Duckbill pliers

[dclarke 4,032]

Anyone know what these pliers were used for?  They are old, no name or markings on them. They have wire cutters near the pivot point and might have had a spring to hold them open at one time but I see no evidence of one. What were they used for? 

[rmaynard 15,393]

I'm not sure what they were used for, but there is a pair on eBay.

 

I think our resident tool guy @formariz will probably know.

 

[squonk 40,971]

Thinking old fishing pliers

[formariz 11,987]

I believe they were used for fencing wire. The flat nose used to twist wire or create loops . Some will have a wire cutter part of it. Such pliers are still made today . 

[WHX?? 48,703]

Spring style hose clamps?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,442]

I was gonna suggest a hunting tool… you know… for removing duck bills… 

 

But I defer to @formariz…

[peter lena 8,566]

@WHX?? think its for those split ring clamps , 1950,s  .pete

[SPINJIM 1,981]

Do those notches at the sides close when you squeeze the handles.  If they do, then I agree with formariz that they were used for fencing.  The notches would cut the wire.

[ebinmaine 67,129]

48 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

duck bills

Not removing but just holding duck's bills shut. 

Keeps the noise down. 

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

15 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

noise

 

Noise or no noise, I still miss my neighbor and all of his birds, speshully the guinea hens!

 

I think those are definitely fencing pliers.

 

[dclarke 4,032]

1 hour ago, SPINJIM said:

Do those notches at the sides close when you squeeze the handles.  If they do, then I agree with formariz that they were used for fencing.  The notches would cut the wire.

Yes they do close as the handles are squeezed.

[dclarke 4,032]

Thanks for the replies, guys. These belong to a neighbor, he brought them over today wanting to know what their intended use was and i didn't know but i told him i know where to get some answers. There's such a wealth of info on this forum. Thanks again! 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

They almost seem like wire cutters but there clearly not it reminds me of a wire cutter but it isnt

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

35 minutes ago, The Freightliner Guy said:

They almost seem like wire cutters but there clearly not it reminds me of a wire cutter but it isnt

 

But they are!  Those notches on either side of the hinge pin are the wire cutters.

 

It's a multi-function tool.

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[formariz 11,987]

2 hours ago, The Freightliner Guy said:

They almost seem like wire cutters but there clearly not it reminds me of a wire cutter but it isnt

 Lots of pliers regardless of what their intended purpose actually is , have that capability since it’s location is not only very convenient but also efficient at cutting wire .

[Pullstart 62,694]

I’ve got a set, a little heavier (solid duck bills instead of formed) that I’ve been using as a throttle knob on Stormy my 1056 the last two days!  I got the cable moving free again, now I need to epoxy a knob on some type onto it!