Abstract: A shell cracker is provided for cracking nut shells, crab claws, lobster claws and the like. The shell cracker has a base with front and rear upstanding supports. An upper lever is connected at the front support for rotation about a first axis and a lower lever is connected at the rear support for rotation about a second axis. The lower lever extends from the rear support to the front support. The first and second axes are spaced and the first axis is higher than the second axis. The upper lever has a downwardly facing cam adjacent to the front support. The lower lever has an upwardly facing cam follower adjacent to the front support. Upper and lower jaws are located on the upper lever and base respectively. The jaws are moved from an open position to a closed position, in order to crack a shell, by movement of the upper lever which, by means of the cam, causes movement of the lower lever.