I've  owned about a half dozen pruning shears over the years. I've never worn any out. Mostly I lose or misplace them and then I buy a replacement. About 2 1/2 years ago I was picking up some new tools in a garden shop and I bought a pair of Fiskars pruning shears. I'd never heard of the brand, but the clerk assured me that Fiskars made good garden tools. (I might add that Fiskars was about the only brand the shop sold.) Well, I purchased the Fiskars pruning shears and a Fiskars lopper and I've been very satisfied with these particular garden tools, much more so than other brands I've owned.