembly.Scissor-Making: Red List of Endangered Crafts , British Heritage Crafts Association. Retrieved 11/27/21 In 2020, Ernest Wright was recognized with the Award for Endangered Crafts by the British Heritage Crafts Association.Carpenter, Daniel (2020-10-08), "Winners of the 2020 Heritage Crafts Awards" . Retrieved 11/27/21
Right-handed and left-handed scissors