Knipex Cobra markings

[shamrock12]

So after picking up a pair of 6 inch Knipex Cobra pliers (87 01 150) to make it complete with my 5, 7, 10 and 12 inch Cobras, my OCD caught something which I thought seems rather odd to me. I noticed that their 6 inch model has different markings on the red comfort grips. Instead of printing ‘KNIPEX’ as found on their 5, 7, 10 and 12 pliers, I noticed it says ‘Cobra’. I also noticed on the other handle that instead of printing ‘MADE IN GERMANY’ as found on their other pliers, it says ‘selbstklemmend / self-locking’.

The forged names also are different as well. On their 5, 7, 10 and 12 inch models, ‘KNIPEX Cobra’ is forged on one handle and ‘MADE IN GERMANY’ is forged on other handle. However on their 6 inch model, only ‘KNIPEX’ is forged on one handle and ‘VANADIN’ is forged on other handle.

At first, my initial thought was maybe they changed/updated their Cobra lineup and that I got their newer 6 inch model; however, upon research I’ve found every single photo of 6 inch model having this same (but different) markings as I’ve described while the other four models having the same original markings as I’ve described as well.

Of course they’re only markings which doesn’t affect their functions and obviously perform equally the same. I just thought it seems strange how their 6 inch is marked differently from the rest of their Cobra lineup and thought I’d ask if anyone know what is up with that? I’ve clipped a photo taken off the internet below so you could see what I’m talking about.

 

[Shelbylex]

Hmm, this is done on purpose: they have put limited edition alternative markers on some of the wrenches: now you will have to buy the one which will be like others, then get excited that you have something rare and start hunting the other ones which are marker like 6" one. Then Garagejournal will get excited and we will all be buying both types... Double the sale for the company!!!

Seriously though - may be a different factory involved in manufacturing?

 

[ukruser]

So after picking up a pair of 6 inch Knipex Cobra pliers (87 01 150) to make it complete with my 5, 7, 10 and 12 inch Cobras, my OCD caught something which I thought seems rather odd to me. I noticed that their 6 inch model has different markings on the red comfort grips. Instead of printing ‘KNIPEX’ as found on their 5, 7, 10 and 12 pliers, I noticed it says ‘Cobra’. I also noticed on the other handle that instead of printing ‘MADE IN GERMANY’ as found on their other pliers, it says ‘selbstklemmend / self-locking’.

The forged names also are different as well. On their 5, 7, 10 and 12 inch models, ‘KNIPEX Cobra’ is forged on one handle and ‘MADE IN GERMANY’ is forged on other handle. However on their 6 inch model, only ‘KNIPEX’ is forged on one handle and ‘VANADIN’ is forged on other handle.

At first, my initial thought was maybe they changed/updated their Cobra lineup and that I got their newer 6 inch model; however, upon research I’ve found every single photo of 6 inch model having this same (but different) markings as I’ve described while the other four models having the same original markings as I’ve described as well.

Of course they’re only markings which doesn’t affect their functions and obviously perform equally the same. I just thought it seems strange how their 6 inch is marked differently from the rest of their Cobra lineup and thought I’d ask if anyone know what is up with that? I’ve clipped a photo taken off the internet below so you could see what I’m talking about.

When I had received my 150mm Cobra, I noticed this difference in markings. I supposed that it might be fake Knipex and watched lots of Cobra reviews on Youtube trying to see the markings. And I found exectly the same markings on 150 mm Cobra

 

[rancherbill]

Just a guess. One is for the EY trade zone and the other is for outside Europe. Country of Origin is supposed to be on stuff that come to Canada or the US.

 

[F-22]

Just a guess. One is for the EY trade zone and the other is for outside Europe. Country of Origin is supposed to be on stuff that come to Canada or the US.

Does not make much sense to make a different forge die for the EU market model just to remove the "made in Germany". If anything, that also makes it sell better within EU.

Maybe an older die for the 150, or maybe it's an updated one and the rest of the lineup is going to follow?

The 150mm Cobras do not come in chrome or soft grip either, if I see correctly? I assume the comfort grip versions are mainly made for the EU market (considering US brands like Snap On don't even sell any comfort grip type pliers), so the 150 might be more destined for the US?

 

[4xdog]

In @shamrock12's original photo the 150mm pair appear to have a different, coarser adjuster tooth pattern from the others, too.

I'm with @F-22 -- likely a different "generation" of the Cobras.

 

[Joyburst]

For further consideration

 

[neophyte]

Does not make much sense to make a different forge die for the EU market model just to remove the "made in Germany". If anything, that also makes it sell better within EU.

Maybe an older die for the 150, or maybe it's an updated one and the rest of the lineup is going to follow?

The 150mm Cobras do not come in chrome or soft grip either, if I see correctly? I assume the comfort grip versions are mainly made for the EU market (considering US brands like Snap On don't even sell any comfort grip type pliers), so the 150 might be more destined for the US?

Knipex used to, and likely still does private label manufacturing, both from their main manufacturing facility, and from Orbis, another plier brand/manufacturer they own.
Knipex also did some private label items for Craftsman a decade or more ago.
Some of the private label stuff used to use standard Knipex forgings, with the Knipex name forged into the item, and whatever tool brand was selling them would then have their brand name printed on the handle.
In other cases, the forgings were just generic, and the only way you could tell Knipex was the manufacturer, was Country of Origin, and a patent on the design.
For a large manufacturer like Knipex, it makes sense to have multiple sets of dies for fifferent markets, if they think there will be enough orders.
If they don’t anticipate as much demand, they likely just make one set of dies, and use those dies for all markets.
They also could have made more than one set of dies, but more orders came in from the US than were expected, so they just finished the forgings they had for the US market.

 

[shamrock12]

In @shamrock12's original photo the 150mm pair appear to have a different, coarser adjuster tooth pattern from the others, too.

Wow, I didn’t noticed that. Good observation!