Abstract: The cutting appliance of the present invention features a pivotally connected upper (3) and lower casing (2), each having a pair of parallel sidewalls which, in closed position, contact the sidewalls of the other casing and clamp a band, strip, or web (18) or surgical dressing or the like on each side of a desired cutting line, a cutter blade (12) extending longitudinally within the lower casing and having an edge (13) parallel to, but spaced below, the plane (X--X') of contact of the casing sidewalls, and a bifurcated cursor (11) slidable within the upper housing and having a pair of jaws (17, 17') which apply pressure to the clamped band (18) on each side of the blade edge (13), thereby forcing it below the contact plane, onto the cutter blade edge (13).