parallel jaw pliers

[stripadan]

The Shimano and all other copies that I know of use bypass cutters. The Manleys use anvil cutters. BIG difference in usefulness for cutting hooks, especially big or x-strong hooks. I keep a pair of Manleys in my shop and on my boat. The parallel jaws give you a mechanical advantage for cutting hooks. Van Staal uses anvil cutters also, but without the mechanical advantage I can't cut hooks with them for squat. My shop pliers will last 5 years or so. On the boat I get 2-3 years. When I used them in the surf I got 2 pairs for the year, even washed and oiled. I like Van Staal for the surf.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

Pete,get your self a pair of 8inch sargents.

[Tman1]

Get Manleys or Sargents they work great... just keep them oiled and they will last. The last thing you want is your pliers to fail while trying to cut a hook out of someone.

[Jay Dog]

I carry a pair of 6 in sargents with me all the time and more then once I've had to loan them to somebody because their $200 vanstall wouldn't cut a hook to get it out of someones hand. They are worth the $30 (Sargents or Manely's). I do carry 2 pair of pliers with me a long nose SS to remove hooks from fish and the sargent. Neither of them cut braid so I use a $2 kids scissor for that.