I have bought two very similar tools.

I think I have found the patent by William Bernard and the company(Both names on one tool):

"The Wm. Schollhorn Co., founded in 1870 in New Haven, Connecticut, began the tradition of Sargent Quality Tools. William Bernard, inventor of the Bernard parallel action pliers, sold his idea to the Wm. Schollhorn Co, and over the years Bernard served as an engineer, salesman, and finally partner in the company, having designed a wide variety of pliers, ticket punches, and other related general-purpose tools. About eighty years later, The Sargent Manufacturing Company acquired the Wm. Schollhorn Co., and became known as the Hand Tool Division of Sargent Manufacturing.

The parallel action design at the turn of the century revolutionized the plier industry. Variations of this plier, manufactured by Sargent, can still be found in sportsman catalogs. The parallel action pliers frame has been purchased by other manufacturers over the years and adapted for many specific applications."

http://www.sargenttools.com/About/Our-History



Anyone know what it is used for?

 in reading the 1916 patent, the only cutting mentioned was for the cutting of wire, which the said could be cut from
either end of cutter.

wire cutting was also the only use I had for a pair of end cutters, "that I do not know where I last put them.

Those look like Starrett No. 1 end cutting nippers,used to cut piano wire.  Do the jaws move by loosening a screw inside the slot below it?  The Starrett markings are usually on the side of the handles just below the joint closest to the handles.  They came in 5 1/2 and 7 inch sizes and will be marked No. 1 - 5 1/2 or No. 1 - 7.

 Those don't look like my Bernard end nippers. Bernards have parallel jaws without the large gap between the jaws below the pivot. Heres a picture of a 4 in and a 6 in pair of Bernards. Think they may be Starrett's but can't find my pair to compare.

Thanks for all the help and positive replies.

The jaws can be moved by loosening the screws.





The one sample is definitely made by Wm. Schollhorn Co. The other one is only marked No.1 7 IN.

Look in the exact same place as the No. 1 - 7 IN on the opposite handle.  I cannot remember exactly, but I think the L. S. Starrett Co. mark may be there.

My father used to use this tool to trim his toenails.

Quote from: Ken W. on April 10, 2016, 07:57:07 PM
My father used to use this tool to trim his toenails.

  and the tool is actually much too big to trim toenails....or?