These little snips cut wire ties flush so they don't snag and cut you when you reach into your lockers or engine room. They sell expensive ones at Home Depot, Lowes and other such places or you can get an inexpensive pair like the ones pictured here at any craft store. We purchased these while in the US last summer at a store similar to Michael's Crafts. They were about $8 US. Ed says, "Don't leave home without them". By the way, that's a US quarter between the handles--it's a little hard to decipher.