A portable shear testing device includes a shear force unit that has two elongated jaw members that are positioned adjacent to each other. One of the jaw members can be moved away from the other, stationary jaw member. One of the jaw members is moved by a pivotally mounted lever that laterally moves a load transfer block connected to the jaw member. A digital load cell is positioned between the lever and the load transfer block and a threaded knob is rotated to press against the lever.