I never was displeased with any Klein pliers. Channellock now offers one with longer handles. Not sure of the price.

I don't normally go in for gadgety stuff but I picked up a pair of know name pliers at Home Depot a while back that in one configuration are a pair of linesman pliers and you flip the handles around and they are needle nose.

I find this real handy when I'm up in a tight space. That and a screwdriver pretty much all I need to have to hook up a device. Both can be stuffed in my shirt pocket.

Quite a few guys are really happy with knipex. I might try them when it is time to replace my trusty kleins.

After a bit of looking and vacillation (how's that for a word) I went with a pair of Knipex. Model 02 02 180 to be exact. Hardened cutting edges, "(hardness approx. 63 HRC) for soft and hard wire and piano wire."

Knipex describes them as "high leverage combination pliers" and the head is a bit smaller than a traditional "linesman" pliers. Knipex does offer the latter calling them "American style" linesman pliers. The former are a bit more compact and maybe easier to get into tight places. The latter would offer more mass if, as is common, to use the pliers as a hammer.

The other big difference is that the handles are a bit closer together, which might make them more comfortable for someone with smaller hands. Beyond that the operation is smooth and the "multi-component grips" are very comfortable.

About $35 plus tax. Made in Germany.

Does metal extend all the way trough the handles?

The handles are just a bit fancier plastic with a little softer material than the standard "dipped" stuff but the steel is full length. Kind of like Klein's Journeyman series.