I am looking at purchasing and would like some opinions.

Option 1 - American 8" long cuts up to 3/16" cable = $24.95

Option 2 - Swiss C7 cuts up to 3/16" cable = $54.95

(Both of these priced from Fur Catalog)

Okay convince me.

If you're just making a few hundred snares you can get away with the cheaper cutters for a few years. The Swiss made ones hold up better if you're cutting thousands of cables.

Always get two pairs unless all you're doing is making cable stakes or sliders and extensions.

It's a sin for a snareman to not have cable cutters on the line.

I got mine at HomeDepot, I got the C7

Felco Brand C7's (BEWARE OF KNOCK OFF BRANDS) are top of the line. I'm still using the first pair I ever bought, many thousands of cuts later they still cut perfect and clean... that said I'm on year 6 of these (click here) and they are still good as the day I bought them, easy to carry and easy to cut the snares off your animals, cuts cleanly ever single time.

So best of the best = Felco - Swiss made C7's.
Best value = Funke's Compact Cable Cutters from the link above.

I use the Hit Brand 7 1/2" cutters. Half the cost of the Felco and they work just fine. They are available from lots of different places. Made in Japan.

Hit Brand Wire Cable Cutters

I have been using a pair of HIT since 1984, Bought them from Dan Dezarn after his book "Modern Snaring Explained" came out the same year.

I bought a Felco C-7 in the 1980's, a Hitt copy of C-7 around 1995, and also a compact American Cutter. All three are still good. The American cutter is great for carrying on the line if you do much walking. If you are new to snaring be advised that carrying a cutter on a snare line is essential.

I have a cheaper pair from MB, not sure of brand, but I've not only cut snare cable but lots of winch cable and dog tieout cable with them and they still work great. The little lock lever to keep them closed wore out, but the cutters still cut fine and anything 3/16" or smaller they will cut in one snip perfectly, cutting bigger cable (and I've cut up 7/8" chokers with them) you have to seperate it, usually into about 1/8" strands and cut each seperately.

I got the C 7. So far I'm happy with them. Got about 35 dozen cable restraints made up and a few dozen drownder slides and alot of miscellaneous stuff made . I've had mine for 3 years . Like Furvor said they are essential on the line.

First was a cheap version of the Felco. It cut 1/16” cable 4 times and then was dull and chewed on the cable.
Next was Felco. Still cutting like new with no change.

Buying the Felco first will save you the price of the junk model.

When I buy cable I buy 10,000' master spools. Then respool them for resale and snare building. Every cut is made with HIT cable cutters.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I worked at a factory for 9 years that made cable for tires. 1x19, 7x7, etc. Some of the wire was used to make the cable was as small as horse hair. Cutting the small wire would show the sharp or dullness of a pair of cutters. The small diameter was achieved by drawing large diameter wire through drawing machines. Most of this wire was around #9 fence brace wire, plus or minus. Everyone was issued the Swiss made C7 cutters. These cutters took alot of abuse, from being used as handles for the large wire being wrapped around them to help pull the wire through the dies as it was being strung into the drawing machine to hundreds of cuts during a 12 hour shift. When they became dull we could turn them in for a new pair. Occasionally I'd find a pair in a dumpster or trash can. This was from 1988 until 1996. I'm still using some of these today. C7 ate the best, hands down.

IIRC, I bought my Hit cutters from Newt. If they are good enough for him, they are darn sure good enough for me.

I have 2 pair of cutters one for build snares at home that I paid more for then the ones a little cheaper for the trap line. There is one thing to remember that do not use them to cut wire ,just to use them for cable. You will have them last long time. The first pair I got back when I first start to snare years ago now , are the same ones I still use to day. I got both pair from the snare shop when Neal Block was still the owner.

I have a few pair of the compact cable cutters. They are very handy for field or shop work. Slip into your pocket easily for easy carrying. Had some C7s first until I found the compact cutters. I feel lost without them now if I cant find a pair quickly.

This is a good choice as well.

[img]https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-95-61-190-US/dp/B000X4KPSA/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2FE40HT152SNA&dchild=1&keywords=knipex+cable+cutters&qid=1589308914&sprefix=knipex+ca%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-4[/img]

Swiss

I went with the HIT and all I can say is impressive.

Night and day difference from the cheap pairs.

Brian

Swiss made C7 cutters.
Fantastic tool.
Well worth the price.