Scissors vs Knife Blades

max6166 · **on:** July 12, 2008, 07:40:50 AM

Is there anything you can do with scissors that you can't do with a knife blade? What are some common tasks that scissors are particularly well-suited for?

I was trying to decide on a next purchase, and one of the deciding factors is whether I want scissors. I started trying to think about tasks that I would absolutely rather use scissors for, and couldn't do fairly easily with a knife blade.

My imagination may be running a bit low at the moment, but I can't think of any scissors-only tasks that I would likely every need to do. Don't get me wrong - I am sure they exist, but I just can't think of any... $:-\$

jzmtl · **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2008, 09:17:30 AM

Trim your nail.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2008, 09:38:09 AM

Scissors besides being better at precision cut's are also much more sheeple friendly, and are pretty much the only blade's you can use safely around children

AndyTiedye · **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2008, 10:19:10 AM

Quote from: max6166 on July 12, 2008, 07:40:50 AM

Is there anything you can do with scissors that you can't do with a knife blade? What are some common tasks that scissors are particularly well-suited for?

Fabric and thread.

Benner · **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2008, 10:53:16 AM

Cutting hair. My Shortcut was once used by the wife to make a quick alteration once.

WhichDawg · **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2008, 11:02:04 AM

yes many people use the scissors for grooming (savages)
and sometimes you don't have a good cutting surface for a knife.

Rodion · **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2008, 12:06:41 PM

Basically, anywhere sensitive. This includes both fragile people and objects.

Also, anything you need to gently cut one-handed (like a packet of milk you're holding in the other) will be an unbelievable pain to cut with a knife. I'm thinking of trading my Atlas for an Outrider for that specific reason.

P.S. Anyone got an unabused Outrider? Black is preferable...

Poncho65 · **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2008, 04:42:46 PM

You can cut paper much better and especially a whole lot safer with scissors. If I have to clip coupons (I am cheap by the way) it is a lot easier to follow the dotted line with scissors vs a knife blade for me anyway

max6166 · **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2008, 05:43:48 PM

Thanks for the input, guys. Those are basically the types of tasks I was coming up with too. I had cutting hair, threads, fabric, paper, etc., but I couldn't think of any "industrial", handyman-type tasks either.

I think Rodion and WhichDawg accurately identified the general task categories where scissors excel over knives - cutting things precisely and gently in place; and cutting flat objects, such as paper and fabric, when you don't have a cutting surface.

In my everyday life, I had only found myself cutting my nails, paper, and the occasional loose thread. Nails can just be filed. Loose threads can be handled with a sharp knife. And the types of simple cuts I was making with paper could easily be done even better by using a knife in a letter opener fashion.

But you have all got me thinking that occasions may very well come up where I need to do some precision cutting and will wish I had scissors, so the scissors stay. What if I have a hair emergency and I am miles away from the nearest barber!?

The question now is whether I should have scissors on my MT, my SAK, or both... ?