LamsonForged Take-Apart Kitchen Shears

Alton did a show on kitchen knives, cutting instruments for the kitchen. He claims he cannot live without this item and I took him out his word. They are amazing a little pricey? Maybe in the short run, but I plan on using these for the next 20 years.

I'm looking for a pair of shears that can replace my Cutco Super Shears. The Super Shears are still in perfect condition after over 20 years of use, but I want to get half a dozen pairs to keep throughout the house and in gear kits, so the $125 price tag for the Super Shears is a bit of a problem. This review is through the lens of a Super Shears comparison.CONS1) Materials - the high carbon stainless steel is nice, but prone to rust; see attached images. It's also prone to fingerprints, water spots, and smudges, so the polished finish is a bit of a liability, in my opinion. Would prefer a matte or even brushed finish.2) Durability - rust is going to be a problem, especially at the pivot, and it's just not quite as sturdily built.3) Comfort - thinner dimensions and no coating/padding on the grips make these harder to use for long periods or when doing heavy duty cutting, but they're not what I would call uncomfortable at all.PROS1) Break apart pivot makes for easier cleaning2) Serrated blades make them bite a bit better, especially when you're cutting something that might otherwise slip and prevent you from successfully cutting the object.3) Study design means these shears can handle just about anything, though they're not quite as beefy as the Cutco Super Shears.Summary: The search continues. These are great shears that perform well, but the rust is a big problem for something I want to store in gear bags and not worry about.

It's a bit disappointing that Lamson does not appear to be as high of quality as they used to be, plus pretty much only the knives are really US made (although with imported steel now on most), however I am quite pleased with my shears. They pull apart for easy cleaning and drying, plus have a nice unique shape. Most kitchen shears have the big kitchen aid chunky shape, I was debating on getting the Allclad shears like that, but preferred the Lamson design.Final note, my pair came in good condition, nice straight blades and clean/polished. It does rub very slightly at the very end of the cut, but I think it's just tightening up because of the bolt/pull apart hinge.I do wish they were offered in a fine edge, I really don't like sharpening serrated edges.

I noticed Amazon has removed the "made in USA" tag from these, as they very plainly show up in a box with a "made in China" label. I couldn't care less where they are made as long as they work. These work great. Their simplicity is their greatest asset...their solid all-metal construction makes them strong, durable, and easy to clean. The relatively shorter blades and longer handle (i.e., pivot point closer to the sharp end) give good leverage and better control. Works well for any task from opening a bag of chips to boning a chicken. The grip is large enough to be comfortable for my male hands, but these are "righty" grip only...no "lefties" or ambidexterous grips. While I agree a plastic or silicone grip might be more comfortable to use, the junction with the metal blades would be a perfect place for nasty chicken goo to get stuck. That's the beauty of these shears...take them apart, wash in hot soapy water, and you're good to go. I disagree with other commenters on the corrosion and disassembly issues. Mine are high-carbon stainless (only weakly magnetic...if your shears are very magnetic they probably aren't stainless) and haven't corroded at all through several months of use and washing. They are polished, not chrome plated which would be prone to flaking off. The two halves stay together tightly even when fully opened in my hand, but disassemble and reassemble easily each time.

I have had these shears for four years and they have performed admirably. I have no idea what the "serrated edge" nonsense is all about, unless they changed the style. Other than rather rough tooling marks visible with a good magnifying glass, there are no true serrations--microscopic or otherwise. I use these daily and I do not baby them. They have some minor pits noticeable only on close inspection, but otherwise they are still bright with the exception of light scratches from hanging them on a magnetic strip.I have yet to sharpen them, though at this point, after cutting through chicken bones, twist ties, and nearly everything else that passes through the kitchen, they could use a tune-up. I have confidence that they will tolerate sharpening with no trouble at all. The blades are heavy, adjustable, and easily come apart for cleaning. I have big hands and these fit well. My much smaller wife has no trouble with them, either. For tough jobs like cutting chicken backbones, I squeeze the outside of the handles. Neither the blade nor the handle distort at all during that type of service, though one does need to make sure there is adequate pressure on the adjustment screw.The pair I had before these were an ATK review winner and I thought they were junk. I threw them away after about two months and bought these. I have never looked back.

These are sharp, sturdy and easy to clean. I bought them to spatchcock a turkey, worked like a charm, but was very hard on my hands. Painful, but I'm sure someone with stronger hands would probably have an easier time.

If you like old-school kitchen tools, these are the shears for you. not the most comfortable, but they feel so solid that I'm willing to overlook the ergonomics. if you really want something soft and easy on the hands, look to OXO. These are a great complement for a drawer full of other kitchen shears and if I had to choose one set, these would be them. I feel like they'll be serving me when I'm old.