It is hard to beat a pair of surgical scissors with carbide inserts. Will cut everything you need, plus every braided line on the first squeeze. Be forewarned: There are ER/Central Supply-type "surgical instruments", and then there are REAL surgical instruments. How do you know the difference? By the price initially! Big difference in quality and the price. ALSO, make sure you get the carbide tipped versions. Most every scissor, forcep or needle holder used in surgery is sold in both a carbide tip and a non-carbide tipped model, each with different item numbers. You will know the ones with carbide...they are the ones with gold handles. The internet is full of surgical instrument vendors who will sell you anything you need. Me, I like my 6" set of Metzenbaum's, but I'd get these if I had to do it over: MDS0816417 - Mayo Scissors | Medline Industries, Inc.. Go ahead and look through their needle holders too. I like my 12" Mayo-Hegar's with carbide tips. (MDS2418430 - Mayo-Hegar Micro Needle Holders | Medline Industries, Inc.) I can reach way back in their throat and grab that hook, and it won't slip because of the carbide serrations. They are designed to hold very hard suturing needles very tightly, so you know they bite into a soft hook real good, and once ratcheted down will not slip off the hook. The carbide tips and blades can be sharpened or changed out. You can send them back to be done, or, just ask the circulating nurse in the OR at your local hospital when the instrument man comes around. He shows up in his little van or trailer and sharpens, adjusts and straightens the hospitals instruments for them after the surgeons who think they are gods throw them up against the wall so that particular instrument won't show up on their mayo stand again until it is sharpened...or adjusted true. Spoiled bastards. The instrument man will do yours while you wait, usually for about $5/each. I've had mine since the late 80's and I have never had to do anything to either of them. WARNING! They are not cheap. Not even close.