First Ever Gingher Scissors!
 

I just purchased from Joanne's my first pair of Gingher Scissors. I've never owned an expensive pair of scissors and was so tired of my Fiskars not cutting well. I bought the Knife-Edge 7" Dressmaker Shears and yes, they cut so smoothly. But, they are so stiff that they are uncomfortable to cut with. Do I need to "oil" them or just continue to use them until they loosen up??

yes put a drop of oil where the screw is, be sure to clean them off before cutting so you won't get oil stains. I have some I bought about 7 years ago, just get them sharpened every couple of years

As you use them they will "soften up".
When you have them sharpened, send them to Ginghers in North Carolina (google them for address and how-to). They are inexpensive, professional, and quick.

Jan in VA

i own three gingher sissors. oh my i love them.

I bought my one and only pair of Gingher scissors in the early 1980's when I was into clothing construction. I think I paid $12 for them and thought that was very expensive for a pair of scissors. I used them a LOT back then and still pull them out when I need to cut fabric with scissors. It was the best $12 I have ever spent on sewing notions! They have never been sharpened, but I do keep them well guarded from any manly hands that think they need to cut something besides fabric.

I have a pair as well. They are so stiff I need to use both hands to open them. DH tried them and they are really stiff.There's no screw to loosen. They are sharp but useless to me. I've had them a year, I keep working them hoping they will loosen up a tad.

I have many gingher scissors, most were gifts and never used. I disliked the one I bought so much, never used them again - first off - they're way too heavy.
I'm a Fiskars lady.

As I am getting older (aren't we all) my arthritis in my hand is getting worse, and I find it getting more difficult to use my beloved Ginghers. They are too heavy, so it's back to Fiskars.

I've never tried Gingher but I love my Mundials pair. Got them when all cutting items were 50% off and they weren't very expensive. They are "softies" with the cushioned handle, and are lightweight to use.

Check your sewing stores. I have a pair of Ginghers that have hardly any weight to them. The outside is a black plastic and that may put you off, but trust me, these are the scissors I hide. Not all Ginghers are heavy.

I think the best pair of scissors out their is Kai, i have two sets, bought more than twenty years ago, never been sharpened.

I used Gingher when I did clothing construction but have found that I love Fiskar soft touch with a spring in the handle and they are so much easier to use and less tiring.

MY ginghers aren't heavy at all. Hmmmmmmm wonder what the difference is. I paid around $35. for them quite a while ago.

Check with your LQS. Ginghers makes a special pair, coated in black composite, that weigh next to nothing. The stay sharp forever. These for arthritic hands.

It's sad, but there is no LQS in my area and it's a large metropolitan area. I have the spring loaded Fiskars if that's the ones where you "lock" the handle and they do cut very well. Some of my smaller Fiskars won't cut either near the base or all the way to the tip...just aggravating.

What type of oil do you use...just regular sewing machine oil?

I own 2 pairs of the 7" bent shears, one has flags on the handles and 3 pairs of the embroidery scissors, 1 of them is a fancy floral. Best scissors I've ever owned. One of the larger pairs, I've had since the early 1990s.

coopah beat me to it. I love my Lightweight Ginghers. I have had them for years and they remain wonderful.

I love my Gingher's. I have several pairs. To those who need a lighter weight scissor, did you know Ginghers makes a black plastic handled scissor that is very light weight? Every couple of years, I send all of my Ginghers back to Gingher to be sharpened. They do a fantastic job at a reasonable rate. They even made two pair of mine like new that my son had used to cut wire. I was going to throw them away, but thought I'd try having them sharpen them. I was very impressed.

I do machine applique so I have my Ginghers stashed everywhere! I often cut hundreds of pieces out for one quilt. The one I am working on now has a whole box of baggies filled with pieces! This is section one of three.

I used to sell Ginghers, they ARE the best. For one thing, the 'spring loaded' ones ARE heavy...If you can, take them back and get the shorter Ginghers...They aren't as big as the ones you have, and much easier to use, they will cut thru anything!! I would just return them, tell them they are too big, and stiff. I got a pair of those some years back, YES they are heavy and stiff...not sure why. I hope you will get another pair, they are the best.

I second returning the stiff Ginghers and getting a pair that is right for you. I am using my coupon this week to get another pair - maybe some smaller ones. Ginghers wants you to be happy. Just be sure you have the sales slip. When I was a JoAnn employee, Ginghers were one of the things most often shop lifted and a Gingher return without a sales slip was suspect and needed a manager. That and expensive cross stitch kits. I had a young lady try to return Ginghers for cash one evening. When I told I'd need manager's approval, she left the scissors on the counter and departed the store quickly. Hmmm.

While taking a class at LQS I was using my scissors and the owner said
"try these", it was Gingher scissors, well that sold me and I bought a pair
and love them...they are not heavy and cut like a dream...

They are NOT the same scissors they were just a few years ago.

My favorite pair of scissors is a Gingher 5" Knife Edge Sewing Scissors that I bought about five years ago. I use them daily at my sewing table.

Last week I bought a second pair as I was considering sending these in for their first sharpening. As soon as I got the new pair home and out of the packaging I felt the difference. The new pair feels cheap, lightweight, and stiff. And, Yes, I am certain that they are the same Gingher “model” not one of their similar models. Both pair are the “Gingher 5-inch Knife Edge SEWING Scissors”

To see if my assessment was inaccurate, I grabbed both pair of scissors and my digital postage scale. My original pair weighs 1.6 ounces. The "new" pair weighs 1.2 ounces -- a significant down-sizing.

Was Gingher was bought out by another company? Their scissors are no longer made in Germany. I don’t know what accounts for the difference, but it is not a small difference, and these new scissors are definitely not as nice.

I'm sorry to hear they are not as good, mine are close to 10 yrs old..I looked online and found that they are made in Greensboro, NC..