Rivet shank removal tool

A hand tool for the removal of rivet shanks from riveted structures provides for single handed operation by one person performing such rivet shank removal. The tool is similar to extended nose or "needle nose" pliers, with the exception of the forward ends of the upper and lower jaws. The upper jaw is provided with a downwardly facing punch at its forward end, while the lower jaw has a cooperating indentation with extensions on either side of the indentation. After removing the manufactured rivet heads and overlying sheet material, the indentation in the forward lower jaw of the tool is placed around the shop head portion of the remaining rivet and the tip of the punch of the upper jaw is placed atop the top of the remaining rivet shank. Pressure is then applied to the handles, as in using a pair of pliers, and the remaining rivet shank is pressed from the rivet hole and outward between the extensions of the lower jaw indentation. The lower jaw and its extensions serve to support the underlying structure while the rivet shank is pressed out, thus preventing deformation of the structure and enabling the rivet shank removal operation to be performed by a single person and still meet the acceptable standards and practices of repair of such structures.