what am I ????

[phillie]

I got this tool from an old estate. I have no idea what it was used for. The tool measures 10” long. The end is a cutter pliers tool with a area in the middle cut out (made original that way). The end spirals out another 5 ¼”. At first I thought it was just a pair of pliers and someone welded the extra piece on it. Upon further inspection, there is a catch on the pliers handle that is original to the tool. The catch locks by pulling back the piece on the center shaft with the holes in it. There is a spring in the square part that holds it in place. The center bullet looking piece has a hole in the end. The only markings on it, besides the dudes initials is the M and 3 as shown. If the end was a plunger and not a spiral I would guess some sort of grease gun attachment.

Thanks for your help!!!

[Branson]

It's designed to twist wires together.  Might be something on this in the archives -- I'm sure we talked about these a few months ago.  You can probably find information on them in Alloy Artifacts.

[Aunt Phil]

Safety wire pliers, common in aircraft industry.

[mrchuck]

I used one many years ago. It is used to apply "safety wires to bolts and nuts.
yep,,,,that's it.

[phillie]

Thanks guys

[rusty]

I stumbled across another use for these also, they were used by distilleries to twist the wire seal caps on bottles....

This seems to be where the idea of having special wire twisting pliers began, there is a patent for a pair with holes in the jaws to guide the pair of wires (but no twister' yet..)

[m_fumich]

Safety wire pliers, common in aircraft industry.

My dad had a set of those. He worked on avionics at the Naval Air Station. Essentially, every nut on an aircraft gets secured with wire. Every bolt has a hole and castlelated (so?) nuts are used. Run the wire through, grip both ends with the pliers, and pull the knob.

It is overkill to use that on bread twist ties.

[gibsontool]

I picked up an identical pair at a PNTC meeting in Oregon last october, I had no idea what they were but I just had to have them because I had never seen anything like them  before. It was my intent to post a picture asking for some help in identifing them, I still have not had the time to get somebody to show me how to post pictures so I'm glad somebody else found a pair. I will (some day) learn how to post pics.

[m_fumich]

Below the window where you type your message it says "attachments and other options." Click that then you'll see where to attach the photo file.

And now back to your regularly scheduled program.