Abstract: Shears (1) preferably constructed as hand-held garden or pruning shears or secateurs has two shear elements (8, 9) pivotable against one another about a pivot axis (5) and which have engaging portions (15, 16) for mutual cutting engagement and which in the opened state of the shears form a shear mouth widening from the pivot axis becoming smaller on closing the shears. According to the invention rubber-like holding means (20) are provided for retaining cutting material introduced into the shear opening during the cutting process and which only act up to the completion of the cutting process, i.e. until the cutting material is cut through, so that the cut cutting material is released by the shears without it being necessary to open the latter again for this purpose.