Pliers: Drop-Forged Halves and a Box Joint

In box-joint pliers one half passes through a slot in the other. Such pliers were once made wholly by hand forging; an 1888 patent describes making them from drop-forgings instead. Both halves are forged in dies, the outer one with its joint left solid. A rotating cutter is run in from one side and then the other to cut the opening, and the small ridges left inside are filed away. The outer half is then heated, the sides of the opening spread just enough for the inner half's jaw or handle to pass through, closed again, and the two halves are pivoted together, the pivot often being a rivet. Flat-, round- and needle-nose pliers differ in the shape of their jaws.