Wire Rigging Cutters

Carl291 over on the General/Off Topic Forum ("interesting info on some boat testing") linked us with the series of Yachting Monthly Crash Tests on UTube.
One video is a demo of a deliberate dismasting. "The only thing we can predict is that anything can happen in a dismasting."
One of the main problems we often hear about (those of us inexperienced in this exciting drill) is how do we cut HARD WIRE rigging?
Not to forget that a hammer to knock out clevis pins might work as well or better. $15.
The video takes us through our choices, what our options are. So, let's check it out.....

LONG HANDLED HI-TENSILE WIRE CUTTER. The guy in the video found it just about impossible to use the 2-3 foot long handled Felco style cutters. They require sustained high pressure to cut, and may not be successful on a slippery heaving deck. This type of wire cutter requires that you have the rigging under your weight - and you are well braced. A three hand tool. It's not likely you can reach and snip with this. From the Felco site: Felco C108 2-hand hi-tensile wire/cable cutter. to 5/16" stainless rigging. 4.5lbs, 22". $357.83.

WIRE SHOOTING DEVICE. Another option shown is a pipe-like devise that uses nailgun blanks to shoot a piston cutter. It seems to require some fiddling, but it looks like you hook the cable you want to cut and press the trigger. Toolova Shootit 12 Shroud Shooting Device. 7lbs, 14"L. 3"D. Cuts up to 1/2". Sold as a 'genuine one hand tool!' List price $999.00. $795.00 at www.landfallnavigation.com West Marine has it at above list for $1129.00, in case you like those numbers better. Have to consider this tool a panic device.

HACK SAW. A hack saw (with a bimetal blade of unknown brand and tooth) was the next demo and did surprisingly well. Quick, one handed and cheap. Personally not sure that in all cases it would do as well as shown. The wire, for one thing, would have to be immobilized to be cut. There is a simple jig that can be shop made and used, but you can't find when you need it. Makes it a two hand tool.
It certainly is a tool that would likely be onboard in a Well Appointed Bosun's Bag. Adjustable frame and Lenox blades about $40.

HYDRAULIC WIRE CUTTER. Another option is a hydraulic cutter, identifiable by its oversize head that must be opened and placed around the wire.....then pumped to close a guillotine type blade. Two hands, but the action is as gentle as the tool is expensive. 6-7lbs, 15". Upwards of $1000 - with a huge number of chinese versions at around $400. This will probably cut cable cleaner and more precisely than the others.

I think that is what they showed us. Here's a couple more one handers.

CORDLESS ANGLE GRINDER. This could be a one hand, reach and cut, tool that, if we had it set up and crisis ready... cut wire in nothing flat.
A cordless lithium battery angle grinder with a stout carborundum disk. [Doused in seawater might die instantly.] An interesting tool to consider as it has other uses onboard and might already have a place in the Well Appointed. Bosch CAG180-01 18V lithium-Ion 4.5" Small Angle Grinder. Soft Grip. 2 batteries and charger. $389 HomeDepot. Don't believe this tool can double duty as a sander, polisher.

New to me, never seen a live one of these:
BAUDAT WIRE ROPE CUTTERS, singlehand rachet, by-pass/slicing action, smaller, lighter, easy to use with limited hand strength. Designed to cut up to 8mm (5/16") hard wire stainless. [Also a 10mm model] Weight 2lbs, length 11". Aimed at the yachting market for just this purpose! - but just as obvious, not only a single-use instrument. Lots of UTubes, hard to get info, but this chandlery has a decent intro: (currently featured on their front page)
google Deck Fittings & Hardware
www.seateach.com
Not available in the Colonies that I can see. Everything's great about it but the price. $420.00 UK

The prices for these well-anointed tools may indicate what upscale tools cost these days. $400 for a cordless angle grinder or $360 for long handled loppers may make adding a $400 pair of shears to a well appointed bosun's bag more palatable. Ya sure!

A sailboat should never leave port without a rigging cutter. Maybe the rachet cutter will appear in a cheaper form and nicely made at a reasonable price.
Baudat cutters, being German, likely have their blade metal totally down pat. This most certainly would not be the case with a china copy, so watch it!
There seem to be dozens of china hydraulic cutters. They (or anybody's) might NOT live well onboard viz rust freezing up tight tollerance parts.
It is the cutter we want never to go dull - can't be anything worse than a mangled cut in hard rigging wire. The simpler Baudat might survive storage better and work longer. ??? Until I get rich I have a 16"X6" rectangular 12" non-adjustable HighTension K153 yellow Starrett mega hacksaw frame ($20) that stores a dozen Lenoxes in the hollow square chrome tube that is its backbone. Has a presense, it is designed to be also used two-handed.... BUT it's got balance and cuts bread too. Got my eye on the upscale K145 aluminum frame model!

If it does as advertised, the Baudat rachet cutter is a very appealing tool.