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 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 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 by squeezing said rear handle section towards said fixed handle body . <EOS>