Armored cable cutter with cutting blade retention

A cutting head for a hydraulic power tool, the cutting head comprising:

• a hollow pin,
• a first jaw disposed for rotation about an axis defined by the hollow pin, the first jaw comprising a first blade mounting surface having a first pair of screw bores configured to receive a first pair of blade mount screws and further comprising a first ear, wherein the first ear includes a first ear bore and a second ear bore for receiving the hollow pin and a slot for receiving a second ear;
• a second jaw disposed for rotation about the axis defined by the hollow pin, the second jaw comprising a second blade mounting surface having a second pair of screw bores configured to receive a second pair of blade mount screws and further comprising the second ear having a third ear bore such that the third ear bore aligns in between the first ear bore and the second ear bore of the first ear when the second ear is coupled in the slot of the first ear;
• a first blade mounted to the first blade mounting surface of the first jaw by the first pair of blade mount screws;
• a second blade mounted to the second blade mounting surface of the second jaw by the second pair of blade mount screws;
• a flange configured as a separate component from the first blade and coupled to and extending from the first blade;
• and
• a retainer coupled to the second blade, the retainer having an inner groove configured to receive the flange prior to and during a cutting action to resist movement of the first jaw or the second jaw out of alignment during the cutting action, and the inner groove configured to receive the first blade.