Abstract: A mine anchor line cutter is slidable lengthwise of a cutter body provided with a bore behind the cutter for receiving an explosive charge that is detonated by the mine anchor line that is to be cut, whereby to drive the cutter forward. The cutter body is supported by a stabilizing fin, the front portion of which is overlapped by a retaining member shaped to hook over a sweep line. Extending through the retaining member and fin and into the cutter body is a shear screw that connects them together but that is weak enough to be sheared off by movement of the cutter body rearwardly, due to recoil when the tool is fired, whereby all of the tool will separate from the sweep line supporting it.