A hand held tool includes a slotted handle having a jaw end, a medial section, and a gripping end, the medial section including a slot having a gear tooth rack. An operative handle has a pinion gear end and a gripping end, with pinion gear being fixed with respect to the operative handle, and the pinion gear being positioned in the slot and having a toothed portion and a non-toothed portion. An operative jaw is slidably mounted with respect to the slotted handle to cooperate with the jaw of the slotted handle to group a workpiece, the operative jaw having one or more guide mechanisms to maintain the orientation of the jaw with respect to the slot as the jaw slides and as torque is applied to the operative jaw when a workpiece is gripped.