Editing Scissors (section)

== Right-handed and left-handed scissors ==
[[File:RH-LH sidebents.jpg|thumb|Left-handed (left) and right-handed (right) sidebent scissors]]
There are two varieties of left-handed scissors. Many common left-handed scissors (often called "semi"-left-handed scissors) simply have reversed finger grips. The blades open and close as with right-handed scissors, so that users tend to pull the blades apart as they are cutting. This can be challenging for craftspeople as the blades still obscure the cut. "True" left-handed scissors have both reversed finger grips and reversed blade layout, like mirror images of right-handed scissors.<ref>"What's the Difference Between Right- and Left-Handed Scissors?" Kim Griffin, Griffin Occupational Therapy Blog. https://www.griffinot.com/difference-left-handed-scissors/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127161351/https://www.griffinot.com/difference-left-handed-scissors/ |date=2021-11-27 }}, retrieved 11/27/21</ref>  A left-handed person accustomed to using semi-left handed scissors may find using true left-handed scissors difficult at first, as they may have learned to rely heavily on the strength of their thumb to pull the blades apart vs. pushing the blades together in order to cut.<ref>"Do You Know – Left-Handed Scissors" Olive Branch Educators, https://www.obeducators.com/reflections/do-you-know-left-handed-scissors {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127161352/https://www.obeducators.com/reflections/do-you-know-left-handed-scissors |date=2021-11-27 }}, retrieved 11/27/21</ref>

Some scissors are marketed as [[ambidextrous]]. These have symmetric handles so there is no distinction between the thumb and finger handles, and have very strong pivots so that the blades rotate without any lateral give. However, most "ambidextrous" scissors are in fact still right-handed in that the upper blade is on the right, and hence is on the outside when held in the right hand. Even if they cut successfully, the blade orientation will block the view of the cutting line for a left-handed person. True ambidextrous scissors are possible if the blades are double-edged and one handle is swung all the way around (to almost 360 [[Degree (angle)|degrees]]) so that what were the backs of the blades become the new cutting edges. {{US patent|3978584}} was awarded for true ambidextrous scissors.