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Is This Danielson Wire Cutter Military Issue?

DadsTools

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Found this awhile ago and it just sifted to the surface of the tool bin pile somehow. I set it aside because what remains of the original finish looks like that old Army drab green. I have never seen a Danielson tool in a green finish, and it certainly looks factory. No other markings beside what you see around the pivot. I don't know how old it is. :dunno:

Is this military issue?
 

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uwould

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Found this awhile ago and it just sifted to the surface of the tool bin pile somehow. I set it aside because what remains of the original finish looks like that old Army drab green. I have never seen a Danielson tool in a green finish, and it certainly looks factory. No other markings beside what you see around the pivot. I don't know how old it is. :dunno:

Is this military issue?
I wonder what the military paid for that set of cutters?.
 

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Danielson usually put a 3 digit date code inside the handle of their pliers, at least the wartime versions. The last digit is most likely a date code.

The dykes that I have, and believe to be wartime have a much smaller stamping only in the pivot joint of the pliers. I don't have a picture handy of the date code.

Yours could be military, but my guess is prewar. Just my $0.02.

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Private Lugnutz

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I didn't see this thread until now.

If you're wondering if it's military because of what you're calling "old Army drab green" finish remains, painting automotive hand tools (i.e., end wrenches, pliers, hammers, etc) OD green was not a common practice. Special tools were often painted OD green (e.g., jacks, tire irons, hub pullers, etc), but they didn't paint mechanics' tools as a rule of thumb. Despite the popularity of painted tools in MV kits at MV shows today, which is considered a garish uninformed mistake. That's not to say an OD green tool doesn't show up from time to time in a special kit, but by far the most common finishes were plain steel, cad, or black oxide, and when hand tools were painted (including some pliers, but especially pipe wrenches), it was usually black enamel. In short, I'm not saying it's not military. By the same token, that green is highly unusual, not a "tell."

As for the age, the herringbone grip pattern on the handles date it to no earlier than 1942.
 
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OP
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DadsTools

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Thanks, guys. I appreciate the input. Based on the tools overall appearance--not only the painted areas but also where it's worn away--I'm fairly confident this was a factory-applied finish. And although somewhat faded from age, the OD green shade is distinct. And I agree that based on what I've seen of military hand tools (mostly online), OD green paint as a finish is kind of unusual. My reasoning then was why would a factory paint a tool in the same color dedicated for military use if it wasn't for military issue? I can't figure an answer for that. I wasn't even thinking wartime, just military, although AA places the grip pattern in the right era. Of course, it's not the first time we've come across a tool Danielson custom-coated for an apparent military application (the Curious Copper Adjustable). I was hoping one of you very knowledgeable fellows may have encountered something like this before.
 

notlob

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I'm quite confident the pliers were copper plated by someone for their own use, or through accidental reverse electrolysis, and have turned verdigris green like the statue of liberty.

:bounce: :bounce:
 
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DadsTools

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I'm quite confident the pliers were copper plated by someone for their own use, or through accidental reverse electrolysis, and have turned verdigris green like the statue of liberty.

:bounce: :bounce:
You apparently still remember that insanity. I thought I was dealing with conspiracy theorists at a UFO/Alien convention.
 
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