First, this might not be the proper place/thread to expand on the Mc.D pliers; given the OP’s title: Pliers; How Many Is Too Many?
I have monitored this site for many years; harvesting, appreciatively, so much tremendous knowledge from what I perceive as a solid/salt of the earth group. I feel mostly like an honored to be here outsider, so if I am out of line, I am very teacheable.
30-Jun-25:1225 from Outlawmws. Was McKaig Drop forge a different era than McKaig -Hatch?
Sorry I missed your question earlier. Yes it seems more than a definite maybe; additionally it appears Archibald McKaig Sr. was a former principal of the McKaig-Dorntge Drop Forging Company; Buffalo NY; possibly nearby Ebenezer NY.
30-Jun-25:1336 from LesserSon. “Mc.” and also “MC.” on the other side. . . I think it could be a “McD” despite the interrupting period
I understand your observation. Another viewpoint is the lower case ‘c’ is also in a superscript position and embedded in a custom/special made triangular die/stamp/tool and the A. in ‘U.S.A.’ has been shifted to a separate line; all it seems, in order to fit on the available tool real estate/space. I suspect this ‘special die’ was created by a very skilled die maker or possible a version of photo etching was employed and the die was created for machine use. Noteworthy also your pliers are marked on the inside of the handles; and a hex nut retains the bottom end of the pivot bolt.
The upper case ‘C’ appears, from your images, to be embossed from hand stamping placed in the die; I have no knowledge of hand stamp dies of that era, but todays version typically have only one case; that may be another consideration.
At this point I am thinking the ‘interrupting period’ is not incidental, but rather it is very intentional; just the the logic/reason is not clear yet.
1-Jul-25:0413 from Private Lugnutz. . . . the pliers not looking old enough to be 1899 production.
I didn’t mean to imply LesserSon & four.cycle’s pliers were pre-1900 vintage, only that the McKaig-Dorntge plant burned down in 1900. I have no information on the companies further history and McKaig's further association to that particular business. My feel is the pliers in question were produced by drop/stamp forging in the Ford Model T and Model A era; possibly WWII.
The ‘Triangle’ is placed on the inside of the bottom handle of LesserSon’s pliers, a triangle with different text is placed, at least on the outer surface of the top/dumb-bell hole side of four,cycle’s, possibly could be on both handles - the triangles appear different in profile. Both pairs also have a center wire cutter in the jaw and a similar handle profile. I have a 6” pair with a very close, if not identical triangle and text as four.cycle’s; but it is on the bottom/single-hole handle. In addition my set does not have a wire cutter and the bottom end of the rivet is retained by a knurled rivet head; the handle profile is similar. Unfortunately, I only have have a badly corroded bottom handle; so I cannot rule out a previous user reversing the pivot bolt. But it suggest multi-brand/model use of the triangle stamp.
I also have a sense that I have seen the ‘triangle’ before and still have the feeling it was created to cheaply mash/press pre-existing markings on less than ‘plain-Jane’ pliers; removing trademark or logo issues and providing a clean re-sale path; possibly on over-produced stock from early Ford or other tools kits or WWII.
I know this is way too lengthy; a better subject to have with time, ribs, beers and tools in our hands. If I am out-of-line; I do understand and do not want antagonize in any way. For now, to me, it is a very interesting mystery.
