Kobalt 10-piece Folding Pliers with Allen Bolts

KOBALT, a manufacturer of tools made cheaper than most chinese brands, has been making tools for years and selling them at Lowes, one of the biggest franchises of Home improvement items around. Everything from hand tools to air compressors, Kobalt has a bad reputation from having low-quality tools. If someone had seen you with a KOBALT brand tool, you were usually laughed at or frowned upon. So when I won a contest inside Lowe's, I was skeptical about even accepting their KOBALT brand folding pliers/knife combo. After spending some time in the store, I decided that it couldn't hurt to at least take another tool, especially if it was just given to me free.

Since then , I've been carrying this tool/knife combo for years. It's no Leatherman or Swiss Army combo, of course, but ever since I used it the first time, it has never let me down. I have used every tool pulled out from the compartment of the knife itself. I have done just about everything with this knife combo; everything from using the screwdrier head as a leverage, to actually using the pliers itself.

Measuring in at just 4 inches closed, this stainless steel tool is actually 10 tools-in-one. On one side of the knife, you have a saw, a phillips screwdriver head, a standard screwdriver head, and a huge file. On the other side of the knife, you have a 3 inch knife, a wide screwdriver head, a smaller standard screwdriver head, a two-in-one screwdriver head/bottle opener, and a 3 inch crosscut saw. In the middle, you have a foldable pair of pliers that have two sizes of "teeth" inside the mouth.

Durably built, Kobalt inserted allen-headed bolts, instead of the normal screws associated with this type of combo set. Normally a guy usually has to throw away the normal screw-inserted type knoife after about 3 months, but if this knife starts going loose, you can allen the blades tighter, prolonging the life of the knife. Also Installed in the handles are the rubber-type handle grips that was only inserted in the middle of this KOBALT knife. Weighing nearly 8 ounces, this knife is better kept in a pouch instead of your pocket. When this knife is in my pocket, I can definately feel the weight! I have to be careful not to jab myself at times.

If someone would have bet me 5 years ago that I wouldn't have that knife by now, I would've taken them up on that bet. Now, KOBALT has proved to me now that some of their retail merchandise is of quality standard. Promoting the name KOBALT is not the intentions of this review, rather, it's their knife/combo itself that has a great rating for me. So far, this combo has proved to me to be a very valuable tool, taking job after job in the world on construction as well as using the knife. If you are ever in the market for a good cheap dependable knife, look no further than this brand. I would recommend this product to anyone, especially when I usually break LEATHERMAN pliers on a weekly schedule, costing me $249.00 every time I broke one. Price for a KOBALT knife Is about $12.00, which scares most tool enthusiasts and workers alike. To sell a product like this, too cheap does not guarantee a sale, but quality mixed with price will by far sell out in no time, and with minimal help.

Definately a recommended product.