Dewalt has launched new Slidelock pliers, which work differently compared to popular button-lock adjustable pliers such as the Knipex Cobra.
The new Dewalt Slidelock pliers are advertised as being fast to adjust, slim for fitting in tight areas, and more corrosion-resistant than the brand’s older button-adjustable pliers.
Dewalt says they Slidelock pliers have a “dual-adjustment mechanism,” presumably for larger and finer opening width adjustments.
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It appears there are two styles – pliers with V-jaws such as shown here, and I also spotted a listing for straight-jaw pliers.
I found these pliers in 8″, 10″, and 12″ sizes. Pricing starts at around $21 for the 8-inch pliers.
Buy the 8″ Pliers at Home Depot
Buy the 10″ Pliers at Home Depot
Buy the 10″ Straight Jaw Pliers at Home Depot
Buy the 12″ Pliers at Home Depot
Buy the 2pc Set at Acme Tools
At this time it looks like the pliers are only available online. According to online product descriptions, the pliers are made in Taiwan.
I would have expected MaxFit or Tough Series branding if the new Dewalt pliers were set to launch at Home Depot, and perhaps they’d be Craftsman-branded if they were set to launch at Lowe’s.
There are plenty of adjustable pliers that you can open and then slide closed for coarse adjustments. It’s not clear how these new Dewalt pliers operate, and whether they slide open, closed, or both.
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I find the new Dewalt Slidelock pliers design uncompelling, but it’s good to have more options.
Knipex tends to be the king of adjustable pliers, with the Cobra as my go-to for premium pliers, and the Irwin Groovelock (Dewalt sibling company) is a good choice at a lower price point.
Big Richard
“At this time it looks like the pliers are only available online.”
My local Farm & Fleet has had them on the shelf for a few weeks now. Well, at least the 8″/10″ 2 pk. They seemed decent in the hand, I almost thought the grips were a little too bulky. I debated buying them to give them a review, but at $40 I passed.
https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1647124-dewalt-8-and-10-sidelock-v-jaw-plier-2-pack.html
Daniel
They do look bulky! At $40 bucks I’d just buy the Knipex. Tried and true. The new Tekton’s look nice.
Seems like everyone is jumping on the Cobra bandwagon. The question is are they making a better plier than Knipex? So far I haven’t seen one I thought was better.
Jared
I’d be curious to hear Stuart’s take on whether there are any pliers BETTER than Knipex cobras – or at least directly competitive.
I have Proto J260MGs that I like quite a bit (made in France, so I assume they’re actually Facom production). I don’t have the same size in Cobras for a direct comparison though. I’m also fond of NWS pliers generally – there’s the NWS 1660-12-180 that’s also a push-button water pump plier.
Neither of those are cheaper than Knipex, so there’s no obvious reason to choose them instead – but sometimes I like to be different.
Stuart
NWS is on-par, sometimes preferable.
Daniel
Tekton’s new Cobra like pliers are made by NWS.
MikeS
What about the Fujiya?
Big Richard
It was $40 for the 2pk, so “only” $20 a pop. So you are getting two pliers for the price of one Knipex.
Peter
That pretty much mirrors my opinion. Every one is copying the cobra without really innovating anything. Minor style changes but not really even matching the small iterative optimizations that Knipex themselves have been making.
Unless you only rarely need pliers and are on a budget most are not even worth considering. Even then in this case being only a slightly cheaper copy they are not compelling. Just another “Also Ran” in an over saturated market.
If you want a cobra style pliers and will actually use it just by the real cobra pliers.
Farmerguy
I wonder why the copycats can’t copy the original cobra. My understanding the patents ran out on cobra and pliers wrench in the not so distant past. If so, why isn’t there an exact match? Is there other patents preventing this or lack of technological or metallurgical knowledge missing?
Saulac
I believe it is trademarks.
Jack D
I’m pretty sure trademarks only apply to the name. So the original question remains…why not an exact copy?
Matt
For the price, these don’t seem very compelling. You’re not far off of knipex money. Only budget option I’ve liked are the Doyle from harbor freight, when 40% or more off, they’re good value and have held up well
Wayne R.
Plenty of Channellocks are available for peanuts at garage sales and flea markets, and except for some chewed handle dip and maybe some rust, they’re all perfectly functional. Even brand-new Channellocks aren’t expensive, and they work fine. Compared to these, new Cobras certainly are pricey, but they’re great, we all agree.
More similar pliers seem akin to me to yet more small or mid-size SUVs being sold, the market seems more than saturated. I don’t get it.
Robert
SUV market is expected to keep growing. Strong demographic reasons behind it. Aging Baby Boomers like the ease of entry and exit on higher chassis SUVs. Millennials and Gen Y are starting families and like the space. (Yeah minivans are seen as “uncool.”) SUV size lends itself to bigger battery packs for EVs, = greater range. Good analysis at:
https://carsinsiders.com/150/2025-market-forecast-why-suvs-continue-to-dominate/
Bonnie
CUVs/mid-size SUVs are essentially just re-branded Hatchbacks and Station Wagons once those categories became passe. With maybe an extra inch of ride height.
Brent
That extra inch or two of ride height, means I am not hitting and breaking my bumper on my mother-in-law driveway nor the entrance to my children’s school. And it is accompanied by four-wheel-drive, which is nice to have in the winter.
Josh Williams
The groove lock pliers from Irwin are the best non-knipex alternatives by far for the cobra, but I haven’t found a decent alternative for the pliers wrench that compares at a lower price point.
IronWood
Tekton just released a German-made 10” pliers wrench. Not sure if it’s cheaper, but another option.
https://www.tekton.com/pliers/pliers-wrenches
IronWood
I just ordered the new Tekton push button adjustable pliers. They’re made in Germany by (pretty sure) NWS. $36 for the 7” and $40 for 10”. They’re very, very nice. Those DeWalts look weird, I’d definitely want to see them in person before buying one.
Andy
Tekton’s marketing email announcing the release said their new pliers are made by NWS. One of the few companies that I stay subscribed to marketing emails – the emails are highly informative and sent infrequently, which is a great combo.
All of the NWS pliers I have, including some NWS makes under contract for Sonic Tools, are excellent. I’m happy Tekton is having NWS make their pliers.
Based on those pliers, their new German-made screwdrivers (made by Witte, I think?) and the ever-increasing number of US-made tools has me excited about what the next generation of tools from Tekton looks like.
IronWood
The new drivers do look like Witte screwdrivers, which is cool. Although my wife is bummed they’re discontinuing the USA triangle handle drivers, as that’s what are in her tool bag. Agree with you that they’re a rare brand I actually look forward to updates from.
Daniel
The new Tekton screwdrivers are made by Witte. Tekton said so in their press release. I bought a few right out of the gate. They are decent drivers, not any better than my Klien drivers. One note, the shape of the handle makes them not fit in Veto Pro Pac pockets well. My Klien, PB Swiss and Wiha drivers all work better in the Veto bags over the Tekton’s
Andy
Yeah I like the triangle-handled drivers, I have a modest set of those I’ve been very happy with.
Adam
These look more similar to the Klein version that the jaws can be flipped for straight or pipe gripping. They are heavier than I would like so they stay in a tool chest, but obviously the 2-in-1 jaws does have its benefit.
928'er
I was fortunate enough to get two sizes of the Craftsman branded Knipex Cobras on sale for cheap before the local Sears clearanced itself right out of business.
Jim Felt
I believe most if not all of my very first German made hand tools were from Sears starting in the 1980-90’s. Where American once shopped.
zchris87v
I’m really curious how these function. My favorite pair I have, in terms of function, are a pair of husky “auto adjusting” pliers that slide closed automatically. They’ve been long discontinued and the rivet broke, but now has a cotter pin in place serving the same function. I’ve used the kobalt ones, and they’re absolutely awful. If these slide closed like the ones I’m referring to, I may be interested it some come up at a flea market.
Catamount
These new Dewalt Slidelock pliers look kind of thick to me, and I think that adjustment slide would be difficult to manipulate if your hands are wet/greasy/oily or if you are wearing gloves. I have Craftsman, Channellock, Irwin Groovelock, and a few HF Icon pliers that have been very useful but are now crowded into a very full toolbox drawer. I have to agree with Stuart, I just don’t see any real advantage to this new design. If I buy any more pliers, I will need to buy a bigger toolbox and … hey, wait a minute, that wouldn’t be a bad thing, would it?
ElectroAtletico
Ya know, right next to me is a 10-in Knipex Cobra. It’s great and so are its little brothers (don’t have the big one). No need to change.