Klein Tools 1010 Long-Nose Wire Stripper/Cutter/Crimper: One Tool for Tight Electrical Work

Klein Tools' 1010 Long Nose Multi Tool is for the person who keeps reaching for separate needle-nose pliers, wire strippers, cutters, and a basic crimper during the same job. This review covers the exact model 1010, UPC 092644744044 and Amazon US ASIN B0000302WX—not Klein's similarly shaped 1009, 1011, or 11055 tools.

At fact-check time, Lowe's listed the 1010 at $25.99 with 11 reviews and a 5-star average; price, inventory, and ratings can change. Amazon's public search surface showed the exact ASIN with 200+ bought in the past week, but its direct listing parser returned no structured fields. Those signals establish current availability and interest, not guaranteed performance. The buying case rests on the functions Klein documents and on whether combining them actually saves room in your pouch.

The long nose makes the combination useful

The 1010's narrow serrated jaws can pull, loop, and bend wire before the same tool strips or cuts it. Klein places the stripping and cutting openings ahead of the pivot, which helps the working end reach farther into boxes and other cramped spaces than broad automatic strippers. That layout is the main reason this is more than a flat stamped stripper with extra holes.

The Spruce named the 1010 its best overall wire stripper after long-term use, praising its clean cutting, useful narrow jaws, and integrated crimper. Its reviewer also called out the unusually long nose and lack of a spring as drawbacks. That distinction matters: the tool gives you access and versatility, but every cycle still requires opening and closing the handles manually.

Its marked capacities cover common small-wire jobs

Klein rates the 1010 to strip and cut 10–20 AWG solid wire and 12–22 AWG stranded wire. It can crimp 10–22 AWG insulated and non-insulated terminals plus 7–8 mm ignition terminals. Six threaded screw-shearing positions cover 4-40, 5-40, 6-32, 8-32, 10-32, and 10-24 screws.

That range suits device wiring, controls, automotive accessories, speakers, lighting, and everyday repair work when the conductor and connector fall inside the markings. The advantage is task switching: bend a hook, strip the conductor, trim a machine screw, and crimp a terminal without returning to the bag. It is not a universal cable tool. Large cable, very fine electronics wire, coaxial cable, and specialized connector systems require purpose-built cutters, strippers, or crimp dies.

Comfort favors varied jobs over high-volume stripping

The tool is 8.25 inches long and weighs 6.9 ounces. Plastic-covered cushioned handles soften the grip, while the steel body supplies the rigidity needed for cutting and crimping. The length provides leverage and reach, but it also makes the tool less compact than a basic stripper.

For mixed repair tasks, that trade is sensible because one hand tool replaces several quick trips to the toolbox. For production work that involves stripping the same gauge hundreds of times, a spring-loaded or self-adjusting stripper will usually be faster and less tiring. A Lowe's reviewer who described daily industrial-automation use made a similar distinction: the 1010 stayed in the bag, but automatic strippers were more comfortable for wiring a large motor-control cabinet.

The safety limit is absolute: it is not insulated

The blue handle covering is for comfort, not shock protection. Klein explicitly warns that the 1010 is not insulated and must never be used on or near live electrical circuits. Approved eye protection is also required. De-energize the circuit, lock out power where appropriate, and verify absence of voltage with a properly rated tester before the tool touches a conductor.

Choose the 1010 when a compact kit needs credible stripping, cutting, bending, screw-shearing, and general terminal-crimping capability in one long-nose format. Skip it if your priority is live-work protection, maximum speed on repetitive stripping, interchangeable precision dies, or heavy-cable capacity. Its value is consolidation and reach—not replacing every dedicated electrical tool.