BACKGROUND: Combat Pionier personnel, (Engineers), were issued assorted specialized equipment designed to meet their needs as the spearhead troops tasked with destroying enemy obstacles and creating forward defensive positions for their own troops in the face of the enemy. Besides the engineer’s assault packs, long handle shovels, picks, axes and saws there were two models of wire cutters enabling personnel to cut through barbwire entanglements. The wire cutters came in both a short and a long model and both were issue with a carrying case that was to be worn on the load carrying waist belt.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 39cm tall, tooled steel and sheet metal construction wire cutters. The tubular sheet metal handles have a central swivel hinge and an additional two swivel hinges which secure them to the cutting head. The uniquely shaped, curved angle cutting head has an additional swivel hinge with dual, downwardly angled cutting blades. Bakelite handle covers. Marked "Western Germany". Late 1940's early 1950's production. Identical to their WW2 counterparts.