Imperial Pliers

Imperial Pliers: Specialty Precision Built for the Professionals Who Demand It

Imperial is not a household name in every garage — and that's part of what makes it special. With roots stretching back to 1905, Imperial has spent over a century engineering specialty tools that professional technicians reach for when precision is non-negotiable. As the flagship brand of Stride Tool, LLC, their pliers carry that same legacy of exacting standards into one of the most essential categories in any toolbox.

A Heritage of Specialty Tool Engineering

Imperial's entry into the pliers category didn't happen by accident. In 1995, Stride Tool acquired the Milbar Corporation, a northeast Ohio specialty tool manufacturer with decades of experience crafting high-precision pliers. The Milbar line — including its renowned safety wire twisters and retaining ring pliers — was folded into the Imperial family, dramatically expanding the brand's pliers portfolio and bringing proven, American-made designs to a wider professional audience.

The result is a pliers lineup that punches well above its weight class. Industry insiders have long noted that Imperial manufactures OEM-quality tools — including transmission lock ring pliers — that find their way into the catalogs of top-tier tool brands. That level of underlying quality speaks volumes about what you get when you buy Imperial direct.

What Sets Imperial Pliers Apart

Imperial's pliers focus on specialty and precision applications where the wrong tool can mean damaged components or wasted time. Key offerings in the lineup include:

• Retaining Ring (Snap Ring) Pliers — Available in external, internal, and convertible configurations, these are engineered to precise tip diameters (such as .038" and .047") for working with circlips across a wide range of ring sizes, from 1/8" up to 3-1/2" rings. Convertible models allow a single tool to handle both internal and external rings with a simple screw adjustment.
• Soft Jaw Pliers — The GT-113 model (formerly Milbar 45Z) is designed specifically for delicate work on AN electrical connectors, cannon plugs, and plated pipe or fittings — where standard pliers would cause marring or damage.
• Wire Crimping Pliers — Multi-function models like the IE-110 combine cutting, stripping, and crimping for wire gauges from 22 to 10 AWG, making them a go-to for automotive electrical and HVAC wiring work.

Made in the U.S.A. with a Lifetime Warranty

Many Imperial pliers, including the popular retaining ring series, are proudly made in the United States and backed by a lifetime warranty. For professionals who depend on their tools day in and day out — in HVAC, refrigeration, automotive, and industrial settings — that combination of domestic manufacturing and long-term warranty support is a meaningful differentiator.

Whether you're a technician replacing a snap ring deep in a transmission, an HVAC tech working in tight mechanical spaces, or an industrial maintenance professional who needs reliable grip on a specialty fastener, Imperial pliers are designed to deliver. Explore the full Pliers category or browse everything Imperial has to offer on the Imperial brand page.