A member of our tying club came across a tool which we can’t identify. I’m unable to send a pic or sketch so I hope my description will do. Basically it is like an aluminum wing burning tool except it has crossed tynes that will grip material upon releasing. The tips of the tynes are parallel along their length and about 3/8 inch wide across. Coming back from the tips of both tynes there is a slot for about 5/8 inch. Where these slots terminate there is a hole slightly larger than the slot width. What is the purpose of this tool? All thoughts are welcome.
Not sure I fully follow your description, but it sounds like a tool I have. It is used to hold material out of the way when you are ready to whip finish the fly. The thread slides down the slit, you then open the tweezers to capture the material and then release it to hold the material in place while you tie off. Then slide the tool off the thread through the slit.
At least that’s what I always assumed it was for. I got mine years ago in a box of stuff I bought at a public sale. I think it was made by Herter’s.
Dave
Maybe a bead tweezer? Where there is a little pocket for the bead? When released the bead is held - magic!
So far my detailed description has been misunderstood, Sorry.
Ray, a picture is worth a thousand words. You describe parts but not the spatial relationship of those parts. And where I come from, tines stab things, not grip them, which generates a mental picture of needleness…
It is for making wings for wet flies if it is like the picture clearwater posted. Have not seen one in about 50 years.
It sounds like a fancy pair of ‘constant grip’ tweezers, and similar items with (I presume) an heavier point are sold to hold flies while tying them on the leader and with thinner (more flexible) ‘tynes’ - similar to my image per the description above - are used by stamp collectors.
The idea of them being used prior to a whip finish is interesting, but I have never felt the need of such a thing so I can’t imagine it would be better than fingers.
They sound kind of wide for fly tying, and I suspect the hole at the bottom of the slot is just there to prevent the ‘tynes’ from splitting.
Looking forward to more info.
It’s certainly been interesting following the guesses. I couldn’t make heads or tails out of the description to start with, but after reading the last reply and rereading the original post, I’m wondering if it’s just an old style hackle pliers. Along the lines of:
http://www.cabelas.com/tools-vises-skid-hackle-pliers-2.shtml?WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleBaseUSA&WT.z_mc_id1=744170&rid=40&mr:trackingCode=69879052-F5D2-DF11-82EF-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA.
Perhaps the slots / holes were for attachment of the hackle “non-skid” pads?
Of course, this doesn’t seemed like enough of mystery as these style hackle pliers are still available (although, in my experience, used less frequently than in the past).
Haven’t a clue per description, but could very well be a tool to install products described in the “Feather Fashion” thread below…
I am intrigued by this puzzle so did some Googling.
Here is an example of Reverse Tweezers, also known as Cross-Lock Tweezers.
Tweezers with a flatter end are apparently called Decal Tweezers and are used by model makers. If you go to Sunrise Tools you will see all sorts of tweezers. The (flat) decal ones are shown in set 621 and 622 along with a pair of Reverse.
There are also some with tines, which are labeled for electronics/fuses or for wafer (meaning integrated circuit) chips. I did not see any like Ray described, but maybe this site will help with the investigation. Yes, Sunrise is the same group that makes the vises and other fly gear.
That wing former tool is cool… Lets ya create wing slips right on the quill all being the same width ready when ya needem…
Hackle pliers like this?
Ray,
Find someone with a camera…
bowfin47
And kill the thread?
Ed
Well, let’s do one more thread on it. In my last post I said it might be a tool like one I have that I said was used to assist in tying off the head. I’ve since found the instructions that go with my tool and I am attaching a print to show what it looks like and what it is actually used for. It is used to tie on wings. It sold for $0.77 in Herter’s 1976 catalog.
Dave
Nifty! I want one.
Did you notice the spelling mistake/typo on the last line of instructions? Spellcheck must have missed it! (in 1976)! 
Hi Ray,
The tool you describe sounds like a wing holder used a number of years ago to hold quill wing slips in place while tying them to the hook. Take care & …
Tight Lines - Gretchen & Al Beatty
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