http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Accessories___RARE-FORD-SCRIPT-MODEL-A-MODE L-T-DUCK-BILL-PLIERS_W0QQitemZ370144093194QQddnZPartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQddiZ2 811QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370144093194&_ trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I think the pliers have been heated and re-forged to flatten the nose. The jaw teeth appear to be crushed closer too. The rusty area in front is the result of high heat (shows in second picture). Vanadium steel will do this when heated to yellow hot or above and not finished. Nice job but I wouldn't call it rare. Anyone could make a copy.

I would say about a month ago those pliers didnt exsist in thier current form.OR they were made a long time ago by someone needing a special application plier,say in a machine shop or something.
1,the fine teeth in the "duckbill" are gone.I would think they would be more obvious,even if worn.
2.As Ken stated,there is evidence of high heat from what I can see.
3.The top and bottom of the "duckbill" has obvious ground areas that were dressed and not cleaned up well .
4.What part of a model T would you need a "duckbill"plier for anyway? It seems I have to use needle nose to remove cotter keys and such.
5.Honestly,I am not a avid tool collector.But to me,something dont seem right on these.

I can at least tell you that the change bulletins dont show anything like this non do they list such a beast

If in theory these are real,what other cars and equipment did Ford build that tools were provided with it?
I know the T and the A and the Fordson tractor,but beyond that I dont know.I still aint fiqured out what a duck bill plier woulda been used for .

I have a pair of Ford pliers somewhere very similar to these.Mine are closer to needle nose.I got mine at Harry Grisso Hardware in Sidney,Indiana.Harry did the modifying to the pair I have during WWII.The story was,new tools were hard to get during the war.If you needed,say,duckbill or needle nose pliers,he would fire up the forge and heat and pound.I recall him saying he made dozens of pairs over.He liked Ford tools because of the superior steel.Harry also made hitch pins out of T steering gear posts and bearing races,chisels out of axle shafts,pry bars and spud bars out of driveshafts.Harry was a fascinating character.He had a shop where he could make about anything,including grinding the mirrors for his own astronomical telescopes.There was a dome on the roof of his building like the top of a silo.This was his observatory.In the early to mid 80's I bought up his stock of NORS T parts,and what he had left of the radio parts of 20's vintage.Harry was a crusty old bachelor,and,due to this,had money by the pile, most of it hidden around his store or in his apartment upstairs.Not long before he hung it up for an assisted living center in town,a gang of punks got the drop on him,bound him up and said where's the money.They found some and took off.Harry was able to get loose and sound the alarm.Now the robbers had a real problem.A whole bunch of townspeople and farmers looking for them- most of them volunteer firemen with radios-and shotguns.The chase didn't last long. The robbers were real glad to see the police show up because their captors were not the least bit interested in their civil rights.Harry was about 85 when this happened,and this episode further lowered his already low opinion of humanity in general....I apologize for going on about old Harry. I sorely miss him and all the old guys like him I knew.Instead of resting in peace, though,I hope Harry is learning the secrets of the universe....and chasing some young barmaid when the mood strikes him.

Mack - they have been used in the aviation and sheet metal industries for years. They are used for straightening ends of leads, pieces of sheet metal and also used for folding over terminals. Some people refer to them as flat nosed pliers, but the old mechanics called them duck bills for reasons you can see. These pliers on e-bay dont even really fit the application - most duckbills are slim - - easy to get in tight places, and are generally anywhere from 1/4 inch wide to 1 inch. They are great for safety wire if you dont have a safety wire pliers.

Jim in Indiana
I love stories like that. They make the day worth while.

Thanks for the explanation sir.

I went through all my tool literature and could 'nt find any thing even close to those.

I agree, Fred. Thanks for sharing, Jim. Interesting stuff to me, anyway!!