A shearing apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the walls forming a stationary die pocket and a movable die pocket therein, the stationary die pocket being formed in the first side wall and is spaced from a front end and having opposite longitudinal ends formed in the first side wall, the movable die pocket having opposite longitudinal ends, the movable die pocket overlapping the stationary die pocket in a longitudinal direction, a first passageway extending though the first side wall and in communication with the stationary die pocket, and a second passageway extending though the second side wall and in communication with the movable die pocket, the first and second passageways (164, 174) being aligned in a direction angled relative to the longitudinal direction; a force transmitting apparatus mounted within the housing; a stationary die seated in the stationary die pocket in the housing, the stationary die being non-movable relative to the housing when seated in the stationary die pocket, the stationary die having a cutout therethrough through which a workpiece is capable of extending, the stationary die being capable of being removed from the housing; a movable die seated in the movable die pocket in the housing, the movable die having a cutout therethrough through which the workpiece is capable of extending, the movable die being capable of being removed from the housing; a die engaging mechanism between the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die, the die engaging mechanism configured to be released to decouple the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die; and characterized by an end stop assembly attached to the housing and configured to selectively open and close the longitudinal end of the movable die pocket opposite to the force transmitting apparatus; and wherein the movable die is engaged with the force transmitting apparatus via the die engaging mechanism and movable longitudinally relative to the stationary die and the housing when moved by the force transmitting apparatus, the dies only being capable of being removed through the longitudinal end from the housing only when the end stop assembly is opened and the engaging mechanism is disengaged. a housing comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the walls forming a stationary die pocket and a movable die pocket therein, the stationary die pocket being formed in the first side wall and is spaced from a front end and having opposite longitudinal ends formed in the first side wall, the movable die pocket having opposite longitudinal ends, the movable die pocket overlapping the stationary die pocket in a longitudinal direction, a first passageway extending though the first side wall and in communication with the stationary die pocket, and a second passageway extending though the second side wall and in communication with the movable die pocket, the first and second passageways (164, 174) being aligned in a direction angled relative to the longitudinal direction; a force transmitting apparatus mounted within the housing; a stationary die seated in the stationary die pocket in the housing, the stationary die being non-movable relative to the housing when seated in the stationary die pocket, the stationary die having a cutout therethrough through which a workpiece is capable of extending, the stationary die being capable of being removed from the housing; a movable die seated in the movable die pocket in the housing, the movable die having a cutout therethrough through which the workpiece is capable of extending, the movable die being capable of being removed from the housing; a die engaging mechanism between the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die, the die engaging mechanism configured to be released to decouple the force transmitting apparatus and the movable die; and characterized by an end stop assembly attached to the housing and configured to selectively open and close the longitudinal end of the movable die pocket opposite to the force transmitting apparatus; and wherein the movable die is engaged with the force transmitting apparatus via the die engaging mechanism and movable longitudinally relative to the stationary die and the housing when moved by the force transmitting apparatus, the dies only being capable of being removed through the longitudinal end from the housing only when the end stop assembly is opened and the engaging mechanism is disengaged.