A Little History On The Humble Scissors

Scissors have been around for ages. Old, ancient scissors have been unearthed that date back as far as 1500 B.C. It is most likely that scissors were invented in 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. These were likely shears with the joint at the far end. Cross-bladed scissors were invented by Romans around AD 100.What’s clear is that the need for a good cutting tool is a part of our collective history. Though crudely formed by today’s standards, ancient scissors were designed to do the job of cutting in a precise and accurate way. In essence, two pieces of metal were bent at an angle, and then sharpened to facilitate cutting. Like so many old world functional tools, these semi-modern scissors were ornate and sometimes encrusted with jewels.

An immense stride in perfecting scissors was taken in 1761 when Robert Hinchliffe produced the first pair of modern-day scissors made of hardened and polished cast steel. He lived in Cheney Square, London and was reputed to be the first person who put out a signboard proclaiming himself "fine scissors manufacturer".

In a part of Sweden (now in Finland) an ironworks was started 1649 in the hamlet "Fiskars" between Helsinki and Turku. In 1830 a new owner started the first cutlery works in Finland, making, along with others, scissors with the trade mark Fiskars. Fiskars Corporation introduced new methods in the manufacturing of scissors in 1967.

Modern scissors have been in use for several hundred years helping us make a variety of jobs more manageable. True modern scissors, designed more for functional use, have been with us for a hundred years or so. They are precisely made of fine crafted steel and razor sharp blades making them inexpensive and durable. Scissors are now used for trimming hair, creating clothing and, of course, in the industrial setting. Metal cutting scissors are now commonly used by sheet metal workers and electricians.

Scissors are even now used in the delicate art of trimming nose and ear hairs. As time goes on we’ll continue to see our use of scissors evolve and change into better and more refined instruments.

By: Mumby

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