Tongs were used for collecting small rocks (less than 6-10 in. in diameter). Their reach compensated for the difficulty posed by the inflexibility of the astronauts' space suit in bending over to pick up samples. The 32-inch tongs (which replaced a shorter model used on Apollo 11 - 14) were stored in the large tool carrier on the lunar rover. This artifact was used for training.
NASA transferred the tongs to the Museum in 1974.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.