A hand-held toggle over center clamping tool device with an ergonomic quick release mechanism comprising: a fixed handle assembly comprising a fixed handle body with a fixed jaw, and a toggle link attached to said fixed handle body; a movable jaw movably attached to said fixed handle assembly; a moving handle assembly comprising a front handle section movably attached to said movable jaw at a front handle section attachment point, said front handle section also pivotally attached to said toggle link at a toggle pivot, and a rear handle section pivotally attached to said front handle section at a rear handle section attachment point; a release fulcrum point; a releasable means for holding said front handle section and said rear handle section rigid to one another characterised in that said releasable means comprises: a catch located on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly; and a release trigger movably attached and retained on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly not having said catch, said release trigger having a catch engagement element for the purpose of engaging said catch; wherein said release trigger is operable to disengage said catch engagement element from said catch and, when said release trigger is disengaged from said catch, said rear handle section is operable to release a toggle lock on said jaws (101, 122) by squeezing said rear handle section towards said fixed handle body. a fixed handle assembly comprising a fixed handle body with a fixed jaw, and a toggle link attached to said fixed handle body; a movable jaw movably attached to said fixed handle assembly; a moving handle assembly comprising a front handle section movably attached to said movable jaw at a front handle section attachment point, said front handle section also pivotally attached to said toggle link at a toggle pivot, and a rear handle section pivotally attached to said front handle section at a rear handle section attachment point; a release fulcrum point; a releasable means for holding said front handle section and said rear handle section rigid to one another characterised in that said releasable means comprises: a catch located on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly; and a release trigger movably attached and retained on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly not having said catch, said release trigger having a catch engagement element for the purpose of engaging said catch; wherein said release trigger is operable to disengage said catch engagement element from said catch and, when said release trigger is disengaged from said catch, said rear handle section is operable to release a toggle lock on said jaws (101, 122) by squeezing said rear handle section towards said fixed handle body. a catch located on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly; and a release trigger movably attached and retained on one of said front handle or rear handle sections of said moving handle assembly not having said catch, said release trigger having a catch engagement element for the purpose of engaging said catch; wherein said release trigger is operable to disengage said catch engagement element from said catch and, when said release trigger is disengaged from said catch, said rear handle section is operable to release a toggle lock on said jaws (101, 122) by squeezing said rear handle section towards said fixed handle body.