Hand-operated crimping tool

A monitoring device for monitoring the operation of a hand-held pliers-type crimping tool, including a pair of pivotally connected handles for displacing a pair of crimping dies between open and closed crimping positions, a support seat connected with one of the handles for supporting at least one plug terminal between the crimping dies, a transport tool for transporting a plug terminal to a seated position on the support seat, and a counter arrangement on the transport tool for producing a signal that is a function of the number of displacements of the handles from the open position toward the closed position. The transport tool includes a housing, an electronic circuit including a counter mounted in the housing, a transport pin extending from the housing for insertion within one end of a hollow plug terminal, and a signal transmitting pin parallel with the transport pin.