Sheet metal forming commonly involves various processing steps leading to complex strain paths. The work hardening of the metal under these circumstances is different from that observed for monotonic straining. The effect of the strain path on the hardening of materials is usually studied through sequences of standard mechanical tests, and the shear test is especially well adapted to such studies in sheet forming. Shear straining covering Bauschinger and cyclic strain paths were used in the analysis of the hardening of AISI 430 stainless steel sheets. The tests were conducted at 0A degrees RD, 45A degrees RD, and 90A degrees RD (Rolling Direction) and for three effective strain amplitudes. The results indicate that the material presents Bauschinger effects and strain hardening transients that are sensitive to the testing direction. In addition, the cyclic straining leads to an oscillating stress pattern for the forward and reverse shearing cycles, which depends on the deformation amplitude.