A gripping mechanism for securing an end of a wire during tying with a wire tying system is provided. The gripping mechanism may secure a first end of a wire strap around a bale of recycled material during knotting of the wire strap. As such, the gripping mechanism includes a gripping lever having a contact region adjacent the first end of the wire strap. In embodiments, the contact region includes at least one surface feature configured to secure the first end of the wire based on pivoting of the gripping lever. In further embodiments, the contact region of the gripping lever disengages the wire based on rotation of the gripping lever in a first direction. Further, the contact region of the gripping lever may engage against the first end of the wire based on rotation of the griping lever in a second direction, during actuation of the gripping mechanism.