About Us
Where Nursing
Meets Engineering
In 2009, I began my journey as a registered nurse — working in emergency departments and intensive care units where every second mattered. Through years of trauma cases, motor vehicle accidents, and critical interventions, one thing remained consistent: the shears we were given simply weren't good enough.
Standard Issue Wasn't Good Enough
The disposable trauma shears handed out by hospitals bent, twisted, or dulled after just a few uses. The ones available online didn't fare much better — handles flexed under pressure, pivots bound up in thick fabric, and cleaning them was a nightmare. In the field we were cutting through leather, Kevlar, seatbelts, duty belts, and boots. Too often the tools in our hands failed us at exactly the wrong moment.
Foldable shears promised innovation but came with compromises — multiple crevices that trapped blood, hinges that rusted, and designs that required unfolding before use. Others offered titanium or fluoride coatings that looked good on paper but cracked, peeled, or dulled quickly. Even ergonomic curved styles couldn't cut straight or withstand repeated sterilization.
So I asked a simple question: What if we took the best of the medical, firearm, and knife industries and merged them into one?
The Birth of ONE SHEAR®
That question became the foundation for ONE SHEAR® — a tool born from over a decade of real-world clinical experience and frustration. We studied what worked and what failed across every industry that demanded precision and strength: emergency medicine, tactical operations, cutlery, and high-performance tools.
The result was the first trauma shear of its kind — engineered from the ground up for the professionals who refuse to settle.
Engineering the Edge
We started with the blade — the heart of any shear. After testing countless materials, we chose J2 420HC hardened stainless steel for its balance of durability, corrosion resistance, and sharpenability. Then came the coating.
420HC Steel
Hardened stainless with an ideal balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and the ability to be resharpened — chosen after testing across medical, tactical, and cutlery standards.
DLC Coating
Diamond-Like Carbon was previously reserved for high-end firearms and surgical tools. We were the first to apply it to a trauma shear — delivering unmatched hardness, scratch resistance, and effortless cleaning.
Polypropylene + TPU
Polypropylene handles the chemical and heat resistance. TPU overlays add a soft-touch, non-slip grip that stays secure under fluids and gloves. Autoclave-safe and built to clean without degrading.
Hydraulic-Press Kydex
No cheap ABS plastics. Hydraulic press-molded Kydex gives professional-grade retention, a tactical profile, and the rugged feel expected by law enforcement and rescue professionals.
Form Meets Function
Performance alone isn't enough — a tool has to integrate into real workflows without friction. Drawing from the holster and knife industries, we built features that eliminate separate tools, reduce carry weight, and survive the conditions professionals actually work in.
- Built-in O₂ Key — machined directly into the blade. No separate wrench. Always there when you need it.
- Retention Loop — standard on every shear, for lanyards and carabiners. Essential for flight medics and field responders.
- Free Custom Engraving — names, badge numbers, unit IDs. Anti-theft marking and team branding at no extra cost.
- Lowest-Profile Holster Ever Made for a trauma shear — slim Kydex with MOLLE, belt, and chest rig options.
Innovation First. Always.
From day one, ONE SHEAR® set out to lead, not follow. We introduced DLC-coated trauma shears to the market and engineered the first solid steel miniature trauma shear — concepts now echoed by competitors. But innovation isn't a one-time milestone. It's a continuous pursuit.
Our latest evolution, the Tier 1 Elite, represents everything we've learned through years of relentless refinement. It's our most advanced trauma shear ever — built for those who demand the best in every cut, every call, every critical moment.
The BUS (Basic Utility Shear) completes the lineup — compact, precise, and priced for every operator who needs a reliable tool without compromise.
Kevin spent years in emergency and intensive care settings where equipment failure wasn't an inconvenience — it was a risk. He created ONE SHEAR® to bridge clinical reality with engineering precision, building tools that perform flawlessly when the stakes are highest.
Based in Loxahatchee, Florida, ONE SHEAR® is designed, refined, and backed by someone who has worked the shifts, cut the gear, and lived the limitations that drove every design decision.
Ready to Carry the Best?
The Tier 1 Elite and BUS are available now at oneshear.com.
