Cutting apparatus for chipless cutting of material to be cut, comprising a cutting part, which has a cutting edge, and a supporting part, which can be used as a rest for the material to be cut, wherein the cutting part and the supporting part are mounted such that they can be rotated with respect to one another about a rotational axis and are configured to be rotated relative to one another about the rotational axis between an open position and a closed position, and comprising a hand lever and a ratchet mechanism, wherein the hand lever is articulated on the supporting part such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and the ratchet mechanism is configured to convert a to-and-fro movement of the hand lever about the pivot axis into a continuous rotational movement of the cutting part in the direction of the closed position, wherein the ratchet mechanism has a toothing system and a drive pawl which can be brought into an active position with the former, in order, via this, to bring about a force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and, furthermore, comprising a coupling mechanism which is configured to convert a singular pivoting movement of the hand lever about the pivot axis into a rotational movement of the cutting part from the open position into the closed position, wherein the coupling mechanism has a separate coupling element, in order, via this, to bring about a force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, wherein the coupling element is articulated in each case via an articulation point (16; 17) on the cutting part and on the hand lever, in order to bring about the force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and one of the articulation points (16, 17) is positionally variable, wherein the one articulation point is situated in a transmission position, in order to bring about the force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and is configured to carry out an evading movement in response to a movement performed by the hand lever or the cutting part, characterized in that the cutting apparatus comprises a slotted guide with a guide piece (19.1) and a guide element (19.2) which is guided thereon, wherein the one articulation point is configured on the guide element (19.2), and wherein the guide piece (19.2) has a stop for the guide element (19.2), in order to hold the one articulation point in the transmission position, wherein, furthermore, the guide piece (19.2) has a guide portion for a guided movement of the guide element (19.2), in order to permit the evading movement of the one articulation point. comprising a cutting part, which has a cutting edge, and a supporting part, which can be used as a rest for the material to be cut, wherein the cutting part and the supporting part are mounted such that they can be rotated with respect to one another about a rotational axis and are configured to be rotated relative to one another about the rotational axis between an open position and a closed position, and comprising a hand lever and a ratchet mechanism, wherein the hand lever is articulated on the supporting part such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and the ratchet mechanism is configured to convert a to-and-fro movement of the hand lever about the pivot axis into a continuous rotational movement of the cutting part in the direction of the closed position, wherein the ratchet mechanism has a toothing system and a drive pawl which can be brought into an active position with the former, in order, via this, to bring about a force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and, furthermore, comprising a coupling mechanism which is configured to convert a singular pivoting movement of the hand lever about the pivot axis into a rotational movement of the cutting part from the open position into the closed position, wherein the coupling mechanism has a separate coupling element, in order, via this, to bring about a force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, wherein the coupling element is articulated in each case via an articulation point (16; 17) on the cutting part and on the hand lever, in order to bring about the force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and one of the articulation points (16, 17) is positionally variable, wherein the one articulation point is situated in a transmission position, in order to bring about the force transmission from the hand lever to the cutting part, and is configured to carry out an evading movement in response to a movement performed by the hand lever or the cutting part, characterized in that the cutting apparatus comprises a slotted guide with a guide piece (19.1) and a guide element (19.2) which is guided thereon, wherein the one articulation point is configured on the guide element (19.2), and wherein the guide piece (19.2) has a stop for the guide element (19.2), in order to hold the one articulation point in the transmission position, wherein, furthermore, the guide piece (19.2) has a guide portion for a guided movement of the guide element (19.2), in order to permit the evading movement of the one articulation point.