The orvis 3.5" arrow scissors are the best I've used. Very thin blades for accuracy and razor sharp.
Then again, I tie a lot of FW flies.
If you tie lots of big SW flies you might want something with longer blades. I have found that using my old scissors for the dirtywork (braid, wire, lead, synthetics) has prolonged the life of my good ones substantially...
ed ward tuned me into a great pair of scissors found in sewing shops.they are fishars.dont know the model but they are about the lenght of a ballpoint pen.cutting blades about 2";gray rubber coated handles that are straight when closed;no round holes for fingers;spring between handles;orange sliding clip that slides to keep them closed or open. very sharp and easy to handle. i take them on the river also. put a wine cork over the point;tie a length of heavy leader butt material on one of the handles to secure to my clothing.Beau
Juro turned me on to the Fiskars - ditto what Beau said. Stay very sharp, fine point, and will cut practically ANYTHING and still stay sharp. Doesn't suprise me - Ed Ward always seems to have the most functional tools.
Juro keeps a pair with him wherever he goes, and I usually travel with a pair as well.
Bought mine at a fabric shop in Northgate for the extravagant price of $4.95.
I have tied an awful lot of flies in the 40 years I've been tying (I'm 49 now, started at age 9), inlcuding some 15 years as a commercial tyer. I use Anvil curved blade standard scissors because they are: 1) sharp; 2) have fine serations for gripping material as you cut it; 3) are great on spun deer hair; 4) have adjustable finger loops; 5) fit in the hand nicely when you loop them on the third finger of your hand so they are always at the ready (this eliminates the need to put down and pick up the scissors); and 6) they last and last and last.
I used to tie over 850 dozen steelhead flies/year (now I only tie spey and other speicialty stellhead flies for 1 shop) before I took on a second job to go with my regular 40 hour job (the pay is better than what you get for flies), and I would get between 3 and 4 years out of a pair. The best part, they are about $20.00 retail.
Almost forgot, never, ever cut lead or other weighting wire with you tying scissors. Such materials will distroy the edge with just one cut. Use small hobby wire cutters for the wire cutting work.
Good tying!
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