A safety chisel (100) has handle parts (101) and (102), each pivotally connected to a chisel blade (105) by pins (104), to adjust the chisel readily from an open position (FIG. 11) to a closed position (FIG. 12). Grooves (107) in the handle parts (101, 102) form a cavity (109) to house the chisel blade (105) safely when the chisel (100) is closed. Impact forces are applied to flat tops of the handle parts (101, 102), which have lower, internal abutment faces 108 to transmit impact forces to the chisel blade (105).