The River Grip nipper with tungsten carbide jaws — the version to buy if you cut anything tougher than nylon tippet.
Why carbide. Standard nipper jaws are hardened steel, and modern braided backing and gel-spun line will roll the edge off them surprisingly fast. Once that happens the nipper crushes instead of cutting, and you cannot thread a small hook eye. Tungsten carbide is dramatically harder and holds its edge through braid, wire, and heavy mono.
Features
- Tungsten carbide cutting jaws
- River Grip rubberized handle — grip when your hands are wet, cold, or covered in fish slime
- Eye-clearing pin for head cement
- Lanyard hole for a zinger or pack clip
Current pricing is on the selector above.
Do you need carbide? Straight answer: if you only ever cut 4X to 7X nylon and fluorocarbon, the standard River Grip Nipper is plenty and we stock it deep. Get the carbide if you rig your own backing, fish saltwater, cut wire for pike, or simply want a nipper that stays sharp for years rather than seasons.
Also in the range: Umpqua's newer Rivergrip PS and RiverRun nippers, including a Big Nipper for heavier line and versions with an integrated lanyard. All on our site. Come handle them side by side — how a nipper sits in your fingers is most of the decision, and it is not something a photo tells you.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.