Show us your duckbills

[toplessHO]

50 yrs ago Dad gave me a pair,that have since been broken and lost.
Would like to find another like them.
They were finished in a grey phosphate,had knurled handles

show us what you ve got and perhaps I can match them up with what I had.

 

[measuredtwice]

50 yrs ago Dad gave me a pair,that have since been broken and lost.
Would like to find another like them.
They were finished in a grey phosphate,had knurled handles

show us what you ve got and perhaps I can match them up with what I had.

Try a Google image search of "pliers" on Alloy Artifacts and look at the knurled handles --> https://tinyurl.com/y5n6zz85

 

[RoundedNut]

First two from the left are true duckbills with flared tips. The others would be more appropriate to say are flat nose pliers. Can't help you with knurled handles, only see them sold now on old design slip joints.

 

[mr.lemons]

I had to google what the holes are for. Pic to save anyone else the trouble.

 

[ray h]

I have several pair of Utica duckbill from late 60's but never seen the true DB with flared tips. Sure glad you posted a pic of what the holes were for.

 

[toplessHO]

well I guess will need to amend the title to flat nose
never seen those "duckbills" with rounded noses,shaped like an errrr duck bill

 

[toplessHO]

I ll see if I can find Dads safety wire twisters used in aviation

 

[KnurledNut]

Were they the style with short jaws and longer handles?

 

[Indexmill]

What do normal people do with "duckbill" pliers that other pliers cannot do?

 

[Modern Garage]

I too used to wonder what the point was ( no pun intended). It seemed they were simply a cross between a needle nose and a regular combination pliers, and it seems I'm not the only one as I've accumulated a few pairs, almost unused at auctions and garage sales. But since I have them I've learned how well they work to grip smaller items, but more securely than a needle nose, and yes, for bending and twisting they excell.
I'll try to get some mug shots for you when I get home.
Joe

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Wow first time I have ever even seen a “true” duckbill. Thanks
Now I need one!

 

[goldtang]

I have a pair like that wiha / king in snapon I spend time working on early cars use them to straitened radiator fins

 

[toplessHO]

Had to use a small pair of sidecutters that were really too wide.

 

[charger 73]

here is a pair of my snap on duck bills I have been using for 35 years, in aviation we use them all the time for lock wiring. the smooth teeth in the jaws prevent nicking the safety wire like normal pliers.

 

[senlow]

Here are mine:

Snap-on
Boker
Damascus (Germany)

 

[Noltz]

What do normal people do with "duckbill" pliers that other pliers cannot do?

Spring clamps for automotive hoses are just slightly too wide to grip properly with normal pliers. Linesman pliers can do it, and of course there's specifically notched spring-clamp pliers too. But my Mac set has 'full width' long nose pliers that I use a lot for heater and radiator hose clamps.

 

[Vvmvbb]

My favorite are my old Diamond ones- very slender tips. My CMans are perfectly fine. Blackhawks look good- similar to the Diamonds.

 

[four.cycle]

What do normal people do with "duckbill" pliers that other pliers cannot do?

Idle speed adjustment on Briggs & Stratton "Quattro" engines, among other things.
I have several pairs - Indestro and Proamerica - and use them frequently.

 

[Ton ton]

Can you get Carlyle brand duckbill pliers? I hope this is not a stupid question.

 

[Al Borland]

That pic with the holes is funny. Probably 50 years ago (7-8 years old), I threaded wire thru my grandfather's pliers and tied the jaws shut for a joke. forgot about it until I saw the picture.

 

[ajchien]

oops. Wrong thread. Deleted.

 

[rshadd]

Inherited these from my Gramps.
Kraeuter 51-8
Utica No.82
H. Boker 5304-6

 

[kbeefy]

I've safety wired tens of thousands of fasteners, and have never seen actual duckbills or any with holes in the jaws.
I have several 'flat needle noses' and a couple saftey wire pliers for that job.

 

[Highland]

Let me come at it from another angle...years ago I had a pair of fence building pliers that had knurled or checkered handles. Long before anything had rubber coated handles. May have been Crescent??? Or maybe Fuller???

Does that ring any bells for what the OP asked?

 

[Nutria]

Picked up this Proto pair at a recent estate sale in Genoa NV. They've already been handy. Nice knurling.

Genoa:
First: trading post and "thirst parlor" in Nevada.
Last: John Wayne film; Genoa was the location for The Shootist, Wayne's final film.

The sale was in a fine old home from the late 1800s.

 

[Ton ton]

I did find a duckbill like slip joint from Carlyle @ the Napa store . 8" long $24.

 

[JradM]

Just FYI, the “true” duckbill pliers (the ones with the holes) are available from Lee Valley. I think they’re on clearance so act fast if you want a pair. Not sure both sizes are still available.

I have a pair. they seem well constructed. However, I’m not sure I’ve ever actually used them. Just purchased on a whim because I like unique pliers.

 

[matthew]

Most people see duckbills as a specialty tool, and long nose pliers as the standard default choice. I’d argue that maybe it should be the other way around, although i’ll admit I’m more habituated to grab my long nose pliers.

There’s places where the tapered long nose pliers are necessary, but in a lot of cases of handling wires and small clips it’s easier and more secure to grab and grip with a wider jaw.

 

[Sgtboz]

I have several pair of Utica duckbill from late 60's but never seen the true DB with flared tips. Sure glad you posted a pic of what the holes were for.

Just picked up a pair of Utica 5" duckbills at the flea. Oh, for a dollar.

 

[KnurledNut]

Diamalloy...my new favorite:

 

[Vvmvbb]

Diamalloy...my new favorite:

Nice! Looks like an older, nicer version of mine (post #17, above). Mine are D858P - maybe the P is for the plastic dipped handles.

 

[KnurledNut]

Nice! Looks like an older, nicer version of mine (post #17, above). Mine are D858P - maybe the P is for the plastic dipped handles.

I believe its DB58. Maybe for duckbill?
Yours might be from the Cooper era, as they are etched instead of stamped.
The P for plastic seems logical.
You are right though, these are great pliers!

 

[southalabama]

Duck bills

I’ve got a few pliers too. Just couldn’t find a pic handy.

 

[Vvmvbb]

I believe its DB58. Maybe for duckbill?
Yours might be from the Cooper era, as they are etched instead of stamped.
The P for plastic seems logical.
You are right though, these are great pliers!

DB looks right and sure makes sense.
I don’t know about the Cooper era but these were given to me used in the early 1980’s.