Top Aviation Snip Brands for Superior Cut Precision

Choosing the right aviation snips can make a significant difference in your metalworking projects, ensuring precision and efficiency. Several brands stand out in the market due to their durability, ergonomic design, and high-quality materials. Among the top contenders are trusted names that have been favorites among professionals for years. Curious to find out which brands make the cut? Read on to discover the best aviation snips brands available today.

Illustration of aviation snips

Best brands of aviation snips in 2025

Wiss

Wiss is renowned as one of the best producers of aviation snips, offering a comprehensive line of high-quality, precision tools. Developed originally for cutting tough alloys in the aircraft industry, Wiss aviation snips are widely used by professionals in construction, HVAC, and industrial applications. These snips are designed to handle acute angles, complex patterns, and circular shapes in galvanized steel up to 18 gauge, ensuring superior cutting performance. With over 100 years of experience, Wiss has established itself as a reliable brand, known for its durability and comfort, making its tools a favorite among tradesmen. The Wiss aviation snips feature spring-loaded pivot points, molybdenum steel construction, and non-slip serrated jaws for efficient cutting. For more insights into Wiss aviation snips, you can watch this detailed video review.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is renowned as one of the best producers of aviation snips, known for their forged cutting heads that deliver up to 10X more cuts than cast blades. Their aviation snips feature machined steel blades for precision cuts and a one-handed locking mechanism for ease of use. The tools are designed with a flush bolt design to prevent hanging up on material and come with hard chrome-plated blades for rust protection. Milwaukee's aviation snips can cut up to 18-gauge cold-rolled steel and 22-gauge stainless steel, ensuring durability and performance. The ergonomic handles and serrated jaws enhance user comfort and tool life. Discover more about their aviation snips on their official product page.

Klein Tools

Klein Tools is renowned for producing high-quality aviation snips, with a legacy spanning over 155 years since its founding in 1857 by Mathias Klein. The company is committed to using the highest-quality U.S. materials and advanced manufacturing techniques such as induction hardening and hot riveting. Their aviation snips, including the new models with integrated wire cutters, can handle sheet metal up to 18 gauge for cold rolled steel and 22 gauge for stainless steel. These tools are favored by professionals for their precision-machined tips, spring-loaded action, and comfort grips. With a strong presence in the aerospace and defense industries, Klein Tools continues to be a leading brand in the hand tool market.

Malco

Malco is a renowned brand in the production of high-quality aviation snips, celebrating 70 years of innovation and evolution in the industry. Their Max2000 Aviation Snips, made in the USA, feature Euro-styled ergonomic handles and superior hardened blade edges for maximum cutting life. These snips are designed for precise cuts in various materials, including vinyl plastics, layered metals, and seams, and are favored for their durability and user-friendly design. Malco's tools are integral in the growing metal roofing industry, where metal roofs have seen a significant rise, from 12% in 2019 to 17% in 2021, in residential roofing in the United States. Malco's commitment to quality and innovation makes their aviation snips a top choice among professionals and DIY enthusiasts.

Irwin

Irwin is a renowned brand in the hand tool industry, particularly celebrated for its high-quality aviation snips. These snips feature hot-drop forged steel blades, ensuring a sharper cutting edge and greater strength, along with a long-life spring for increased leverage and optimized cuts. The market for tin snips, which includes aviation snips, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2025 to 2032, reaching a market size of USD 724.67 million by 2032. Irwin's aviation snips are designed for cutting and shaping thin sheets of metal, catering to professionals and DIY enthusiasts in metalworking and sheet metal fabrication. The Asia Pacific region, where Irwin's products are widely used, dominates the global tin snips tool market with the highest revenue share.

Midwest

Midwest Tool and Cutlery Company, renowned for producing some of the best aviation snips, has a rich history dating back to 1945. Their snips are lab and field-test proven to exceed the performance of other manufacturers, featuring hot drop-forged blades made from molybdenum alloy steel, ensuring strength and durability. These blades require the least amount of hand pressure to complete a cut and maintain their adjustment longer. Midwest's aviation snips are manufactured entirely in the USA and remain a leading choice for tradesmen globally. They hold numerous product design and utility patents, significantly enhancing their product performance. For more information, visit their About Midwest Snips page.

Stanley

Stanley, a renowned brand in the tool industry, is one of the leading producers of aviation snips, known for their high-quality and durable products. The Stanley FATMAX Straight Cut Aviation Snips, for example, are forged from chrome molybdenum steel, ensuring strength and long cutting life, and can cut up to 18 gauge cold-rolled steel or 23 gauge stainless steel. These snips feature serrated cutting blades and a latch design for quick single-handed operation, meeting or exceeding ANSI standards. As part of the broader aviation snip market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2024 to 2030, Stanley continues to be a significant player. The market's projected growth from $296 million in 2023 to $374 million by 2030 underscores the demand for high-quality tools like those offered by Stanley.

DeWalt

DeWalt is a leading brand in the aviation snip market, renowned for its high-quality and durable tools. The company's aviation snips, such as the DEWALT(r) Ergo Aviation snips, are designed with forged alloy steel for superior strength and durability. They feature a double pivot action for enhanced cutting power and a serrated cutting edge to prevent materials from slipping. DeWalt's products are part of a market anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2024 to 2030, reaching a market size of US$ 374 million by 2030. The brand is favored by professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike for its ergonomic design and efficient cutting capabilities. DeWalt's aviation snips are suitable for cutting various materials, including aluminum, vinyl siding, and 18 to 22-Gauge sheet metal.

Crescent

Crescent Wiss, a premier brand from Apex Tool Group, has been a market leader in aviation snips for over 60 years, driven by its commitment to performance and durability. The brand's next-generation MetalMaster® Aviation Snips can cut over 8 miles of steel and last up to 10 times longer than traditional snips, with a cutting capacity of 18 gauge low carbon steel and the ability to handle over 500,000 cut cycles. These snips feature precision-cast molybdenum blades with CNC-ground serrations and a superior free-float design, requiring 20% less force to cut. Manufactured in the USA, specifically in Lexington, South Carolina, these tools are designed for both left and right-handed users with an ergonomic single-handed latch operation. Crescent Wiss has a rich history, dating back to 1847, and has been a key player in military and civilian markets, including significant contributions during World War II. For more details, check out the MetalMaster® Aviation Snips.

Klenk

Klenk is a renowned brand in the industry, celebrated for its high-quality aviation snips and other specialty tools. Founded by Karl Klenk in 1934, the company has been a leader in manufacturing superior industrial-quality tools for over 66 years. Klenk's aviation snips, including straight-cut, offset, and bulldog snips, are designed for durability and precision, making them a staple for tradesmen. The company continues to innovate, meeting changing needs with new tools and maintaining its tradition of quality. The global aviation snip market, which Klenk dominates, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% until 2032.