Abstract: A multiple stroke shear for cutting bar stock and like workpieces incorporates a pair of hinged jaws with opposed cutting blades mounted thereon. A control assembly mounted in the jaws interconnects the jaws to control the position of the cutting blades relative to one another and applies the cutting force between the cutting blades when successively activated by an operating lever attached to the control assembly in the upper jaw. The control assembly includes provision for maintaining contact with a workpiece between successive cutting strokes. In one embodiment, a handle attached to the lower jaw is used with the operating lever to control and operate the shear manually at the worksite. In a second embodiment, a bracket replaces the handle to attach the shear to a fixed support.