Have you tried Knipex’s made in Germany locking pliers? Surprisingly, I have not – yet – despite their reasonable pricing.
I have tried the design, though, which bears similarities to other brands’ locking pliers. The Euro-style locking pliers, for lack of a better description, features an unlocking lever much different than Vise-Grip locking pliers fans are used to.
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Vise-Grips, and other brands inspired by their original design, feature a release lever that requires the application of pressure from within the handle and in an outwards direction. If you’re not careful, you can pinch your skin.
Knipex’s Euro-style pliers have a release lever that’s squeezed from the outside. While I own both styles of locking pliers, as well as more recent “fast release” types of pliers, I find I like the Euro-style locking lever quite a bit better. Despite having developed muscle memory for releasing Vise-Grips, the Euro-style release lever is simply easier to operate.
While I haven’t tried Knipex locking pliers yet, my experience with the brand and this style has me convinced that they’d be on the short-list should any of my Vise-Grip or Grip-on locking pliers go missing from my toolbox.
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Knipex offers locking pliers in more traditional styles, such as curved/round jaws and long-nose, and also unique styles with pivoting or “universal” style jaws. The specialty styles are of course pricier.
If you’ve tried them, what do you think? If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
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If you want to try the style but at a lower price point, Tekton makes them as well.
A few years ago, Stephen reviewed the Proto Blackhawk locking pliers of the same style. I should point out that Proto Blackhawk (or Proto by Blackhawk) locking pliers are not the same as Proto’s, which as of the last time I checked are made by Grip-on in Spain.
There’s a whole lot to locking pliers brands and styles to throw at you, which is why in this post I wanted to focus on Knipex. It’s a brand a lot of you already know or have at least already seen or heard of. Their prices are reasonable ($21 for 10-inch round jaw, as of the time of this posting), and they’re one of few brands whose locking pliers are not made in Asia.
Frank
I have a pair of these, they’re decent. I think the OEM is Bolmann-Selzer (https://www.bollmann-selzer.de/en/). The release lever is nice but confuses people if you lend it out. I think Grip-On is probably nicer, but my favorite locking pliers are old French-made Facom.
Tom
That’s interesting on the possible OEM. Harry Epstein’s sells the BolmannGrips.
blocky
Agree. I own these Knipex and the finish is pretty poor. Had to clean metal chaff out of the threading on mine and they are still not nearly as smooth and well-aligned as my Grip-ons.
Stuart
That’s disappointing. I don’t think I’ve heard that before, but it makes me second-guess the no-doubt bulletproofness of Knipex.
My Grip-on have been amazing, too. Eventually I’ll own a few more.
Voodoo
One more vote here for Facom, especially the ones with adjustable jaws. Their release levers are always extremely smooth, no matter how much clamping force you have put on it.
bubba
I recently tried a these and the Gedore version and I have to say the Gedore is a lot easier to operate. Surprising because Knipex is usually top shelf. Still pretty good though.
Lance
I have the 10” Knipex and they’re great! Once you try the euro style release you’ll wonder why they’re all not like that.
It’s not a huge deal in regular use, but when you really need to clamp down hard on something the old style are just plain difficult and sometimes dangerous. The Knipex are so easy by comparison.
Also, the Knipex just have a nice sturdy feel to them, and the lock action works very smoothly. My Vise Grip (and other brands) of locking pliers just don’t feel as stiff.
Thom
I just bought a pair.. Thanks Stuart for feeding my Knipex addiction!
Altan
I had one and what I did not like for a German made tool was that at the end of the handle there is a screw and the nut is on the handle which is very badly welded, they could grind the weld a bit to make it look like a proper German made tool! But other than that the rest is good.
Kenneth Stephens
I have a few pairs of old craftsman locking pliers with the same release. I inherited them from my great grandfather and most of his tools are from the 50s and 60s. It’s a shame you can’t get USA made pliers with that release anymore
Hilton
Maybe I’ve just never owned a proper pair of vice-grips style pliers but I’ve always had to pull the locking tab inwards to release. Granted it’s not that smooth and the pliers tend to launch themselves across the room but is this how USA vice grips are designed?
Stuart
With the USA-style locking pliers, you need to squeeze the two parts of the lower handle together. Once you overcome the locking tension, it gives way fast, but I’ve never lost control to where they go flying.
Hilton
Ah thanks Stuart. On the other type you force apart the two lower sections.
fred
I probably have more “vise grip style” clamps than I do pliers – some from Knipex – but more from Bessey and GripOn and older Petersen-Nebraska-Made Vise Grip.
I recently posted about some locking pliers from OTC (a Bosch Co.) that are said to be useful for flare nuts. They are USA made (from global materials) :
https://discuss.toolguyd.com/t/pliers-some-different-types/432/42
Harry Epstein also carries the Bollmann line:
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/tool-brand/bollmanngrip.html
Joe framer
Not great reviews on these locking pliers..
Knipex usually makes great tools.
…. Most mechanics I know use Proto. I have the 6 pc Proto set (black with red release lever) haven’t found anything better, made in Spain. … Also the visegrip quick release , comfort handle set works well.. but made in China..
Jalopy_J
I have these and love them. I bought them after getting tired of the new Chinese Irwin’s wrecking their teeth on the first use. The locking mechanism is way better. Easier to clamp and unclamp. Especially unclamping. When clamped very very tightly, they don’t explode open with nearly as much force. The pliers also doesn’t have nearly as much slop that makes them feel mushy like the Irwins. And lastly, the teeth are much, much stronger. All teeth are eventually going to get wrecked when you’re trying to contain an object that wants to spin like I do frequently, but these are pretty good. I even like these better than the old USA vise grips I had years ago, and the new Chinese Irwin stuff is trash compared to them.
Grady
I have a couple of these style pliers, 6 and 8 inch. The main complaint I have is when locking the pliers my little finger catches the release, an d, back to the beginning.
Curt Shields
Amazon reviews for the Knipex locking pliers appear to be relatively poor across sizes and jaw styles; at least, poor when Knipex’s usual sterling reputation is taken into account. Negative reviews frequently mention poor finish quality, rust at wearing surfaces, loose feel, etc.
Seems abnormal for Knipex, at least from my second-hand perspective.
fred
Frank (above) suggests that the OEM might be Bollmann. Perhaps Knipex re-badges them to fill out their line. Just speculation – but that might account for the high expectations (for usual Knipex stuff) versus quality quibbles from Amazon reviewers.
BigGelectrician
I use mine a little as an electrician. It’s like having a 3rd hand, I like the smaller needle nose style a lot. I prefer knipex over Chinese vice grip by a large margin. I don’t use my small grip on plier much, but coming from a knipex fan boy it seems a lot better than the knipex ones I have. I’m excited to see what malco does with their new ones coming out.
Joshua Manion
Over the past year Ive become a complete Knipex fanboy. Being an Electrical tech for a Milwaukee(ish) based manufacturer of electrostatic oilers and coaters, I F-ing love their wire strippers and crimpers and dykes and and almost every electrical too they put out. My only gripe is that all their pushbutton pliers are made for right handed people. Being a lefty There was a huge learning curve and still kind of a pain in the @*& in certain situations. K-nipex is German engineering at its best. But how about some love for us leftys. And by love I dont mean charging us an extra 100.00. Its not my fault god made us superior. LULzzz
Brian M
I find Grip-On and Knipex to be very comparable, the Knipex feels a little smoother but the Grip-On has a lock nut.
I want to get some Engineer screw gripping locking pliers too. I have 3.peaks locking screw pliers but the finish is terrible.
fred
I have an old pair of locking pliers called “Xtricator-Claw Jaws – also made for screw extraction. They have a longitudinal tapered round groove in their jaws that helps them grip damaged screw heads.
There are also locking pliers from Grip On that have longitudinal grooves in their jaws – but I’ve never tried them: Gripi On Part # 122-07G – GTIN 043099122017 and Part # 122-10G – GTIN 043099122024
Brian M
I couldn’t find a pic of the claw jaws but the grip-ons don’t have the longitudinal teeth like the ones I’m talking about. The Engineers only have three teeth but the 3.peaks has seven.
https://i.imgur.com/PkEhuNa.jpg
fred
Thanks.
The Claw Jaws are from the 1980’s or earlier – and I’ve haven’t seen them offered for sale since soon after I bought mine.
Their jaw profile looks a bit like the Engineer – but they have a beak-like tip that will grab under a screw head.
Screw and stud removal was one of the services we provided in our metal and pipe fabrication business. Our typical customer was someone who had tried using various drill bits and “extractors” – often on a broken off studs or bolts (taps too) where there was little or nothing to grab onto. When all else failed – and scrapping the item was not an option – they’d come to us and we’d use our EDM equipment.
Stuart
Vampliers has been promoting those, and I’ve been trying to determine if it’s a gimmick or innovation before posting about them.
fred
Are Vampliers just rebadged Engineer tools with some minor cosmetic changes? Or do they add something extra?
Now if we could just get some DIY-priced and user-friendly (as in easy to use and wire-conserving) EDM – that might be an innovation.
Stuart
For the most part, I think they’re rebranded for the North America market, but might be a Vampliers tool or two that are exclusive to them.
Brian M
Vampliers is just a distributor for Engineer, and it’s NOT a gimmick. They are the ONLY 100% guaranteed way to remove a stripped screw (If the screw head isn’t flush). The teeth are super sharp and the steel is as good as it gets.
The locking pliers have a different teeth so those I cannot comment on but I’m sure they work.
Echo
The Milwaukee Vise Grips are on sale at Ace right now for $9.99
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/solid-joint-pliers/2802759
Emilio Gonzalez
I own a few Knipex lock pliers and have been disappointed with the finish on one. I sent it back with a warranty claim, which went well. However, I own many Knipex tools and have never seen a rough finish.
Geodore, Stalwhile ,NWS, and others make locking pliers, so I may look at those, but I already own Knipex and vintage Petersen USA Locking pliers to last a lifetime. kCToolco has a good assortment.
Hilton
I needed to get a decent pair of ‘vise grips’ pliers and having invested in plenty of Knipex tools I looked this version first. As others have pointed out the online reviews are not great, including Europe websites.
I ended up getting a Gedore 137 10 inch from Amazon Germany and will test it accordingly and report back if required.