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The EDC Tool Roll: Knipex Cobra Pliers 87 01 125

By on February 8, 2017 in EDC, Reviews, The EDC Tool Roll

The EDC Tool Roll is a new feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various every day carry worthy tools. The tools shown won’t be multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or every day carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn!

German tool manufacturer, Knipex, makes a number of my favorite tools but their 5″ Cobra Pliers (87 01 125) are at the top of that list. These extremely compact pliers are extremely big on usefulness.

I bought the Cobra Pliers because I was tired of the pliers on my multi-tools never quite being the right tool for the job. The 5″ (125mm) Cobra Pliers are only slightly longer than most multi-tools in the folded position but they boast all the same features as Knipex’s larger pliers including drop-forged steel construction, push-button adjustment, and hardened jaws that self-lock into nearly anything you are trying to turn.

They are just under 5″ in length and just under 3 ounces in weight. This makes them easy to carry in pocket, small bag, compact tool roll, or in the built in admin organizer of your pack.

In spite of that small size, they can be used to turn nuts (or round material) up to 1″ in diameter. They grip material so tenaciously that I have used them to turn nuts that were nearly completly rounded. The forward portion of the jaws lets me do fine work like gripping webbing to pull through a tight tri-glide, while the inner portions of the jaws are recessed to mate with nuts, bolt heads or round stock like pipes and caps.

These have a place in The EDC Tool Roll because they are the pliers that I wish came in my multi-tool.

I have purchased these locally from Sears Hardware stores or online from Amazon. See the Knipex Cobra Pliers at Amazon.

Tactical Handyman: Ultralight Scissors

By on March 18, 2013 in EDC, Preparedness, Tactical Handyman, The EDC Tool Roll

I always try to keep a small set of scissors handy because they are useful for everything from gear repairs to first aid. The problem is that most small scissors are either expensive or junk (or both). They either lack the durability necessary to be useful or they are impossible to use if you have normal sized hands.

SwissCard Scissors

A few years ago, I was going through a box of stuff and found a couple of Victorinox SwissCards that I used to keep tucked in some EDC kits. I don’t recall why I removed them from my kits but I did remember that the scissors in these SwissCards are excellent. They are spring loaded which makes them very easy to use even though they are very small. They also tend to be very sharp and they stay sharp for a long time. Perhaps best of all, they only weigh about 7 grams with a small piece of drinking straw (more on that soon) and are 3″ long and 1/10″ thick. In other words, they are small and light enough to pack into just about any EDC, first aid kit or hiking bag.

The scissors are spring loaded to rest in the open position, so if you are going to remove these scissors from the SwissCard to carry them on their own, you will need to find a safe way to store them. I use a small piece of drinking straw. The scissors slip right into the straw which serves to keep them closed. The straw seems to be more than durable enough for this application. It is also very, very light weight.

These scissors are widely available online as replacement parts for around $7 a piece. At that price, you can afford to pick up a couple to stash in all your kits.

Available on Amazon (affiliate link): Swisscard Replacement Scissors on Amazon

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