Abstract: A hand tool for applying a ferrule to a safety cable is disclosed having a ferrule positioning device to position the ferrule while a safety cable is placed through the ferrule and through the tool, a mechanism for applying a tension to the cable and a mechanism to crimp the ferrule so as to attach the ferrule to the safety cable. A ferrule holding device, which may contain several ferrules is removably attachable to an elongated body of the hand tool such that one of the ferrules in the holding device is aligned with an opening defined by the elongated body. After threading the safety cable through the ferrule in the ferrule holding device and the opening in the elongated body, it is attached to a tensioning device which applies a predetermined tension to the safety cable. The tensioning device incorporates a clutch which disengages the tensioning device once the predetermined tension has been achieved.