Pliers; How Many Is Too Many?

[Private Lugnutz]

I found these recently. Lakeside Forge. Going to keep them with the "S" wrenches. If I find a toolbox pattern ball-pein hammer one day, I'll really have a decent little on-board toolkit going.

 

[930dreamer]

I have a full size drawer of each; channel lock type pliers, slip joint pliers, diagonal cutters, needle nose.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

On the topic of the H.D. Smith's unique offset pliers. Many have remarked on the utility, for obstruction clearance and knuckle safety - followed almost immediately by expressions of curiousness about them not being duplicated or produced longer.

This won't be a huge revelation to anyone, but I was thinking about it when re-organizing my plier drawers recently - I suppose bent nose pliers, also kind of uncommon, were meant to serve the same or similar purpose.

I don't have any vintage regular combination slip-joints, like the Crescent 926s below, in bent nose form.



But I do have a thin nose (Wilde), and some needle nose (Klein) and long reach needle nose (unmarked) that are all bent form, as well as those offset German-made dykes that @LesserSon and I discussed at length on the Lugzsonian thread.





There are others on the thread.

Just sayin', I guess bending rather than offsetting was the evolution path.

 

[Ayrhead]

On the topic of the H.D. Smith's unique offset pliers. Many have remarked on the utility, for obstruction clearance and knuckle safety - followed almost immediately by expressions of curiousness about them not being duplicated or produced longer.

This won't be a huge revelation to anyone, but I was thinking about it when re-organizing my plier drawers recently - I suppose bent nose pliers, also kind of uncommon, were meant to serve the same or similar purpose.

I don't have any vintage regular combination slip-joints, like the Crescent 926s below, in bent nose form.



But I do have a thin nose (Wilde), and some Needless nose (Klein) and long reach needle nose (unmarked) that are all bent form, as well as those offset German-made dykes that @LesserSon and I discussed at length on the Lugzsonian thread.





There are others on the thread.

Just sayin', I guess bending rather than offsetting was the evolution path.

I would agree with your thoughts on the evolution path.

 

[four.cycle]

As with other designs (like the "Swedish pipe wrench") they've gone full circle.

This is the perfect tool for repairing Waterloo tool boxes that have been overloaded:

 

[RTM]

Wow, hard to believe this thread dropped to page 4.

Here is A pair of pliers I've been carrying around for a friend trying to sell. Just notice them in the bottom of the box. Tried to look them up on here. Didn't see them so here they come. Sort of a parrot jaw, or an offset slip joint. Only marking seems to be A over TF. 6" long, coarsely finished. Three holes in the slip joint.

 

[LesserSon]

Similar, but seemingly heavier jaws than Utica 531

Maybe that’s just proportions - these are 8”

 

[Targa68]

Hose clamp pliers.
Unfornuatelly it is missing one of the "jaws", but I resently used it as is
One side - 452 USA
Other side - PAT. NO 3.013.456

Who is the maker here?

 

[d42jeep]

Possibly Cal-Van but no guarantees.
I posted mine on the Cal-Van thread.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Possibly Cal-Van but no guarantees.

actually manufactured by SE Tools, Lapeer, Michigan. Private-labeled for all kinds of other "tool manufacturers"

patent 3013456 Dec 19 1961 Alf Ernferd Ericson of Lapeer, MI for "Plier with Locking Feature on Pawl" - no assignee - manufactured by S.E. Tools, Lapeer, MI

* private label branded for a number of other companies, including Cal-Van

(pers. comm. / phone / SE Tool 08/31/26 BK)

 

[MisterEd]

Diamond TL-26 Long Nose Plier

 

[LesserSon]

TL-126, perhaps?

 

[MisterEd]

TL-126, perhaps?

When I find my glasses . . .

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When I find my glasses . . .

@LesserSon never has to worry about that. Even his avatar is always wearing them.

 

[MisterEd]

Utica No. 31 Wiring Pliers, Duck Bill, 3-Diamond

 

[Ayrhead]

Just got these Utica 3 Diamond Battery Pliers. No. 1-7. I thought the outer handles would have some kind of hatch gripping but they are smooth instead. I managed to find the pliers listed in their 1924 & 1931 catalog as well. The 1924 catalog doesn’t have the model no. 1-7…. Just model no. 1. The 1931 catalog has an extra line of text…UDF&T Co.
So I’m thinking mine is somewhere in between 1925 & 1930…. But that’s just a guess.