California No1 pliers

[Snaparxon]

Found these at the local thrift shop. All they have for markings are "California" and "No.1" They are about 5-1/2" long, have a 5/32" hole in the jaws, one handle is pointed and the other has a 1/8" hole near the end of one handle. The appear to be well made.

Are these pliers made by Plomb and what was there purpose?

[Branson]

Very interesting.  Especially to a Californiac like me.

[Snaparxon]

So far this is all I can find that may be a possible link. In section 4

http://www.vannattabros.com/plomb/plombtool.html

[wvtools]

What do the jaws look like?  Do they have a groove in them?  They remind me of small upholsterer's ring pliers.  They kind of remind me of pliers used for opening and closing split shots or swivel rings.

[Snaparxon]

What do the jaws look like?  Do they have a groove in them?  They remind me of small upholsterer's ring pliers.  They kind of remind me of pliers used for opening and closing split shots or swivel rings.

No groove or grooves in the jaws. Just a 5/32" hole

[RWalters]

It's a blasting cap crimper. The hole in the jaws is for crimping the cap onto a fuse. The pointed  handle is for making a hole in a stick of dynamite to insert the cap. The "No. 1" refers to a No. 1 blasting cap.

[rusty]

That would make sense, 1901ish, the California Powder Works of San Francisco was the largest dynamite manufacturer in the world....

[OilyRascal]

Yall are good!  I sure enjoy watching and learning.

[Snaparxon]

Thanks for the information. Seems they are quite valuable to some people.