I have to admit it. I'm hard on haircutting shears and I haven't
been able to find one that I was really thrilled about (or could handle
my abuse), until now. I just had the opportunity conduct a review of
MAG Shears' Maestro (6.5 inch) for a few weeks and I was very
impressed. Of course, with most haircutting tools, the one you choose
is entirely personal. You'll need to take into consideration the
length, type of handle, size of the rings, weight, and whether you are
right or left handed. For me, I like a 6.5 inch offset shear. Since I
only serve male clients, I tend to use a great deal of barbering techniques, so I prefer a longer shear.
First,
these shears are SHARP and I found they cut through most any type of
hair with ease. They also cut through my knuckle several times with
ease as well! I found the shears performed worked well in wet or dry
hair and I particularly liked how they performed for shear-over-comb and
point cutting.The shears also had a nice weight and balance.
The
offset handle was comfortable for me, although the finger rings may be a
bit small for those with wide fingers (the shear ships with finger
inserts for those with small fingers). I also really appreciate the
fact that the tang is fixed as opposed to being the screw-in type. How
many screw-in finger rests have I lost in the past two decades? I can't
tell you! The bumper screws in, which should make it far less likely
to come out than those that are simply glued in. I also like the fact
the tension screw is a standard slotted screw that sits flush and
requires no special tools (other than a screwdriver) to adjust.
Although
I only had a few weeks with these shears, I suspect they will hold a
sharp edge for a fairly long time. The shears are made from V-10
colbalt allow steel -- this is a type of steel which has a finer grain
and contains Cobalt and Nickel
for increased hardness (and is also used in fine Japanese kitchen
knives). What all this geek-speak means is that they should hold an
edge longer than a shear made with inferior metal.
The Maestro
shear comes in half-inch lengths ranging from 5 to 7 inches and retails
for $499. Investing in a great shear is certainly worth spending a
little more money and MAG allows you to purchase a shear with a minimum
of $50 down and you can spread out the payments as for many as 18
months. So, you get a great pair of shears for just under $25 per month
(you may also choose a $50 or $100 monthly payment) with no interest.
The
shears also come with a lifetime warranty. They will also service your
shears (including sharpening, polishing, and replacing washers and
bumpers) for $30. I can say that I've used these guys for years for my
shear sharpening and they have never let me down -- the shears always
come back looking and working like they are brand new.
Since
shears are such a personal thing, I'm often skeptical about ordering
them online without trying them first, so I'm pleased that MAG Shears
offers a 30-day money back guarantee. I should also mention, I tried
out a pair of their Svelt blending shears, which I did not particularly
care for due to the length. The blending shears were comfortable and
cut well, but I'm accustomed to a longer blending shear. I am told they
will be releasing a longer blending shear sometime around September
2015, so I'll make sure to get my hands on those and provide a fair
review.
If you are looking for a great shear that comes with a
solid warranty and flexible payment options, I can strongly recommend
the MAG Shears' Maestro. It is one of the best shears I've tried in
years and I will certainly be including it as one of my essential tools for cutting men's hair and can be purchased from magshears.com.
By David Alexander
Men's Hair Expert
