about 30 years ago i got 4 wonderful pairs of scissors --- dressmakers, small embroidery, hair cutting, and kitchen shears. Get this .... i saved box tops from some cereal and then paid maybe 8 dollars. Not sure where the kitchen shears are but the sewing ones are hidden away with my sewing stuff and the hair cutting with the hair clippers. They've never been sharpened and they are still wonderful. I've read about the posts that the new ones aren't as good so I guard them more than ever.