The invention relates to stripping pliers (1). During a cutting stroke of the stripping pliers (1), stripping blades (14a, 14b) radially penetrate an insulation of a cable (13). In a subsequent tear-off stroke, a partially separated partial region (33) of the insulation of the cable (13) is torn off. Finally, in a pulling-off stroke, the torn-down partial region (33) is pulled off from the electrical conductor (39) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (19) of the cable (13). In order to avoid that a sudden spring movement occurs in the pulling stroke, in which the forces acting between the cable and the stripping blade (14a, 14b) abruptly fall, the hand levers (2, 3) perform an uncontrolled rapid closing movement. Accordign to the invention, when the tear-off stroke is switched to the pulling-off stroke, a spring and / or a damping element (37) works and come into contact with a roller (36) of a lever (22).