Abstract: The slide (3) is provided with a pusher (5) mounted on an axle (7), wherein this axle (7) is connected to the slide (3) by way of a spring (8) pretensioned within a chamber (8a). If the measuring jaws (2) and (4) or (13) and (14) are pressed against the object to be measured with a specific measuring force, the axle (7) is displaced against the action of the spring, the displacement of the axle (7) being blocked by a clamping element (9) so that the force exerted on the object to be measured is given solely by the spring (8), the effect of the force exerted by the user on the pusher (5) being excluded. This arrangement permits precise measurement in opposite directions.