I stumbled across this unusual product on the website of a vendor that specializes in German hand tools. It was completely unfamiliar, and I was surprised to discover that the original model was patented in 1950. How did I miss seeing these before?

It didn't help that Fit Pliers are made by Dürholt Zangen Gmbh, an obscure German tool company with only one product. The company once made a full line of hand tools, but after the initial success of the Shear Pliers it decided to stop making anything else. They're still at it 67 years later.

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There's nothing unusual about the gripping portion of the Fit Shear Pliers' jaws; they're grooved near the tip with a serrated notch farther in—a configuration similar to that of standard slip-joint pliers.

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Here's where it gets weird. The wire cutters are located on the handle side of the pivot instead of the side with the jaws. 

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Why? Because the space where the wire cutter would normally be is occupied by scissor-like blades that function as shears. This is the added feature that makes Fit Pliers unique.

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According to the manufacturer, the shears can be used to cut materials such as sheet metal, copper cable, and thin steel wire.

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The nippers are better for harder wire because nippers work differently than shears. Shears cut cleanly while nippers "pinch" their way through.

Model #14 has cellulose acetate grips.

There are a couple of models of Fit Pliers currently available. The #14 has old-school cellulose acetate grips. Cellulose acetate is a "natural" plastic. It was invented in 1865 and is still used today—frequently for screwdriver handles (if they're clear or translucent they're probably cellulose acetate or the related material cellulose butyrate).

Model #15 has TPE grips.

The #15 has overmolded TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) grips, which are no doubt softer and more comfortable than those made from cellulose acetate.

There are some Fit Plier knock-offs kicking around. If you are interested in the real thing, look for the Made in Germany label.