In 1880, Henry K. Porter, a partner in a machine shop in Boston, patented an adjustable “bolt cutter.” It was originally designed for blacksmiths to snip off the excess length of bolts after the nut had been tightened. As the horse-and-buggy gave way to motor power at the dawn of the 20th century, H.K. Porter bolt cutters were adapted to many new cutting applications, such as hydraulic wire rope cutters for bridges, hand cutters for fences, power cutters for heavy construction, steel strapping cutters for shipping and receiving, and shear-type ratchet cutters for utilities.

Today, as Crescent H.K. Porter®, the brand is a market leader for industrial cutting products from Apex Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world.  The extensive Crescent H.K. Porter line of products includes manual cutters, hydraulic cutters, pneumatic cutters, and accessories. Crescent H.K. Porter cutters are among the more than 2,600 quality hand tool products offered under the Crescent name – products professional tradespeople know they can count on to get the job done right.