Some people complain that these shears come apart too easily. They only come apart at a 90° angle, which is an excellent feature, not a bug. At any rate, if you need to cut something when the blades are opened at 90°, you lose most of your strength, rendering the cutting nearly impossible. So the argument is futile and is based on pure ignorance as most of the cutting is done when the blades are ± 45° apart. Those who whine about this "hygienic feature" should either try cooking lessons, or get out of the kitchen. I have sampled many shears in specialized outlets. The Wusthof 5558 are the best of the lot and very attractive at around $12.00. Do make sure the seller cuts his price before you buy this very versatile tool. ;-)