Most procurement decisions on surgical scissors are made on unit price. Five years later the same department is replacing a third of its stock because the blades no longer hold an edge through repeated autoclave cycles. The difference is almost always metallurgy, not manufacturing.
Martensitic steel and what the grade actually tells you
AISI 420 (DIN 1.4021 / 1.4116) is the working standard for cutting instruments. The carbon content lets the steel harden to roughly 52-56 HRC while keeping enough chromium in solution to resist corrosion.
Where tungsten carbide earns its premium
TC-insert scissors carry a gold ring handle by convention. The insert is brazed into the blade, giving a cutting surface around 72 HRC Vickers, extending service life by 500%.
