In the wrenches I am listing for the fall Wrenching News Auction I found this 6.5" pliers. It's marked REED MFG. CO. - ERIE, PA  U.S.A. on one side and that side looks like a normal slip joint pliers but the other side has some strange cutout sections around the jaws. Anyone have any ideals?  It's Lot No. 719-3 in the catalog.

Link to all photos
http://wrenchingnews.com/2014-fall-auction/all-pics-one-page.html

Link to the catalog "in progress"
http://wrenchingnews.com/2014-fall-auction/catalog.html

"Bus,"
Could it be an after-market alteration?  The main features of the pliers are produced by  drop forging with broaching for the  jaw teeth and pivot holes.   The "grooves" could have been cut by a machine shop to modify the pliers to grasp something inside a tube or pipe.

Quote from: mvwcnews on September 16, 2014, 08:11:16 PM
"Bus,"
Could it be an after-market alteration?  The main features of the pliers are produced by  drop forging with broaching for the  jaw teeth and pivot holes.   The "grooves" could have been cut by a machine shop to modify the pliers to grasp something inside a tube or pipe.

Random observation here; notice the machining marks in the groove are "round and round". Meaning whoever cut the groove did so in a lathe, with the plier jaws wide open (or the halves separated?) and clamped to a faceplate or special fixture.

Quote from: Bus on September 15, 2014, 02:39:01 PM
Anyone have any ideals? 

Got plenty of ideals, but no ideas about these pliers...

Looks like it would be ideal for installing small bundle wraps or ratcheting hose clamps.  Chuck Garrett