DeWalt 10.75 in. Fencing Pliers

First impressions and build

I put these fencing pliers to work on a weekend of repairing pasture fence—pulling tired staples, splicing breaks, tightening a run of 12.5-gauge barbed wire, and knocking in a fresh line of staples. The tool feels purpose-built for that kind of day. At 10.75 inches long and about 0.9 pounds, it’s substantial without being cumbersome, and the balance is centered just forward of the pivot. That matters when you’re prying staples or swinging the hammer face—there’s enough mass to be effective, but not so much that your wrist is cooked by lunchtime.

The chrome vanadium steel construction inspires confidence. The jaws, cutters, and strike face show clean machining, and the finish has held up to a mix of muddy posts, damp mornings, and gritty gloves with only superficial scuffing. I still wipe a light oil on the pivot at the end of the day, but corrosion hasn’t been a concern. The bi-material grips are on the firmer side of cushioned—tacky enough to control when wet, and shaped to resist rolling in the hand. With gloves, the contouring hits right; without gloves, the edges are not harsh, though I’d still prefer gloves for extended cutting or prying.

Tool layout and features

• Built-in staple starter and staple puller
• Two wire cutters
• Wire splicer and stretcher
• Hammer strike face

The head blends the usual fencing pliers geometry: a pointed nose for nudging and twisting, flared jaws with crosshatching for grip, and a small, flat hammer face on the side. The staple puller is a pronounced claw with a fulcrum that lets you roll staples out of posts without chewing the wood excessively. The staple starter is a shallow notch that holds a U-staple upright so you can “start” it with a couple of light taps.

The two cutters sit where you expect them—near the pivot, one on each side of the head. The splicer/stretcher feature is a shallow throat on the jaw that lets you tension wire by levering against the post or your free hand.

In the field: staples and fasteners

If you’re on a fence line, staple work can make or break your pace. On older, half-sunk galvanized staples, these pliers do excellent work. The puller slides under the staple crown, the fulcrum finds purchase, and a steady roll pops them cleanly. On new, fully driven staples flush with the post, I had to start with the pointed nose to create a tiny gap. Once there’s daylight under the crown, the puller takes over. I appreciated that the geometry doesn’t require a full wrist-crank—short, controlled rolls did the job, preserving more of the post face.

The staple starter is a genuine time-saver for solo work. It holds a standard 1 to 1.25-inch fence staple just well enough to tap in without pinching fingers. With smaller staples or when the post grain is especially hard, you’ll still want a second hand nearby, but the feature is more than a gimmick.

Cutting and splicing performance

For most common fencing wire—12.5-gauge barbed, smooth brace wire, and lighter field-fence line—the cutters are strong and consistent. Clean cuts take one committed squeeze. There’s enough leverage that I rarely needed a second bite. The jaws align well, and I didn’t notice edge deformation after a day’s mix of galvanized and high-tensile cuts.

Where these cutters show their limits is on heavier, tough wire around 4 mm and up (think stout brace wire, hardened rods, or the occasional stray nail). The relief near the cutting edges is a bit generous, which can allow smaller, harder wire to twist or cam out rather than shearing cleanly. On that size and hardness, I could still make the cut, but it took careful positioning and a firm, two-handed squeeze. Realistically, if cutting heavy, hardened wire is a routine need, reach for dedicated bolt cutters and save these pliers for what they’re best at.

Splicing and stretching are both “get-you-by” functions and that’s how I used them. The splicer groove helps hold tension while you twist on a Western Union splice or a simple wrap, but it’s not a replacement for a come-along or a proper chain grab. For short runs and mid-line repairs, though, it’s absolutely handy. I could tension a few feet of wire enough to tie off cleanly without hauling extra tools.

The hammer face

The small strike face is more useful than it looks. It’s square, flat, and aligned well enough to drive fence staples without wandering. You won’t confuse it with a framing hammer—there’s not much inertia, and the face is small—but for setting and finishing staples, or knocking a kink out of crimped wire, it’s spot on. The balance of the tool makes misses rare, and the steel face hasn’t mushroomed or chipped against standard galvanized staples.

Ergonomics and control

The handle shape and compound leverage do good work together. Repeated cuts and pulls didn’t hot-spot my palms, and the grips stayed controllable in wet grass. I’d call the opening width medium; with the jaws wide enough to grab larger staples, those with smaller hands may prefer to choke up on the grips for more torque. The pivot stayed smooth; a drop of oil keeps it snappy.

Noise and feedback are on the satisfying side—solid clicks when cutting, a damped feel when prying. Those cues matter more than we admit when fatigue sets in.

Durability and maintenance

These pliers feel like a long-haul tool. Chrome vanadium steel, good grind quality, and tight pivots hold up to typical farm abuse. After use in damp conditions, I saw no immediate corrosion, but I wouldn’t store them wet. Wipe, oil the pivot, and you’ll be fine. The cutters are not replaceable; if you routinely bite high-tensile or hardened materials, they’ll wear quicker than on lighter gauge work.

There’s a 1-year limited warranty. For a hand tool of this type, that’s standard. Realistically, most failures would show up early; beyond that, maintenance habits will matter more than paperwork.

What could be better

• The cutter geometry favors common fence gauges, but it’s not ideal for small-diameter, very hard wire. A finer, micro-beveled cutter or a tighter relief would improve performance on 3–4 mm hardened wire.
• Both cutters are effectively the same profile. I’d love to see one standard cutter and one precision notch for thinner wire to prevent twisting.
• The staple starter’s grip on very small staples is only so-so. A slightly deeper or textured notch would help.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth noting if your fence work leans heavy or highly specialized.

Who it’s for

• Property owners and farmers tackling routine fence repair and installation
• Landscapers and ranch hands who need a reliable, multi-function fencing tool on the belt
• DIYers doing occasional barbed wire, welded wire, or field fence projects

If you’re a pro fence installer pulling wire all day, you’ll still want dedicated stretchers, a hammer, and big cutters in the kit. These pliers fit as the versatile middle piece—fast, competent, and always within reach.

The bottom line

These fencing pliers hit the mark on the fundamentals: they pull staples cleanly, cut common fence wire with authority, hold up to rough conditions, and offer enough extra utility (starter notch, stretcher groove, strike face) to reduce trips back to the truck. The ergonomics are thoughtful, and the weight and balance feel right for long stretches of fence.

They’re not a magic bullet for everything. Heavier, hardened wire will test the cutters, and if you expect one tool to replace a hammer, bolt cutters, and a wire stretcher, you’ll be disappointed. Used as intended—as the central, go-to hand tool for fence work—they’re excellent.

Recommendation: I recommend these fencing pliers for anyone who needs a durable, well-balanced, multi-function tool for routine fence work. They excel at staple handling and cutting standard fence gauges, the grips and balance make a long day manageable, and the build quality suggests years of service. Pair them with dedicated heavy-duty cutters if you routinely deal with 4 mm hardened wire, and you’ll have a reliable, efficient setup for most fence jobs.