Abstract: A portable crimping apparatus suitable for crimping hose fittings on high capacity hoses having four to six layers of braided wire reinforcement utilizes a relatively light weight pusher which has openings therethrough to illuminate the crimping operation. The pusher is mounted on a plate attached to a ram of a hydraulic cylinder, which ram is used to advance the pusher. The pusher is retained in position on the plate by thumb operated spring latch. A pair of lifting arms are pivoted to a support for the ram to facilitate carrying the portable crimper apparatus.