Maybe a dumb question but why would you need jaws like this on tongs.  The jaws are massive in comparison to the reins.  Or do I need to get out more?   

Thanks,

Ken

 

Those are brazing tongs. The mass holds heat.

Thank you very much. I've never heard of brazing tongs. Now I have something new to search for in the archives. These came up at a local auction. I had to get them if just for curosity sake.
Ken


It was easy to find information once I knew what to search for.
Thanks again

http://www.iforgeiron.com/page/index.html/_/blueprints/original-series/bp0097-brazing-tongs-r325.

got ONE set, and tho I rarely use them, not much else works when I need them :)

Drawing tongs for drawing wire through a draw plate are also heavy tongs like that.  They have fine teeth too, for better gripping.

And draw tongs have the reins bent out so that thy gan be grabbed by a ring with a cable on it to provide extra force when drawing.

It seems like I've seen something similar for heat treating small blades.  

yup drawing tongs sometimes with heavy rod stock crossways on the bits so you can grab the fuller of large double edged blades and heat from the middle out.