A device and a method manipulate an inner conductor from several inner conductors at a stripped end of a sheathed cable. The device includes a manipulation device pivotable from an initial position about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the cable end alignable relative to the manipulation device in a plane extending perpendicular to the cable end axis. The manipulation device includes a needle movable towards an inner conductor end in the initial position along a needle axis; and an inner conductor gripper gripping the inner conductor end. The method includes aligning the cable end relative to the manipulation device to align the needle axis with the inner conductor axis; moving the needle towards the inner conductor end, and establishing needle and inner conductor end contact; pivoting the manipulation device about the pivot axis; and gripping the inner conductor end by the inner conductor gripper.