A guillotine style cutting mechanism that can cut material without a pair of pivoting blades that are externally exposed, does not require a user to open and close two fingers to operate, and can be operated in both the left and right hands (not designed for either hand). The cutting mechanism includes a receiving inlet (trap) for receiving the material, a stationary blade within the trap and a moveable blade that enters the trap when activated by an engagement mechanism. The cutting mechanism may include an outer housing having an open interior, an extension arm extending from the housing to create the trap, a stationary blade within the trap, a movable blade formed on a rod within the housing, and an engagement button that causes the moveable blade to traverse the housing so as to extend into the trap and engage the stationary blade to cut the material.
