what kind of pliers?

[kxxr]

These are about average size, 6 or 7 inches. They look to be for some special purpose. Any ideas?

[Papaw]

Those are shoe last pliers.

[anglesmith]

Boot/shoe makers lasting pliers (pulling uppers over last and tacking down)  also called cobbblers pliers.
Graeme

[kxxr]

Thanks! good to know. doesn't sound like I'll be getting much use out of them but they'll go good on the what's it peg board.

[Branson]

I've got two pairs of these last pliers.  One is made by Osborne (who still makes them) and the other is ... Well, you can't see any marks that were ever there.  The surfaces have been completely etched until you can see the grain of the metal, and understand exactly how the piece was made.  The grain swirls around the rivet showing that the hole was punched rather than drilled.  I love this one the best for exactly this reason.  And it still works just fine.

[kxxr]

There are some letter markings on the hammer part of this one but I can't quite make them out. There is a large C and underneath that is a name in a semi-circle shape that includes another c, an h, an m and an e. I'll take another look with a better magnifying glass and see if I can make it out. Someone used this one quite a bit. It's in good shape and the hammer face has just a bit of the mushroom effect.

[Branson]

There are some letter markings on the hammer part of this one but I can't quite make them out. There is a large C and underneath that is a name in a semi-circle shape that includes another c, an h, an m and an e. I'll take another look with a better magnifying glass and see if I can make it out. Someone used this one quite a bit. It's in good shape and the hammer face has just a bit of the mushroom effect.

Try "C.S. Osborne & Company."  There's a head knife with a visible lozenge shaped mark at:

http://www.vintagetools.net/product.php?p=1374

And a circular mark is on this head knife on eBay -- 310332980146

[kxxr]

Thanks Branson, the Osborne logo doesn't look like a match though. My guess for the small print in the semi circle is 'chamberlain'. I brushed it off a little and wiped it with wd40 and that's my best guess. There is an initial or letter in front of Chamberlain, but I can't quite make it out, maybe an M? There are quite a few 'cobbler's pliers' on ebay, and they seem to sell. All of the ones listed in the 'completed listings' section sold. Whoda thunk it? I'll have to keep looking for a tool maker named Chamberlain.