An automatically adjustable locking pliers includes an upper jaw fixed to a handle and lower jaws that pivot about the handle. The lower jaws are connected to a lower tightening handle. A lever connects the tightening handle and upper body. This is the standard structure of locking pliers well known in the industry. The improvement includes a self-adjusting sizing and locking mechanism A thumb jaw sizing lever is located near the jaws and may be moved to open the jaws so that they can be sized around a workpiece. When the thumb jaw lever is released, the jaws automatically size and clamp lightly around the workpiece. The sizing lever and locking mechanism operate together to automatically size and lock the pliers. An adjusting screw in the lower handle near a pivot point sets the clamping force. Turning the screw adjusts the tension of the pliers for gripping the workpiece.

Fish handling pliers are stabilized against lateral movements of the pliers jaws. More specifically, the fish handling pliers of the present invention include an upper member having an upper handle section at a rearward end thereof, and an upper jaw at a forward end thereof. A lower member has a lower jaw at a forward end thereof which is opposed to the upper jaw of the upper member. The lower member also has a rearward end pivotally connected to the upper member to allow for pivotal movements of the lower member towards and away from the upper member to thereby close and open the opposed upper and lower jaws, respectively. Importantly, one of the upper and lower members defines a lengthwise-extending groove. The other of the upper and lower members includes a lengthwise extending tongue in opposition to the groove. The tongue is thus seated within the groove when said upper and lower jaws are closed thereby stabilizing the upper and lower members, and hence their respective upper and lower jaws, against lateral movements. Most preferably, the upper member includes the groove, while the lower member includes the tongue.

"Parallel Jaw Locking Toggle Wrench/Pliers with Economic/Ergonomic Handles" comprising: a fixed jaw member being in parallel relationship to a slidable jaw member; the fixed jaw member constructed (by riveting or welding means) to support member - the support members being formed integral to a lower handle; the slidable jaw member slidably contiguous to said support member; the slidable jaw member pivotably attachable (by riveting) to a rotatable upper handle opposing said lower handle; a spring tensioned to said slidable jaw member - with the spring attachable to said lower handle; the spring allowing for the operation of said slidable jaw member, a toggle, said upper handle, and an adjustment screw; the toggle pivotably attachable (by riveting) to said upper handle; the toggle pivotably contacting said adjustment screw; the adjustment screw rotatably mounted in said lower handle; a release lever levered off of said toggle; the release lever pivotably attachable (housed) in said upper handle; and a compound toggle link means levered off of said toggle as an alternate design to said release lever.