Chikamasa TP-500S Spring Scissors | Straight Stainless Blade, Torsion Spring

Chikamasa TP-500S: Straight Stainless Blade With a Soft Spring Somewhere around the fourth hour of a hand trim, the muscles that open a pair of scissors start to complain. This model answers that with a flexible stainless steel spring between the handles that pushes the blades back open after every cut. The spring is deliberately soft, so it assists the hand rather than fighting it on the closing stroke. Up front sits a straight 35 mm blade of heat-treated Japanese stainless, finished to what Chikamasa calls a razor-sharp edge. Overall length is 155 mm, compact enough to steer from the fingertips. Chikamasa grinds the outer faces round, so the back of the blade can pass finished flower or fruit without bruising it. The pivot uses a hand-tightened stainless rivet with patented grooves that shed resin and clean out easily. Grips are soft elastomer resin moulded over a steel core, which keeps the frame rigid without a hard feel. A safety band loops over the handle ends to hold the pair shut in a pocket or a drawer. It releases with a flick of the thumb. Spring Snips for Long Trim Sessions Spring-assisted scissors change the rhythm of a trim more than most people expect. Your hand only squeezes, so the small extensor muscles on the back of the hand get a rest they never see with a springless pair. The straight blade suits bulk work: fan leaf off wet branches, cutting stems to hanging length, and squaring the base of a bud. It also handles grape thinning, herb harvests and deadheading without fuss. Resin still builds on bare stainless, so keep a jar of isopropyl on the table and wipe the edge every few buds. The grooved rivet helps here, because gunk that works into the pivot rinses out instead of seizing it. Anyone who likes a fluorine coating should look at the TP-500SF, which pairs this frame with a sap-resistant blade. The spring does take a few minutes to get used to, and some detail trimmers prefer the stiller feel of the springless B-500 line. Keep it on leaf and soft stems, since woody branches can chip the fine edge. Close the band before storing, and the spring and edge stay out of harm's way between harvests. Key Features Soft Stainless Torsion Spring: The flexible spring reopens the blades after each cut, easing strain on the hand through long sessions. Straight Japanese Stainless Blade: Heat-treated stainless takes a razor-sharp edge that suits fast leaf stripping and stem cutting. Grooved Stainless Rivet: Patented grooves at the pivot resist resin build-up and rinse clean, so the action stays smooth. Rounded Outer Faces: The blade backs are ground round to pass buds and fruit without bruising them. Steel-Core Elastomer Grip: Soft resin grips over a steel core keep the frame rigid while staying comfortable in the hand. Quick-Release Safety Band: A band holds the handles closed for storage and pops free with one thumb. Technical Specifications Specification Value Model TP-500S Blade High-quality Japanese stainless steel, uncoated Blade shape Straight Blade length 35 mm (1.4 in) Overall length 155 mm (6.1 in) Spring Soft stainless steel torsion spring Grip Elastomer resin over steel core, orange Closure Safety band Place of origin Made in Japan