Paper cutter

[1] Since the middle of the 19th century, considerable improvements to the paper cutter have been made by Fomm and Krause of Germany, Furnival in England, and Oswego and Seybold in the United States.

On the right-hand edge is a long, curved steel blade, often referred to as a knife, attached to the base at one corner.

When the knife is pulled down to cut paper, the action resembles that of a pair of scissors; only instead of two knives moving against each other, one is stationary.

[clarification needed] While cheaper, this design is not preferable for serious work due to its tendency to tear paper, and poor performance with thick media.

Most modern paper cutters come equipped with a finger guard to prevent users from accidentally cutting themselves or severing a digit while using the apparatus.

Commercial versions are motorized and automated, and include clamping mechanisms to prevent shifting of the material during the cutting process.