Question #2644. Asked by Donna.
Last updated Aug 12 2021.
barbs42
Answer has 4 votes
barbs42 25 year member
153 replies
Answer has 4 votes.
Scissors were invented in Northern China during the Warring States Period (481-221BC). The oldest surviving specimens, however, come from the Roman Empire.
Alternatively -- That's hard to say. Every now and then, in one of those lists of factoids you never knew ('Debbie Gibson and Amy Fisher went to the same high school'; 'Nutmeg is poisonous if injected into the bloodstream'), you'll read that Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors. But if he did, we sure couldn't find any mention of it. Not in his biography in the World Book Encyclopedia, in any case. We think it's more likely that scissors - or something darn close to them - have been around for thousands of years. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica (and if you can't believe them, who can you believe?), scissors were used in ancient Rome. And Robert Maudlin of the National Association of Scissors and Shears Manufacturers says he's seen pictures of scissor-like objects dating back to the ancient Egyptians. It wasn't until 1761, however, that Robert Hinchliffe of Sheffield, England first used cast steel to make scissors. That's when their popularity really took off.
Response last updated by gtho4 on Aug 12 2021.
May 14 2002, 3:51 PM
zbeckabee
Answer has 7 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 7 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
Not surprisingly, the ancient Egyptians are credited with inventing scissors (roughly 1500 B.C.E.)
It is most likely that scissors were invented in 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. These were likely shears with the joint at the far end. Cross-bladed scissors were invented by Romans around AD 100.
An immense stride in perfecting scissors was taken in 1761 when Robert Hinchliffe produced the first pair of modern-day scissors made of hardened and polished cast steel. He lived in Cheney Square, London and was reputed to be the first person who put out a signboard proclaiming himself "fine scissor manufacturer".