Hand Forged Scissors
Hand Forged Scissors
An image of the two halves of the hand forged scissors, with the outside blades showing.
Name/Title
Hand Forged ScissorsEntry/Object ID
2025.2.313Tags
hand forged, 1800s, scissors, sheffieldDescription
A large pair of hand forged scissors, dating from the first half of the 19th century. Holland (1831) describes the process for forming the bows as follows: "The blade is forged at the anvil out of a bar of steel of the proper size from which it is presently cut with a chisel, along with so much of the metal as will be required for the formation of the shank and bow. A hole is then punched through the mould, as the rough blade is called, sufficient to admit the point of a little beaked anvil, called a beck-iron, and placed on the stithy. Upon this the bow is formed by a process of hammering, the tediousness of which is occasionally much aggravated by the tendency to break open, which bad steel exhibits when so elaborately wrought from the fire. The article being thus fashioned so far with the hammer, is, in the next place, put into the fire in little bundles to be lighted or softened." These scissors are 'as forged', ie, with no additional work having been done. Holland, J. (1831) A Treatise on the Progressive Improvement and Present State of the Manufactures in Metal.Category
Scissors