Abstract: A manually-operated rule bending and notching press producing a ram output mechanical advantage that is substantially than prior art manual rule bending and notching presses. This is accomplished by providing a toggle linkage that drives a crank-and-pivot mechanism. The input handle is able to travel through at least about 100 to 180 degrees of rotation as the ram moves through its full travel, however, the handle still moves through the most usable 90 degrees of rotation while the ram is moving through the most highly loaded final 1/2 to 3/4 inch of its stroke. The crank and pivot mechanism provides a substantially linear force multiplication during this last part of the press ram stroke because the crank does not pass or near the top dead center of either the input or the output linkage. Accordingly, variations in output mechanical advantage may be effected simply by altering the radii of the input and output crank pivots.