Are Juntetsu Scissors Good? A Barber's Verdict
Quick answer
Yes. Juntetsu scissors are good for working barbers who want hard Japanese steel and a deep range: VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC on most cutters, ATS-314 cobalt at 62 to 63 HRC on the Sword line, and 7.0″ sword blades for comb work.
Our verdict
Yes for barbers who want VG10 or ATS-314 steel, long sword-profile blades and a choice of offset, crane or swivel handles. Skip if you're left-handed or buying a first pair on a tight budget.
Buy if
- You cut scissor-over-comb and want a 7.0″ sword-profile blade
- You want a harder steel than entry 440C: VG10 or ATS-314 cobalt
- You want to try a swivel or crane handle without leaving one brand
Skip if
- You're left-handed: no left-hand Juntetsu is in stock right now
- You're an apprentice buying a first kit: Mina or Ichiro cost less
Top picks
Best for scissor-over-comb
Juntetsu Premium Series: Cobalt Sword Scissors
Sword profile, VG10 cobalt, 6.0″ to 7.0″
Who makes Juntetsu scissors
Juntetsu is an independent Japanese brand with one of the deepest ranges we stock: long and short cutters, sword profiles, offset, crane and swivel handles, thinners, texturisers and sets.
Steel is the headline. Most cutters list Japanese VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC. The Sword, Kenshi and Mastersmith list ATS-314 cobalt at 62 to 63 HRC. The Apex and Vertex list Takefu VG-10 cobalt, and the Hanami lists 440C at 59 to 61 HRC.
The Juntetsu range at a glance
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Line | Lengths in stock | Handle, blade, steel | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| VG10 Offset | 4.5″, 5.0″, 5.5″, 6.0″ | Offset, VG10, 60 to 62 HRC | Mid |
| Hanami | 5.0″, 5.5″, 6.0″ | Offset, 440C, 59 to 61 HRC | Mid |
| Ergo Barber | 7.0″ | Offset, sword, VG10 | Mid |
| Zenith | 7.0″ | Offset, sword, VG10, 60 HRC | Mid |
| Cobalt Sword | 6.0″, 6.5″, 7.0″ | Offset, sword, VG10 cobalt | Mid |
| Crane Super Offset | 6.0″ | Crane-style offset, VG-10 | Mid |
| Swivel Offset | 6.0″ | Swivel, VG-10, 60 to 61 HRC | Upper |
| Sword | 6.0″, 6.5″, 7.0″ | Offset, sword, ATS-314 cobalt | Upper |
| Thinners | 6.0″ | 30-tooth, Cobalt texturiser, Chomper 10 or 16 teeth | Mid |
Everything here is right-handed. Live prices are on the product rows below and in the Juntetsu collection.
Best Juntetsu by job
First cutter: VG10 Offset
The VG10 Offset is the Juntetsu to start with. It’s a plain right-handed offset cutter in VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC, in stock at 4.5″, 5.0″, 5.5″ and 6.0″. Take 6.0″ for a daily shear. The VG10 Offset set adds a 6.0″ 30-tooth thinner.
Fades and detail: 4.5″ or 5.0″ Offset
For outlines, ears and the top of a fade, the same VG10 Offset at 4.5″ or 5.0″ is the tool. Buying both lengths in one model means your detail shear and daily shear share a grip. The Hanami at 5.0″ is the 440C alternative. More options sit in the fade scissors list.
Scissor-over-comb: Cobalt Sword
The Cobalt Sword has an angled sword-profile blade in VG10 cobalt, in stock at 6.0″, 6.5″ and 7.0″. Take 7.0″ for long strokes over the comb. The sword profile keeps the cutting line in view. For a lower price at 7.0″, the Ergo Barber and Zenith are VG10 sword cutters too.
Best for scissor-over-comb
Juntetsu Premium Series: Cobalt Sword Scissors
In stock: 6.0″, 6.5″, 7.0″
Handle choice: Swivel or Crane
The Swivel Offset lets the thumb ring rotate as your hand changes angle, in VG-10 at 6.0″. The Crane Super Offset changes the geometry instead: the finger rings sit higher and further back from the thumb than on a standard offset. Pick the moving ring or the deeper offset by how you hold your shear now. The handle guide covers both.
Thinning: 30-tooth VG10 or the Cobalt texturiser
The 6.0″ VG10 Offset thinner has 30 V-shaped teeth: a general blending tool rather than a chunker. For more control over removal, the Cobalt texturiser comes as Finesse, Blend or Sculpter, from lightest to heaviest. For bold texture, the 10-tooth Chomper.
Best thinner
Upgrade: Juntetsu Sword
The Sword is the ATS-314 cobalt cutter at 62 to 63 HRC, with a sword profile, in 6.0″, 6.5″ and 7.0″. It’s the step up from the Cobalt Sword in the same lengths.
Left-handed: none in stock
No left-hand Juntetsu is in stock right now. Go to the left-handed collection or the left-handed list.
Before you buy a Juntetsu
- Size: buy the length you cut with now. Sizes are whole-shear length; the size guide shows how to measure.
- Blade profile: a sword profile is a blade shape, not an edge type. Read convex vs bevel edges before you compare.
- Sets: check the thinner in a set as carefully as the cutter. Some pair a cutter with a 30-tooth thinner, others with a texturiser.
- Service: harder steel needs a sharpener who works on Japanese edges. See sharpening in Australia, the warranty and the returns page.
Which Juntetsu for you
- Apprentice: start cheaper with an Ichiro or Mina, then move up.
- Working barber: the VG10 Offset at 6.0″ plus the Cobalt Sword at 7.0″ covers daily cutting and comb work.
- Upgrade: the ATS-314 Sword, or compare long cutters in Yasaka vs Juntetsu and the Yasaka review.
For the wider buying order, read the barber scissor guide, or go back to the Juntetsu brand page.
Questions
Is Juntetsu a Japanese brand?
Yes. Juntetsu is an independent Japanese brand. The range lists Japanese VG10, VG10 cobalt and ATS-314 cobalt steel on most cutters, and 440C on the Hanami.
What steel do Juntetsu scissors use?
Mostly VG10 at 60 to 62 HRC. The Sword, Kenshi and Mastersmith list ATS-314 cobalt at 62 to 63 HRC, and the Apex and Vertex list Takefu VG-10 cobalt. The Hanami lists 440C.
Which Juntetsu is best for scissor-over-comb?
The Cobalt Sword at 7.0″. It has a sword-profile blade in VG10 cobalt. For ATS-314 steel at the same length, step up to the Juntetsu Sword. For a lower price, the Ergo Barber or Zenith at 7.0″.
Does Juntetsu make left-handed scissors?
Not in stock right now. For a left-handed Japanese cutter, look at the Yasaka Left-Handed or the Joewell FX Lefty, or browse the left-handed collection.
Juntetsu or Yasaka?
Juntetsu if you want sword blades, harder listed steel and swivel or crane options. Yasaka if you want a plain convex cutter, a classic-handle choice or a left-handed model. Our Yasaka vs Juntetsu comparison puts them side by side.