diff --git a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/console_widget.py b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/console_widget.py
index 0e3b687..c214738 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/console_widget.py
+++ b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/console_widget.py
@@ -234,6 +234,19 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
     # 'ConsoleWidget' public interface
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    def can_cut(self):
+        """ Returns whether text can be cut to the clipboard.
+        """
+        cursor = self._control.textCursor()
+        return (cursor.hasSelection() and 
+                self._in_buffer(cursor.anchor()) and 
+                self._in_buffer(cursor.position()))
+
+    def can_copy(self):
+        """ Returns whether text can be copied to the clipboard.
+        """
+        return self._control.textCursor().hasSelection()
+        
     def can_paste(self):
         """ Returns whether text can be pasted from the clipboard.
         """
@@ -264,6 +277,14 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
         """
         self._control.copy()
 
+    def cut(self):
+        """ Copy the currently selected text to the clipboard and delete it
+            if it's inside the input buffer.
+        """
+        self.copy()
+        if self.can_cut():
+            self._control.textCursor().removeSelectedText()
+
     def execute(self, source=None, hidden=False, interactive=False):
         """ Executes source or the input buffer, possibly prompting for more
         input.
@@ -460,7 +481,6 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
             # FIXME: remove Consolas as a default on Linux once our font
             # selections are configurable by the user.
             family, fallback = 'Consolas', 'Monospace'
-
         font = get_font(family, fallback)
         font.setPointSize(QtGui.qApp.font().pointSize())
         font.setStyleHint(QtGui.QFont.TypeWriter)
@@ -640,6 +660,34 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
                 self._control.setTextCursor(cursor)
                 self._text_completing_pos = current_pos
 
+    def _context_menu_make(self, pos):
+        """ Creates a context menu for the given QPoint (in widget coordinates).
+        """
+        menu = QtGui.QMenu()
+
+        cut_action = menu.addAction('Cut', self.cut)
+        cut_action.setEnabled(self.can_cut())
+        cut_action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence.Cut)
+
+        copy_action = menu.addAction('Copy', self.copy)
+        copy_action.setEnabled(self.can_copy())
+        copy_action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence.Copy)
+
+        paste_action = menu.addAction('Paste', self.paste)
+        paste_action.setEnabled(self.can_paste())
+        paste_action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence.Paste)
+
+        menu.addSeparator()
+        menu.addAction('Select All', self.select_all)
+        
+        return menu
+
+    def _context_menu_show(self, pos):
+        """ Shows a context menu at the given QPoint (in widget coordinates).
+        """
+        menu = self._context_menu_make(pos)
+        menu.exec_(self._control.mapToGlobal(pos))
+
     def _control_key_down(self, modifiers, include_command=True):
         """ Given a KeyboardModifiers flags object, return whether the Control
         key is down.
@@ -675,7 +723,7 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
 
         # Connect signals.
         control.cursorPositionChanged.connect(self._cursor_position_changed)
-        control.customContextMenuRequested.connect(self._show_context_menu)
+        control.customContextMenuRequested.connect(self._context_menu_show)
         control.copyAvailable.connect(self.copy_available)
         control.redoAvailable.connect(self.redo_available)
         control.undoAvailable.connect(self.undo_available)
@@ -715,6 +763,10 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
             self.copy()
             intercepted = True
 
+        elif event.matches(QtGui.QKeySequence.Cut):
+            self.cut()
+            intercepted = True
+
         elif event.matches(QtGui.QKeySequence.Paste):
             self.paste()
             intercepted = True
@@ -793,11 +845,6 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
                     self._page_control.setFocus()
                 intercept = True
 
-            elif key == QtCore.Qt.Key_X:
-                # FIXME: Instead of disabling cut completely, only allow it
-                # when safe.
-                intercepted = True
-
             elif key == QtCore.Qt.Key_Y:
                 self.paste()
                 intercepted = True
@@ -1393,24 +1440,6 @@ class ConsoleWidget(Configurable, QtGui.QWidget):
         """
         self._control.setTextCursor(cursor)
 
-    def _show_context_menu(self, pos):
-        """ Shows a context menu at the given QPoint (in widget coordinates).
-        """
-        menu = QtGui.QMenu()
-
-        copy_action = menu.addAction('Copy', self.copy)
-        copy_action.setEnabled(self._get_cursor().hasSelection())
-        copy_action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence.Copy)
-
-        paste_action = menu.addAction('Paste', self.paste)
-        paste_action.setEnabled(self.can_paste())
-        paste_action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence.Paste)
-
-        menu.addSeparator()
-        menu.addAction('Select All', self.select_all)
-
-        menu.exec_(self._control.mapToGlobal(pos))
-
     def _show_prompt(self, prompt=None, html=False, newline=True):
         """ Writes a new prompt at the end of the buffer.
 
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/frontend_widget.py b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/frontend_widget.py
index f52df3a..3f7b70a 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/frontend_widget.py
+++ b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/frontend_widget.py
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ class FrontendWidget(HistoryConsoleWidget, BaseFrontendMixin):
         self._bracket_matcher = BracketMatcher(self._control)
         self._call_tip_widget = CallTipWidget(self._control)
         self._completion_lexer = CompletionLexer(PythonLexer())
+        self._copy_raw_action = QtGui.QAction('Copy (Raw Text)', None)
         self._hidden = False
         self._highlighter = FrontendHighlighter(self)
         self._input_splitter = self._input_splitter_class(input_mode='block')
@@ -122,6 +123,16 @@ class FrontendWidget(HistoryConsoleWidget, BaseFrontendMixin):
         self.tab_width = 4
         self._set_continuation_prompt('... ')
 
+        # Configure actions.
+        action = self._copy_raw_action
+        key = QtCore.Qt.CTRL | QtCore.Qt.SHIFT | QtCore.Qt.Key_C
+        action.setEnabled(False)
+        action.setShortcut(QtGui.QKeySequence(key))
+        action.setShortcutContext(QtCore.Qt.WidgetWithChildrenShortcut)
+        action.triggered.connect(self.copy_raw)
+        self.copy_available.connect(action.setEnabled)
+        self.addAction(action)
+
         # Connect signal handlers.
         document = self._control.document()
         document.contentsChange.connect(self._document_contents_change)
@@ -196,6 +207,17 @@ class FrontendWidget(HistoryConsoleWidget, BaseFrontendMixin):
     # 'ConsoleWidget' protected interface
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    def _context_menu_make(self, pos):
+        """ Reimplemented to add an action for raw copy.
+        """
+        menu = super(FrontendWidget, self)._context_menu_make(pos)
+        for before_action in menu.actions():
+            if before_action.shortcut().matches(QtGui.QKeySequence.Paste) == \
+                    QtGui.QKeySequence.ExactMatch:
+                menu.insertAction(before_action, self._copy_raw_action)
+                break
+        return menu
+
     def _event_filter_console_keypress(self, event):
         """ Reimplemented to allow execution interruption.
         """
@@ -324,6 +346,12 @@ class FrontendWidget(HistoryConsoleWidget, BaseFrontendMixin):
     # 'FrontendWidget' public interface
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    def copy_raw(self):
+        """ Copy the currently selected text to the clipboard without attempting
+            to remove prompts or otherwise alter the text.
+        """
+        self._control.copy()
+
     def execute_file(self, path, hidden=False):
         """ Attempts to execute file with 'path'. If 'hidden', no output is
             shown.
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/rich_ipython_widget.py b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/rich_ipython_widget.py
index a22f314..5a74eb7 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/rich_ipython_widget.py
+++ b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/rich_ipython_widget.py
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ class RichIPythonWidget(IPythonWidget):
     # 'ConsoleWidget' protected interface
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    def _show_context_menu(self, pos):
-        """ Reimplemented to show a custom context menu for images.
+    def _context_menu_make(self, pos):
+        """ Reimplemented to return a custom context menu for images.
         """
         format = self._control.cursorForPosition(pos).charFormat()
         name = format.stringProperty(QtGui.QTextFormat.ImageName)
         if name.isEmpty():
-            super(RichIPythonWidget, self)._show_context_menu(pos)
+            menu = super(RichIPythonWidget, self)._context_menu_make(pos)
         else:
             menu = QtGui.QMenu()
 
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ class RichIPythonWidget(IPythonWidget):
                 menu.addAction('Copy SVG', lambda: svg_to_clipboard(svg))
                 menu.addAction('Save SVG As...', 
                                lambda: save_svg(svg, self._control))
-                
-            menu.exec_(self._control.mapToGlobal(pos))
+        return menu
     
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # 'FrontendWidget' protected interface
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/qt/util.py b/IPython/frontend/qt/util.py
index 1191d29..dd8205a 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/qt/util.py
+++ b/IPython/frontend/qt/util.py
@@ -16,14 +16,16 @@ MetaQObject = type(QtCore.QObject)
 
 # You can switch the order of the parents here and it doesn't seem to matter.
 class MetaQObjectHasTraits(MetaQObject, MetaHasTraits):
-    """ A metaclass that inherits from the metaclasses of both HasTraits and
-        QObject. 
+    """ A metaclass that inherits from the metaclasses of HasTraits and QObject.
 
-        Using this metaclass allows a class to inherit from both HasTraits and
-        QObject. See QtKernelManager for an example.
+    Using this metaclass allows a class to inherit from both HasTraits and
+    QObject. See QtKernelManager for an example.
     """
     pass
 
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Functions
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def get_font(family, fallback=None):
     """Return a font of the requested family, using fallback as alternative.