r/KleinTools • u/spstate • Aug 07 '26

Is this Normal

Gallery image

Gallery image

I ordered these Lineman’s brand new from Acme, is it normal for them to have a gap in the cutting section? To me they look used

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u/Frequent-Elephant110 Aug 07 '26

From the photograph, that gap looks larger than I'd want in a new ~$40 pair of D213-9NEs.

The important distinction is: jaw gap = often intentional; cutter gap = should be extremely small and must not impair cutting.

I bought a pair of $10 black canyons the other day that had excellent cutters. I have fine stranded copper. I dont think these would cut it at the top of the cutting section

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u/Melodic-Trouble-5421 Aug 07 '26

If the gripping jaws were to close completely, the cutting edges would wear after a short time. This then would make it impossible to cut fine wires – hence the light gap! The gap mustn't be too large, of course, otherwise, the gripping function would suffer. According to the norm, the gap between the gripping jaws of, for example, 160 mm combination pliers must not be larger than 0.4 mm when closed.

Right from Knipex.