An identification tag applicator is provided, the applicator comprising a body (12) having a pair of applicator jaws (18,20) attached thereto, where one of the jaws is pivotable relative to the body. A manually-operated actuator is pivotably attached to the body (12) and adapted to move the pivotable applicator jaw (20) between open and closed positions. The actuator comprises a lever (26) having a first lever end pivotably attached to the body (12), and a second lever end. A lever biasing member biases the lever (26) towards a first position in which the pivotable jaw (20) is in the open position. A first link member (32) has a first link end pivotably attached to the pivotable applicator jaw (20), and a second link end having a first locking surface. A second link member (34) has a third link end which is pivotably attached to the second lever end, and a fourth link end which has a second locking surface and which is pivotably attached to the second link end. When the lever (26) is in the first position the first and second link members (32,34) lie in the same plane (P) and the first and second locking surfaces abut one another to hold the link members in the same plane as the lever is moved from the first position. The second and fourth link ends are connected by a link pin (37) which is offset from the plane (P) of the link members (32,34). The second applicator jaw (20) includes a projecting member (24) adapted to force the link members (32,34) to pivot relative to one another about the link pin (37) so that the link members move out of the plane (P) when the applicator jaws (18,20) reach a closed position.
