Abstract: A pair of endoscopic scissors having an actuating means at the proximal end and a pair of pivotable scissor blades at the distal end. The actuating means is adapted to be squeezed to a predetermined point when the scissor blades are fully closed, at least one of the blades being provided with a stop surface adjacent its proximal end in order to prevent the blade tips from crossing over each other in their fully closed position. The gap between the actuating means at the proximal end of the instrument enable the application of additional force between the pivotable scissor blades without causing the blades to cross-over each other.