While visiting Pincher Creek and noticing these large bright blue pincers one is left wondering why pincers.
There are several examples throughout town and featured on their welcome sign, however this is the most prominent standing about 6 feet.
There is a small plaque attached to these pincers.
1874 - 1974
This project was undertaken
with assistance from the
Alberta R.C.M.P
Century Celebration Committee
In Recognition of
A Century of Peace and Progress in Alberta
These are most commonly referred to as horse hoof nippers; the standard size is about 12 inches.
Pincher Creek got its name in an unusual way.
The town received its name in 1868 when a group of prospectors lost a pincer in the small creek at this location. These pincers would have been used as a mechanism for trimming the feet of the horses and thus had some value to the group. In 1874, the North-West Mounted Police came to southern Alberta. One of them discovered the rusting tool in the creek, and they named the area Pincher Creek.
From Wiki