Talk:Scissors

Older comments
Does friction actually cause the cutting, or is it the act of shearing the material to be cut? If there were a frictionless material to make blades of, I surmise they could be solid blocks, be perfectly pressed together, and cut more effectively than any friction-full scissors.no it does

Friction question:- This depends on how the scissors are constructed. Cold forged 'stamped' scissors (usually mass produced and relatively cheap) often rely on the shearing action alone between the two blades - however they are not always successful in this and can simply wrap around the material being cut. Good quality hot-forged scissors are 'sprung' - the blades are under tension and only meet at the cutting point as the scissors are closed together, giving optimal cutting friction. It is often possible to see daylight between the closed blades of a good quality pair of scissors due to this spring tension. Further, good quality scissor blades are often extremely slightly 'twisted' (like a propellor blade) to aid this tension, and thus increase the friction for the cutting action. Real 'left handed' scissors are made mirror image for this exact purpose (along with comfort and eye-line reasons) - otherwise the fingers tend to push, and the thumb tends to pull, the blades apart laterally - not giving an ideal cutting action. --Nick (talk) 15:49, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Well, now to the article:Scissors. Under the heading History a casual editor Markusbo123 has 18 April 2006 omitted some historical facts, which can be found in the link [6] page 6, "Finlands annexion to the Swedish realm in the 1100s..."; page 10, "The Founder of FISKARS Ironworks Peter Thorwöste arrived from Holland, obtained in 1649 the concession (of Christina, the Queen of Sweden); page 22, the Cutlery Works started by a new owner in 1830, when Finland was "an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire"; page 33, in 1917 Finland issued its Declaration of Independence; in 1967 FISKARS introduced new methods in the manufacturing of scissors; page 39, in 1977 FISKARS built a scissors plant in the U.S.A. (Wausau, Wisconsin). Some details may be reverted to the History as in 14 April. Comet27 17:47, 20 April 2006 (UTC)


 * New comments see User talk:Comet27. Comet27 20:55, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

It has been suggested that the article Shears be merged into Scissors (see history of Scissors 03:28, 4 March 2007). First - observe that in the article Shears we have a picture of a pair of Fiskars shears, which is exactly the same tool and of the same size as in the last picture in the article Scissors. Click on these pictures - you get the enlarged pictures in Wikimedia Commons - and you can see the same name FISKARS on the scissors' blades, on both of them. The picture "A small pair of shears" has been taken with a digicamera very near the plastic handles - therefore a distorted perspective shows enlarged handles compared to the blades. Conclusion: when the article Shears is ready to be merged into the article Scissors, the picture "A small pair of shears" should not be merged. I assume that an administrator will do the merger, if it shall be done. I have not experience for that.Comet27 10:30, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Shears
Shears, as I was taught, not only are bigger, but the term describes the handles as well. Shears have a bigger slot for four fingers and a thumb. Scissors have equal size holes.

Shears question:- The mysteries of the difference between 'scissors' and 'shears' appear to be somewhat lost in history. I have come across many different versions and accounts. In UK manufacture we tend to class anything over 8 inches as 'shears', although the handles (or 'bows') reasoning sometimes comes into use below that. However, garden shears would have identical handles (without bows) and would not be called scissors. Similarly there are many scissors with 'offset' (differing in length and often shape) bows that are smaller than 6 inches, but would not be called 'shears'.

Even sizing scissors and shears is somewhat difficult or obscure - one ruling is that the length of a pair of scissors is measured from the tip of the points to the far end of the shortest handle or bow. This does not always fit well with the general buying public, who expect it to be the total length of the complete item. --Nick (talk) 15:50, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

I was taught in sewing class that the difference between shears and scissors is that the blades on scissors are equal whereas shears are configured to make it easier for cutting large areas of cloth so that the bottom or blade that crosses to the right doesn't go out very far like the right blade does and goes under the material in order to shear the cloth. The first picture in the article is of shears. This is actually an important distinction. Krobinson95 (talk) 11:49, 12 October 2011 (UTC)krobinson95

Un-pluralized Use
I noticed some people use the word "scissor", when they should use the word "scissors". example: "could you pass me the scissor?". Could that be a regional thing? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Everydayrockstar (talk • contribs) 21:56, 12 September 2007 (UTC)


 * An easy way to correct them is to take out the bolt, and pass them a single one of the two blades. :-) --190.74.108.43 16:54, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

I'd agree. Lighted Match 00:11, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Da Vinci invented scissors?
It is commonly stated and believed that Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Does anyone know the origin of this? If so, it should either be addressed or debunked in the article. EAP 14:41, 3 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Yeah, they write a thousand places about it. I found in the Wikianswers (without a proper source) that Da Vinci developed the scissors to the modern two-pieces form. But up until we don't have a good source, I suggest just leave out Leonardo from the article. 81.183.122.78 (talk) (DJS, hu.wikipedia.org) —Preceding undated comment was added at 18:53, 12 October 2008 (UTC).

Da Vinci invented the modern scissors.

Poultry shears redirect
Shouldn't Poultry shears link to a blank page, instead of redirecting back to the page it is supposed to be coming from? ataricom (talk) 21:33, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

Poultry shears question:- Poultry shears are simply another type of specialist scissors or shears, and as such I don't believe they warrant a new page. I know of at least 100 different types of specialist scissors and shears but I wouldn't like to write the separate pages for each! --Nick (talk) 15:50, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Are Finger/Toe Nail Clippers a type of Scissors??
Based on the definition of scissors, "a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other", I don't think finger/toenail clippers fit into this category, because the blades don't slide against each other; they meet edge to edge, almost in an anvil situation. Besides, they have their own page: Nail clipper.

WesT (talk) 18:15, 6 September 2011 (UTC)


 * Never mind. A new day, a new brain. They are referring to nail SCISSORS, not nail clippers. I've seen some rather small nail scissors, usually used to cut fingernails on babies, but it would have been easier to understand if there had been a picture to avoid confusion.
 * If anyone can find such a picture, please add it near that paragraph.
 * Thanks! WesT (talk) 15:55, 7 September 2011 (UTC)


 * A picture similar to this would work: [[File:Baby_nail_scissors.jpg]]
 * WesT (talk) 16:13, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

Special scissors
In this section it reads shears to make wool, ought it be shares to harvest wool? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.21.130.193 (talk) 00:39, 2 November 2011 (UTC)


 * Done. --Thnidu (talk) 04:02, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

Scissors spelling
Sissors was a spelling Scissors became the accepted version when it went in as a dictionary entry. Well worth looking up.86.44.79.87 (talk) 14:19, 5 November 2011 (UTC)

According to

"Where did that sc in scissors come from? We used to spell it sissors or sizars. The classicizers of the 1500s thought the word went back to Latin scindere, to split, but it actually came to us (via French) from cisorium, “cutting implement.” The same assumption turned sithe into scythe."

Contradiction in the History Section
The history section opens with these two mutually exclusive sentences:


 * "It is most likely that scissors were invented around 1500 BC in ancient Egypt.[1] The earliest known scissors appeared in Mesopotamia 3,000 to 4,000 years ago."

Can someone clarify which is so?TheCormac (talk) 02:22, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

Well, this is good question, it should be comprehesively investigates. So far my studies, I only know about the invention of scissors in the age of Middle Kingdom (Egypt) around 1700-1550 BC, which was probably independed on any previous scissors. But I have no source for this, because I can only remember it is from lectures on the univerisy. If someone could provide a source, it would be better. !But I seriously doubt about even possibiilty of scissors invented in Mezopotamia around 2 miledium BC. In that age, thay were hardly able to produce bronz metallic tools of the simplest nature such as knife, chisel or needle. Scissors after all requires some level of mechanical development to be functioning. Moreover, this claim is not sourced. I suggest to mark that sentence as not verified or let the author of the sentence give us source, I would really like to know more about it. Thnks Adam — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.113.93.116 (talk) 23:38, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

Scissor Size
It should be mentioned, perhaps, how are scissors measured. When you buy scissors of a particular size, what does the size mean? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.118.30.224 (talk) 12:34, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

Issues in lede

 * They consist of a pair of metal blades pivoted...

So what about the form of scissors with a spring at the opposite end and where pushing the handles together pushes the blades together (such as the 2nd century Asian pair pictured). There is no pivot at all there. This is the initial definition so it must fit all scissors.
 * ...when the handles (bows) opposite to the pivot are closed

So, that's the other end than the thing that's in the middle?
 * Scissors can also be used to cut hair. Hair-cutting scissors have a specific blade angle ideal for cutting hair. Using the incorrect scissors to cut hair will result in increased damage and or split ends by breaking the hair.

If this level of detail really appropriate for the lede? It would surely be better moved to the specialized scissors section.
 * Modern scissors are normally designed ergonomically with composite thermoplastic and rubber handles which enable the user to exert either a power grip or a precision grip.

Source for this? It's a reasonably common configuration but I'd want a source to assert that it is the configuration used by the majority of scissors, yet alone that scissors with e.g. solid metal or single plastic handles are in some sense unusual which would be the true threshold for a "normally" assertion. MonumentallyIncompetent (talk) 21:24, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

§ Art
Under "Culture", the subsection titled "Art" says, in total,
 * Numerous forms of art worldwide enlist scissors as a tool/material with which to accomplish the art; in this section, we will be looking at cases where scissors appear in or are represented by the final art product.

In this section, we are looking at nothing at all except the link to the Commons category. The section was by  four years and a month ago (June 7, 2011), probably with the intention of expanding it, but it hasn't been touched since. I'm rewording it to explicitly direct the reader to the category rather than promise something that isn't delivered. --Thnidu (talk) 03:58, 5 July 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 1 one external link on Scissors. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20050423223417/http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com:80/~exy1/fh_material/18C_sheffield/ch4.txt to http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/fh_material/18C_sheffield/ch4.txt

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Cheers. —cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 17:34, 17 October 2015 (UTC)

Pair of scissors with black handle, 2015-06-07.jpg}} to appear as POTD soon
Hello! This is a note to let the editors of this article know that File: will be appearing as picture of the day on January 17, 2020. You can view and edit the POTD blurb at Template:POTD/2020-01-17. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page so Wikipedia doesn't look bad. :) Thanks! Cwmhiraeth (talk) 10:34, 3 January 2020 (UTC)

"Scissoring"
Oh boy, does anyone want to comment or be bold enough to put it in the article? :-) Wastrel Way (talk) Eric
 * Already in place. The dab page (linked in the article's hatnote) has an item on it, and "scissoring" redirects to the relevant page. Just plain Bill (talk) 14:54, 17 January 2020 (UTC)

Scissor technique high-jump
Not sure if this is a close enough link to be included in the Sports section. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scissors_jump

( I'm a bit incompetent at actually adding to Wikipedia ) GeoffAvogadro (talk) 19:11, 17 January 2020 (UTC)

Da Vinci invented scissors? Part 2.
See: 3 December 2007 at #4 above.

Probably beyond your ability…

I want to know why quiz games persist in claiming Da Vinci invented scissors.

I first heard this c1995 at a quiz.

A player from another table had heard it “years before”.

I had read heaps of trivia by 1995… so I suspect this claim is a post 1960 “invention”.

The best I can find is:
 * He made sketches (Quora), and
 * A lot of historians claim Leonardo da Vinci is the inventor, since he used it in cutting canvas before it became common practice (artradarjournal.com).

There are no claims [on Google] that he improved the design.

Maybe he was unusual in using them for cutting canvas.

Maybe he did something as a result of his anatomy studies.

But who is the idiot (and when) that established this factoid?

MBG02 (talk) 23:14, 23 April 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 January 2023
In the section 'History -> United Kingdom' Sheffield is written as being in York (i.e. the line begins "Sheffield, York,..."), but this should actually read either "Yorkshire" (the general region/historic county) or "South Yorkshire" (the current county Sheffield is located in) as York is just a city that is a good 40-odd miles away from Sheffield. 92.13.140.145 (talk) 16:35, 7 January 2023 (UTC)

. Just got rid of the reference entirely, not needed. PianoDan (talk) 21:42, 9 January 2023 (UTC)

Scissors
Scissors are hand-operated shearing tools. A pair of scissors consists of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles (bows) opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, cloth, rope, and wire. A large variety of scissors and shears all exist for specialized purposes. Hair-cutting shears and kitchen shears are functionally equivalent to scissors, but the larger implements tend to be called shears. Hair-cutting shears have specific blade angles ideal for cutting hair. Using the incorrect type of scissors to cut hair 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 foods such as meats. 103.110.109.60 (talk) 15:22, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 October 2023
At position Germany at the end the name of German company has writing mistake actual its Freidrich Herder should be Friedrich Herder 2A00:6020:4197:5500:132:9AA9:6E09:769A (talk) 07:37, 19 October 2023 (UTC)
 * ✅ Liu1126 (talk) 11:35, 19 October 2023 (UTC)

Medical section should add "suture scissors"
The medical section should have a photo of "suture scissors. I found this on Web: "These scissors feature a small hook on one tip that slides under the sutures to slightly lift the suture before cutting and removal. The hook also holds the suture, thus avoid any type of slippage prior to cutting." Pete unseth (talk) 15:45, 22 March 2024 (UTC)

"human hands are asymmetric"?!
The article text claims that this is true in the left/right-handed scissors section. But... hands definitely are symmetric. 2A01:C23:65C3:4500:CE7:E73:7C22:917C (talk) 08:24, 23 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Scissors are normally used in one hand. One single hand is not symmetric. Just plain Bill (talk) 12:35, 23 May 2024 (UTC)