button pliers

[Berryb]

found somethin' else.  "Button Pliers" 4&1/2 inch (actually 4&9/16) Made by J. L. King. There is a brief article in Alloy Artifacts. Thanks
Bruce

[Bill Houghton]

found somethin' else.  "Button Pliers" 4&1/2 inch (actually 4&9/16) Made by J. L. King. There is a brief article in Alloy Artifacts. Thanks
Bruce

Nice.  And what are button pliers used for?

[Berryb]

Sometimes called Button's pliers. According to what I read in Alloy Artifacts, they are not sure why they were called button pliers. Not a reference to the patent holder or any of the manufacturers. On the tool itself the stamp "Button Pliers" is in quotes. Thanks
Bruce

[Plyerman]

I have several so-called "button" pliers in my collection. They all look similar to the one pictured above, and all tend to be from the late-1800's / early-1900's. Guess I don't know where the word button came from??

[Plyerman]

Best theory I've seen is from a Papaws Wrench discussion back in 2011. See reply #10

link = http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=2854.0

[p_toad]

As good a description as any (barring some first hand knowledge?).   They don't appear to be made to press together the two-part cloth covered metal buttons i recall as a kid (i was taught to sew as a youngster and still have my mom's Singer).