Abstract: The apparatus (4) manually operable with a tightening lever (16) has a cutting station (8), a tightening station (10) and a clamping station (12). The latter has a clamping arm (18) mounted on an eccentric shaft (20) and having a clamping shoe (40) through which the strip end (3) inserted in the strip channel (5) is clamped. The clamping shoe (40) is laterallly displaced with respect to the axis of the eccentric shaft (20) in the direction of the strip end (3) in the vicinity of a clamping nose (35) supported on the supporting face (36) of the apparatus casing (15). On lowering the clamping shoe (18) into the clamping positioning an additional clamping force on the clamping shoe (40) is exerted by the clamping nose (35) guided on the supporting surface (36).