Always close shears completely before setting them
down or putting them away. An open shear leaves the fragile edge exposed. Any contact with anything other than hair, can nick or dent the edge. When the shear is closed, the blades protect each other and the edge is covered so it can not be damaged. If your shear falls with the blades closed, most likely nothing will happen except perhaps the screw will be loosed by the impact and you may need to tighten them. If a shear falls with the blades open however, you are likely to get a nick or dent in the edge, at the point the two blades were open to. If you drop your shear, do not force it shut when you pick it up. Close the blade very slowly, and if you feel any roughness or resistance stop. Push the tips of the blades apart with the finger of your left hand and close the blades to get past the nick. You can then try squeezing the blades together with your left hand, while you slowly open the shear. Then try closing them slowly again. If you feel no resistance or roughness, you may have been able to flatten out the nick. You can then continue to use the shear. If you still feel the rough spot, it is best to use a different shear and send that pair for sharpening service.