Blade shearing

More recent design improvements using a acetal bearing system fitted with superior wear resistant tool steel blades has greatly increased the longevity of the shears.

The process of doing up shears can take a couple of hours and consists of five main parts:[4]

Specialized equipment such as pull-backs and pendulums for grinders are used for some of the processes above which come at an expense and are a reason why many people buy shears from other shearers.

As the stoning bevel gets too thick shearers will grind back their shears to speed up the sharpening process.

In New Zealand, there are still approximately 40 commercial blade shearers who work between July and October each year.

The main reason sheep are still blade shorn in New Zealand is due to the harsh climate at the time of shearing.

[7][6] Most of the blade shearing in Australia is on stud farms, ewes and rams in order to leave more wool on the sheep or a more natural finish.

There were only 3 blade shearing competitions in Australia 25 years ago but that number has recently increased to at least 19 in 2019.

Blade shearers from at least 13 countries will be competing including Australia, South Africa, Japan, USA, France, Germany, Ireland, England and more.

For the last 20 years, South Africa and Lesotho have dominated the world blade shearing championships.

The most recent world champion is Allan Oldfield from New Zealand who won the title at Le Dorat in France in July 2019.

This method is especially useful for when you are trying to leave a longer staple of wool on or on very skinny sheep with a high shoulder.