Abstract: A wire stripper of simple, rugged and dependable construction for efficiently stripping insulation from conductive wires. The wire stripper includes pivotally related components gripped in one hand of a person using the device with one of the components including a blade and the other component being movable toward the blade for engagement with an insulated wire positioned between the blade and the component movable toward and away from the blade. The interconnection between the components includes a hinge structure to space the components from each other to receive an insulated conductive wire or wires therebetween and including a transverse pivot axis formed by a yoke structure which spaces the two components from each other and enables the components to rock or pivot in relation to each other. In one embodiment of the invention, a depth control assembly is provided for the insulation slitting blade.