The R H Forschner by Victorinox 4-inch All-purpose Kitchen Shear features high carbon, stainless steel blades, hand finished at Victorinox in Switzerland by skilled craftsmen. A special tempering process is used to produce an edge that can be resharpened over and over again, so the knife can keep its original sharpness throughout the entire life of the blade. Polypropylene handle has a built-in Bottle Opener and is NSF approved.

A good pair of multipurpose shears is a must in any kitchen. Victorinox makes this pair with a very sharp tip, the better to snip chives from a windowsill pot or cut cilantro leaves off the stem. Use the serrated inner rim of the handles as a bottle opener, clip recipes out of a magazine, or cut the skin off a chicken-the shears can do just about anything, although Victorinox makes another pair especially for cutting poultry into pieces. Lightweight and reasonably priced, the shears are constructed of blades stamped from high-carbon stainless steel and hand-finished in Switzerland, while the polypropylene handles, available in a choice of colors, suit either left- or right-handed users. The shears measure eight inches overall, are best washed by hand, and are covered by a lifetime warranty against defects. --Ann Bieri