They are for stripping the insulation off electrical wire.

They are for stripping the insulation off electrical wire.

It was patented in 1961, inventor is Jack F. Funcik.

A wire stripper is a tool used to remove the insulation from the end of electrical wires. It helps expose the metal conductor inside the wire so that it can be connected to other wires, terminals, or components securely. Wire strippers are commonly used in electrical work and home improvement projects.

A simple manual wire stripper is a pair of opposing blades much like scissors or wire cutters. The addition of a center notch makes it easier to cut the insulation without cutting the wire. This type of wire stripper is used by rotating it around the insulation while applying pressure in order to make a cut around the insulation. Since the insulation is not bonded to the wire, it then pulls easily off the end. This is the most versatile type of wire stripper.

Another type of manual wire stripper is very similar to the simple design previously mentioned, except this type has several notches of varying size. This allows the user to match the notch size to the wire size, thereby eliminating the need for twisting. Once the device is clamped on, the remainder of the wire can simply be pulled out, leaving the insulation behind.