Medical instrument with consistent smoothness of action

A medical instrument comprising:

• a first instrument branch comprising a first bearing portion with a first bearing surface, the first bearing surface consisting of a first planar surface;
• and
• a second instrument branch comprising a second bearing portion with a second bearing surface, the second bearing surface consisting of a second planar surface,
• the first bearing surface resting on the second bearing surface in a pivot-sliding manner, so that the first instrument branch is pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the second instrument branch,
• the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface forming an interface where the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface contact one another and slide along one another under a frictional resistance during sliding pivot movement of the first instrument branch relative to the second instrument branch,
• the first bearing portion comprising a first stepped portion that is surrounded by a first shoulder portion such that the first bearing surface projects from the first instrument branch,
• the first shoulder portion defining a rounded sidewall consisting of a continuously rounded surface devoid of inside corners or gaps,
• the interface consisting of a continuous planar area devoid of any void space between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface, the continuous planar area having a fixed boundary and a fixed orientation relative to the pivot axis that remain constant during sliding pivot movement of the first instrument branch relative to the second instrument branch, and
• the first bearing portion comprising two circular pedestals facing away from each other on opposite sides of the first instrument branch, the two circular pedestals being coaxially arranged with respect to each other and comprising planar front faces that collectively define the first bearing surface.