Utica pliers

[98TJ]

I've had these for a long as I can remember. I'm 37 years old, have no idea where I got them, but these two sets of pliers always seem to be around. I've never lost them - they're always where they should be.

I've used the cutters for years with nothing more than a layer of heat shrink on them and the needle-nose pliers have been used bare-handled for as long as I've had them.

Anyway, I decided to clean them up and Plasti-Dip the handles. I figure for as long and as well as they've served me, they deserve a little TLC.

Anyone know much about these?

 

[Outlawmws]

I have several Utica pliers in different configs, Agree they are well made and wear well.
some info here on the company:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/utica-tool.html#history

 

[98TJ]

I have several Utica pliers in different configs, Agree they are well made and wear well.
some info here on the company:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/utica-tool.html#history

Thanks for the info.

Seems I have 777-6 6 Inch Needlenose Pliers and 41-6 Diagonal Cutting Pliers - both made from 1944-1960.

Both originally had a black oxide finish but I'm still coating them with Plasti-Dip.

 

[boro_boy70]

Utica made excellent pliers. Of course I'm a litte bias, as the were made a couple of miles from my house. Almost every garage/estate sale around here has Utica pliers at it. I have probably 50 - 60 Utica pliers. I buy them at garage sales for less than a buck a piece,clean them up, and sell them at my garage sale for $2 each. Last year I sold close to 100 in less than a day.

I keep the good ones and some of the unusual ones. I'll have to post up a pic sometime of some of my collection. Utica also made pliers for Plomb, Mac, Indestro, Blackhawk, and a bunch of other company's.

 

[98TJ]

I have the same diagonal cutters as yours. I got these from my grandfather as a teenager 20 years ago. I treated them like ****, and they have held up well so well in fact I'm still using them today

Exactly.

I haven't given these pliers special treatment, haven't done anything special to take care of them, but they've always been around.

 

[Outlawmws]

A few of mine, probably not all of them, especially if re-brandings are considered.

Left to right: Duckbills (Belonged to my father for as long as I can remember); Small needle nose; Special needle nose, made for Western Electric I suspect, note the flat notch cut in the jaws in the closeup, probably for forming some brass or copper strip material; and the nippers.

 

[HotRoddersHaven]

growing up around Utica, I amassed quite a collection of these pliers, but I have a lot more of the adjustable wrenches. I generally stay away from adjustables, but these are nice and tight, no slack, slop, or play.

 

[98TJ]

Cleaned up and Plasti-Dipped for the final time.

 

[Steven 33]

anyone seen this? made of copper

 

[d.mcfarland]

made of copper

Brass tools are commonly used around stainless steel molding equipment where you do not want to mark the surfaces so you must use a softer material for the tools.

Copper, beryllium, etc are used for non sparking purposes.

All that said, I didn't know Utica made anything other than standard steel pliers.

 

[RTM]

anyone seen this? made of copper

Wonder if that’s the copper wash before nickel plating? Density vs steel should be about 10% higher

 

[NoahG]

I’m always amazed how comfortable some of those old bare metal handles are, the designers really knew a thing or two. Todays comfort grips handles might be more ergonomic in some way, but the actual metal used in the forging is less.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wonder if that’s the copper wash before nickel plating? Density vs steel should be about 10% higher

Or just see if a magnet sticks -if so copper plate.

 

[RTM]

Geez, give him the easy way out.

 

[Outlawmws]

I’m always amazed how comfortable some of those old bare metal handles are, the designers really knew a thing or two.

100% on board with this. I use he old pliers a lot...