Pincers are a hand tool used wherever mechanical advantage is needed to pinch, cut or pull an object. They are first-class levers, but differ from pliers in that their force concentrates to a point or to an edge perpendicular to the tool's length, letting them work close to a surface, which is often needed when drawing a nail. Carpenter's pincers are particularly suited to removing nails already driven into a material. When the jaws have perpendicular cutting edges the tool is sometimes called an end-nipper or end-cutter, a form also used in jewelry making to trim flat wire or cut the end of an ear stud.
Facts
Partially Attested
Introduced When (Circa)ancient; documented in use since Roman times or earlier, with a surviving medieval example from the 15th-16th century 1 Confirmed: pincers were in documented use by ancient Roman times, with a surviving 15th-16th century medieval example. Open: no single invention date or inventor exists, as with other ancient hand tools of disputed multiple origin. OriginNo single invention date recorded; pincers are documented in use since ancient Roman times or earlier, and a surviving medieval example (15th-16th century) was found in Hamburg-Harburg. 1 Confirmed: documented use since ancient Roman times or earlier, and a surviving 15th-16th century medieval example from Hamburg-Harburg. Open: no confirmed single invention date or inventor for the tool as a whole. Introduced era (class) In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Pincers (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia, Pincers (tool), main textQuote, Wikipedia, Pincers (tool), main text
Pincers, often red-hot, have also been used as an instrument of torture since ancient Roman times or earlier.
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