Patent ID: 7003885

Claim:
A wire nipper for use with a bale of fibrous material bound by at least one strap, the wire nipper comprising: an L-shaped lever having a hooked end and an arcuate portion longitudinally extending from said hooked end, said L-shaped lever including a first member and a second member spaced apart from said first member; a removable arcuate stop operatively connected to said hooked end of said L-shaped lever and located between said first and second members; an elongated handle having a proximate and a distal end, said proximate end pivotally connected to said hooked end of said L-shaped lever; and a fixed blade operatively connected to said proximate end of said elongated handle, said fixed blade having a cutting edge, wherein said L-shaped lever is placed against the bale such that said cutting edge engages the at least one strap, whereby rotation of said handle engages said cutting edge with said removable arcuate stop to cut or break the at least one strap.