Hand shears - also called blade shears - were used to shear sheep prior to the introduction of machine shears and are still used today where no power machinery is available. Hand shears consist of two blades with a hinge at the end furthest from the point. The cutting edges pass each other as the shearer squeezes them together and shears the wool close to the animal's skin. In 1892 Jack Howe an Australian shearer sheared 321 sheep in one day using hand shears. This record has never been broken. This pair was made by Burgon and Ball in Sheffield under patent number 294. Filed in 1865, this brand of shears has been in constant production since then, although this pair was probably made in the 1930s.Spring double handled hand shears for shearing sheep."HIND'S PATENT DOUBLE HOLLOW GROUND BURGON AND BALL PATENT NO. 294 (inside a shield with a crown on top) MADE IN ENGLAND"churchill island, hand shear, burgon and ball, shearing

Shearing handpiece inscribed "MUNRO / 4134/ MADE IN ENGLAND", "MUNRO/ PAT. APPLIED FOR/ OIL", "REGISTERED DESIGN". Munro manufacturers in Ballarat, created by George Munro c.1927. Handpeice manufactured in England by Burgon and Ball (Sheffield) for Austrlaian market. Handpiece contains Wolseley start spindle similar to Burgon, missing a 'bush' in tension nut.Metal, leather and plastic shearing handpiece inscribed "MUNRO / 4134/ MADE IN ENGLAND", "MUNRO/ PAT. APPLIED FOR/ OIL", "REGISTERED DESIGN". Plastic hand piece with leather casing attached with wire, covering swivel joint."MUNRO/ PAT. APPLIED FOR/ OIL" Munro 4134 made in england Registered designshearing

Shearing handpiece, Lister no. 3 (Hybrid). Copy of Wolseley no.3, circa 1909. Pattens ran and copied, becoming interchangable with burgon, ball, and wolseley. Lister handpiece contains Wolseley rear joint, fork, back joint and tension spring."Wolseley" "LISTER N 3 HARDENED 9055". Listershearing