Unusual pliers

[bonneyman]

Found these at a pawnie for $1. Rusted, no name visible, and the pivot bolt was worn and bent.
After some serious wire brushing, a logo came out. Installed a spare pivot bolt and nut, and gave her a coating of Ballistol to help with the rust.
What type and brand are these pliers? They're different, so I'm keeping 'em.

[thiggy]

Battery Pliers, I think.

[bonneyman]

I've found a parrot-head plier by JP Danielson that has a very similar forging.

Even the grip knurling pattern looks the same. If I'm reading AA correctly, this pattern was used up until 1942. So, these pliers could be AT LEAST 71 years old! Cool biz!

[rusty]

I think that is as good a guess as any. Note also that where yours say "<forged steel> is exactly where Danielson's mark appears on theirs.  So likely contract made noname version with a trivial change in the stamping plate....

[mikeswrenches]

One things for sure...you didn't get hurt any for a buck.  Nice job on cleaning them up!!

Mike

[bonneyman]

Thanks for the comments, guys.
What are they used for? A special application? Or just an idea someone tried to "improve" slip-joint pliers?

[HeelSpur]

I've got a pair and remember them as parrot-head pliers.

[mvwcnews]

Thanks for the comments, guys.
What are they used for? A special application? Or just an idea someone tried to "improve" slip-joint pliers?

I ended up with a flat of assorted parrot-head pliers at the Richard Carter collection auction a few years back -- they work where having the jaws at right angle to the handles is better than straight in line. 

[johnsironsanctuary]

Nice piece! It sure is fun to see them come back from the dead.

What the heck is Ballistol?

[Bill Houghton]

I've got a pair and remember them as parrot-head pliers.

Useful if you've got a parrot whose head needs repair.

[bonneyman]

Nice piece! It sure is fun to see them come back from the dead.

What the heck is Ballistol?

Short answer: gun oil.
But it has lots of other uses, due to it's special properties. Of particular relevance to old tools, it's an oil that emulsifies when mixed with water. When the water evaporates, the oil remains. And having slightly alkaline properties means it neutralizes acidic residue, like sweat.

http://www.ballistol.com/1_Ballistol%202010%20Amazing%20Story%20Flyer%20PROOF3.pdf

[john k]

There is a pair of these out in the shop someplace.   I thought they were interesting, but my father was using them once, and the bolt being near worn out, they slipped and left a large blood blister on his palm.   So they got filed, up against the wall, in the back,  where it is dark, and not likely to be found soon!    Naw, I really do know where they are,  pretty much.

[bonneyman]

Men, I am loving these parrot head pliers! I started reaching for it since I got it in May, and, lo and behold, the doggone design just keeps working out for me. Just used them again today to squeeze together a tail pipe clamp so I could install the mounting nut. The 90 deg head just seems to get into anyplace you want to put it.
Gotta keep an eye out for another pair of these. The regular slip joint pliers are starting to get dusty!

[Helleri]

Those are Channel Lock Pliers and are mostly made with plumbing in mind...The rather open mouth and near right angles of that one suggests it it more specifically meant for grabbing un-keyed spigots.

Parrot head pliers are a bit more boxy in shape usually and have a lot more angles to the teeth including the top jaw hooking down over the bottom jaw. But, both belong to the Tongue & groove family of pliers (semi adjustable pliers that keep the same handle width at different sizes, slip grip in one direction of turning and bite down in the other).

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that battery pliers are not part of the same family of pliers (they belong to the Diagonal Pliers family - along with wire cutters, dikes) and look a lot more boxy with sharp obtuse angles in how the heads are shaped and the bottom and top jaws are typically the same size and shape.

There is also a popular pair of pliers called slip joint pliers. They seem to have two sizes they adjust to. People don't realize that they have one size and that the ability to adjust is to prevent stripping on the pliers or bolt/nut they are grabbing. Should they be in danger of stripping from too much stress they slip their joint into a more open position. I think that the slip joint pliers are the missing link pliers so-to-speak that make it easy to associate Tongue and Grooves with Diagonals in one linear indistinguishable family.


Pliers can get get especially confusing with how often there are strange hybrids between two families of pliers. But, there are distinct groups and distinct members of those groups. But, in the end, use them for what they work for best, lol.

[lbgradwell]

Those are Channel Lock Pliers and are mostly made with plumbing in mind...The rather open mouth and near right angles of that one suggests it it more specifically meant for grabbing un-keyed spigots.

Parrot head pliers are a bit more boxy in shape usually and have a lot more angles to the teeth including the top jaw hooking down over the bottom jaw. But, both belong to the Tongue & groove family of pliers (semi adjustable pliers that keep the same handle width at different sizes, slip grip in one direction of turning and bite down in the other).

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that battery pliers are not part of the same family of pliers (they belong to the Diagonal Pliers family - along with wire cutters, dikes) and look a lot more boxy with sharp obtuse angles in how the heads are shaped and the bottom and top jaws are typically the same size and shape.

There is also a popular pair of pliers called slip joint pliers. They seem to have two sizes they adjust to. People don't realize that they have one size and that the ability to adjust is to prevent stripping on the pliers or bolt/nut they are grabbing. Should they be in danger of stripping from too much stress they slip their joint into a more open position. I think that the slip joint pliers are the missing link pliers so-to-speak that make it easy to associate Tongue and Grooves with Diagonals in one linear indistinguishable family.


Pliers can get get especially confusing with how often there are strange hybrids between two families of pliers. But, there are distinct groups and distinct members of those groups. But, in the end, use them for what they work for best, lol.

I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with most of this!

The pictured pliers are not Channellock brand, nor tongue & groove; they are quite clearly a slip-joint, parrot-head design...