Nice pliers, the ones I was issued in the 80s were brass, US Army. I like that first pair better. We were instructed to hold arms straight in front, then as the crimp was done, to lower your head so the helmet would take most of the blast. Later some of the younger guys, had been taught to turn ones head, so all the blast goes in one ear. Some guys trained at Ft. Lewis Washington, and they were taught to extend arms straight up, overhead, so the helmet again would catch most of the force. I have popped a few solitary caps, electrically, one does not do it without hearing protection.
