You will not regret buying FELCO cutters. I bought mine 40 years ago when I could not really afford them and they work today as well as the day they were new. Cheap cutters dull quickly and leave the cables mangled and frayed as the OP has found. I picked up a pair of Shimano cutters at an estate sale and they are sort of OK but nothing like my 40-year old FELCOs.