Abstract: A skin-fold caliper includes a base member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, a slide member having a mounting portion and a jaw portion, and a coiled spring attached between the base member and the slide member to bias the ends of the respective jaw portions together. The slide member is mounted within a recess defined by the base member for linear movement therealong. The spring is selected so that a change in its extended length does not effect a large change in the force applied to close the jaws. Herein, a thin wire spring with many coils housed between the base member and slide member is utilized to obtain this function.