Tailor Scissor

Quick Answer: Tailor scissors, or tailor’s shears, are large scissors with long blades and an offset (bent) handle, made for cutting cloth cleanly. In labs and nursing training rooms they cut gauze, muslin, bandage rolls and large sheets of paper.

Why Tailor Scissors Have Bent Handles

The distinctive feature of these shears is the offset handle. The handles sit above the line of the blades, so the lower blade can rest flat on the table while cutting. Cloth stays flat and is cut straight, rather than being lifted and dragged as happens with ordinary scissors. Tailor’s shears commonly have one small loop for the thumb and one larger loop for several fingers, which gives a strong cutting grip.

In a school or college lab they are the tool for cutting muslin or cheesecloth for straining extracts, gauze for filtration and dressing practice, cloth covers for specimen trays, and large sheets of chart paper or polythene. In nursing and first-aid training rooms they cut bandage rolls and gauze to length.

They are not bandage scissors: they have sharp points and no blunt probe tip, so they should not be used to cut dressings on a person or a manikin close to the skin. Keep them for bench cutting.

Applications

• Cutting muslin squares for straining plant extracts in food and biology practicals
• Cutting gauze and bandage rolls to length in nursing and first-aid training rooms
• Cutting chart paper and polythene sheets for displays and bench covers
• Preparing cloth covers for dissecting trays and specimen trolleys

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Reserve the shears for cloth, gauze and paper; cutting wire or plastic strapping nicks the long edges.
• Wipe the blades after cutting starched or adhesive material, and oil the screw occasionally.
• Store them closed in a drawer; long points are easily bent if dropped.

Why Choose LabEquip

Tailor scissors are bought by nursing and first-aid training rooms, biology prep rooms and school workshops that cut cloth and gauze regularly. LabEquip lists them in the Biology Lab Products range; for cutting dressings near the skin, choose bandage scissors from the Scissors, More Types listing instead. Orders go through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes tailor’s shears different from ordinary scissors?

Their handles are offset, so the lower blade rests flat on the table and the cloth is cut without lifting. The blades are also longer, giving long, straight cuts.

Can they be used as bandage scissors?

Not for dressings on a person or manikin. Bandage scissors have a blunt probe tip that protects the skin, while tailor scissors have sharp points.

Why is one finger loop larger than the other?

The small loop takes the thumb and the large loop takes two or three fingers. This spreads the force and gives more control over long cuts through several layers.

Can they cut several layers of gauze at once?

Yes, long blades and a strong grip suit cutting folded gauze or several layers of muslin in one pass, as long as the blades are sharp.

How do I keep the blades sharp?

Use them only on fabric and paper, keep them dry, and have them professionally sharpened when they begin to chew cloth rather than cut it.

Should they be used for cutting tissue specimens?

No. They are too large and heavy for dissection, and their long blades crush small specimens. Use dissecting or iris scissors for tissue and keep the shears for fabric and paper.

Last Updated: September 2026