Self locking on pipes and nuts (view larger).

No more time-consuming test-adjusting to achieve the correct size. With the Knipex Cobra XL water pump pliers, you can simply position the upper jaw to the workpiece, push the button, and close the lower jaw. The 16-inch Cobra XL (model 87 01 400) offers the power and comfort of water pump pliers while being lighter in weight and having a greater gripping capacity than comparable pipe wrenches. It can grip a 3-1/2-inch pipe coupling and weighs 50 percent less than 2-inch pipe wrenches, which have a much lower gripping capacity. With its compact length of 16 inches, the Cobra XL is perfect for the plumber‘s tool box.

The unique self-locking adjustment and induction hardened gripping teeth means that once it's set, it stays. There's no slipping and no need to waste strength squeezing the pliers — ensuring operator safety and more efficient work. Cobra's unique jaw configuration can grip any shape object — flat, round, hex, or square. It also eliminates nut burring to avoid stripping pipes, nuts, or bolts. Additionally, the Cobra's newly redesigned adjustment provides 30 percent more gripping capacity than previous models.

A simple push of the patented push button adjustment maintains jaw size setting and gives you the correct size opening every time. Just position the upper jaw to the workpiece, push the button, adjust the opening, and close the lower jaw. And it's easily done with just one hand for trouble-free operation in confined spaces.

Cobra water pump pliers are constructed from chrome vanadium electric steel, an innovative high alloy, oil tempered steel that ensures longevity. Their thin head design helps you get into spaces other pliers can't, so there's no need to change tools when working in tight confines. And you'll also be able to say goodbye to blood blisters you get with other gripping pliers. With safety its first priority, Knipex has designed a built-in pinch guard that prevents blood blisters on your hand.

Patented push button system (view larger).

Quality in Every Detail

Sometimes we give our pliers a really hard time. We try to destroy them to find out what makes them good and long-lasting. Because we don't want to leave anything to chance, we take a long, careful look.

The steel Knipex uses is precisely hardened with a maximum of 0.8 percent carbon and defined parts of chromium and vanadium, guaranteeing optimum cutting performance and service life — even though it requires special production and costs a bit more. But our high product demands require this.

The rivet of our high-leverage diagonal cutter also has to stand up to a lot of stress. That's why we literally give it backup: we forge it straight onto the pliers. This means extra effort as we have to precision mill the rivet to a few hundredth millimeters. But satisfied users are worth this effort.

Knipex also looks closely at the small details. The angles, the sharpness, the hardness, the toughness of the cutting edges. The precision and smooth movement of the joint. The handle design and the finish. We keep reviewing these subjects, we research, we test, and we improve our pliers.

About Knipex

Headquartered in Wuppertal, Germany, Knipex is an independently-owned family enterprise steeped in tradition and specializing in the manufacturing of high-quality pliers. It all started back in 1882 when C. Gustav Putsch set up his own forge shop in Cronenberg (now a suburb of Wuppertal), and the company is now run by a fourth generation of that family. The world's leading brand in pliers today, Knipex is focused on the performance, service life, and ergonomics of its tools in order to meet the high expectations of professional users.