An insulation stripping assembly for stripping insulation from a conductor. The blade assembly includes a first blade assembly and a second blade assembly. The first blade assembly has a first cutting blade, and the second blade assembly has a second cutting blade. A clenching member is provided on at least one of the first blade assembly and the second blade assembly. The clenching member is spaced from the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade. The first and second cutting blade essentially cut through the insulation and the clenching member engages the insulation to provide increased pulling force to remove the cut insulation from the conductor.