Odd Stainless steel vise grips

[roalco]

Hi guys, I was poking through the local marine equipment consignment store yesterday, and came upon this odd pair of unused vise grips. They are a pair of unused AIGO Japan 7" SUS-304 STAINLESS STEEL. Vise grips, that have been, apparently professionally ( beautiful work) modified. The mods are a long "D" welded to the adjusting screw, and a pair of offset, very heavy jaws, pinned through the existing curved jaws.
The shop owner had no idea what they were for, and sold them to me for $30 (no argument here!).
I'm thinking they are for gripping, perhaps canvas, or hides (?), and holding tension on them... Has anyone any ideas? The jaw angle indicated a right hand use.
I popped the retaining pins, and they will be perfectly uesable without the jaw extensions.

 

[roalco]

Another shot,

 

[carder1987]

Could you post a pic? Interested to see!

NVM, you did already!

 

[wendlwacker]

Those are neat!

 

[mmack66]

Looks cool, but how do you know that they weren't made like that?

 

[roalco]

Looks cool, but how do you know that they weren't made like that?

Maybe... But can't find anything on them, anywhere (so far....). That's why I'm asking.
BTW, they are regular serrated, curved grip jaws underneath the floating jaws.
A mystery!

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd guess that was some sort of installation tool to grip something pliable, (rubber? leather? ) and get something on the screw loop to provide tension. The angle of the jaws would be for clearance...

 

[the gypsy]

Can it be possible that the d ring on the adjustment screw is there to tether it. You mentioned you got it from the marine shop, I guess the owner did not want to drop it in the water. IDK just thinking out loud.

 

[roalco]

I tend to agree with outlaw, but the D ring is going to stay for exactly the reason gypsy brings up. They are going in my rigging kit. They are about be the most comfortable pliers I have ever used, the stainless is satin smooth with no sharp edges anywhere. I found a link to a supplier in the UK, the regular 7" AIGO grips are £144, or about $250! Yikes!

 

[the gypsy]

Roalco I thank you for reading my post and acknowledging that the idea of a point to tether the tool makes sense. I post my thoughts and ideas and feel that sometimes they are not read.

Most important is that I LOVE those SS vice grips.

 

[the gypsy]

Sorry I reread my post and realized I stated something stated before. OOOOPS.