they're put together pretty tight these days, and it takes a lot to break them (unless they're a piece of shit). Plus, the blades aren't too big, are not made for stabbing, and are made for ... well, shearing. Better to keep them together. Anyways, I wouldn't use a pair of shears in a zombie apocalypse. I'd use a machete (seriously, you could almost take a guys head off with a sharp one)