Why is it so hard to find....

[Seamster]

 Hello all!

I am new here and want to say hello to everyone I really appreciate all the resources that are in this forum. But I have a really big question — why is it so hard to find a good quality pair of 14 inch tailor shears with a big bolt so the scissors will stand up. I have scoured the Internet and I can't seem to find just what I'm looking for. I am finding a lot of old rusty antique scissors. Am I missing something or is there a secret term that I am not aware of?  It would be nice to just find the big bolts to adjust a pair of scissors that I already own. Any leads or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all!

[Henry Hall]

I don't know where you are, but you can get these 13 and 1/2 inch Wilkinsons new from here.
Also these 13 inch Wilkinsons from William Gee.
14 inch shears no longer seem to be made new. At least I haven't seen them. So they are going to be second-hand and are to be found on places like Ebay. Hutch's companion site about shears (on this same server) will tell you more.

[hutch--]

The problem is they are as rare as hens teeth, it took me years to find the ones I have and I had to fully restore them as many were in terrible shape. Most that I found were from the US and a few very ones from the UK. Henry is right, a pair of 14 inch Wilkinson shears is a good choice and you will be able to pass them to your grandkids if you look after them. I just checked Henry's link, you will have to settle for a pair of 13.5 inch.

[peterle]

most probably Solingen:
https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen/d/240-a2-riesen-schneider-schere-39cm-schafschere-grosse-bronze-o-messingschere-verkaufspreis-pro-stk-je-nachdem-was-es-ist-von-15-euro-bis-70-euro-oder-macht-angebot-fuer-gesamtkonvolut-295791582/
Text says the tailor shears are 39cm long.

A beauty:
https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen/d/alte-grosse-xxl-schneiderschere-stoffschere-33-cm-293261885/

[Henry Hall]

I have a pair like the second pair you posted. I've actually never had them sharpened, but they cut very cleanly.

In general I like the ones with the raised upper blade. They feel...I don't know: more solid?

[Schneiderfrei]

I also have a pair similar to the second link. Very long in the blade but less strength than the Wiss style. I imagined that it was for use with lighter stuff, I only use it on shirting.

[hutch--]

The first pair would probably be more use for tailoring, the second pair with the long straight blades would be useful to a fabric merchant or someone working in a fabric mill.

[Seamster]

Awesome, thank you all for your responses! Really helpful. Does anyone know where you can just purchase the large bolts ?

[hutch--]

Just use the link the Henry posted above.

http://www.diamondedgeltd.com/original-thos-wilkinson-tailors-shears-13-1-2-c2x20731167

These are beautifully made shears that will last you a lifetime or 2 if you look after them.

[Schneiderfrei]

Goodness they look beautiful!

[Hendrick]

Monumental!

[Seamster]

So I'm guessing that you can't just buy the bolts? I really do appreciate all of your responses!

[Henry Hall]

So I'm guessing that you can't just buy the bolts? I really do appreciate all of your responses!

I imagine it will be difficult to get just a bolt on its own. Especially to fit a random pair of shears. If you you are looking for the ability to have an extended bolt for resting on the board, just swap out the short nut for something longer (those closed, round-head nuts like you find on old Raleigh bicycles. I did this with a pair of shears using a 2.5cm long closed-top nut.

[Greger]

That's  good idea, Henry.
The other option is to have one special made by a local machinist.

[hutch--]

It has to be a matter of taste, I like shears that stand upright and this means either Wiss or Heinisch and I find the ones with wide bolts a pest on some fabrics that you cut.

My latest scissors were from something I did for a friend, she was regularly cutting out mesh for a specialised hat that blocked bugs in the summer so I bought 2 pairs off eBay made in Pakistan and reshaped the end of her pair to something like a Nurse's pair of scissors so the tip did not catch in the mesh. Seemed to work OK for her but with the other pair I did them the dis-service of actually packing the spring loaded hinge with grease and sharpening them properly.

They are not competitors to the big shears as I personally don't like the feel of the spring loaded hinge but they work just fine.