"JEB's Tackle Review"
"Part B" Cobra Marine JAWS 5 1/2" Staniness Steel Wire Cutting Pliers
Author - John E. Brady, Hanover PA-USA
Copyright 2008
e-mail - jeb@jebswebsite.com
Note: This review is "Part C " of a 3-Part Review.
Part "A" is the overview; Part "B" is the review of the 7" pliers; Part "C" (here) is the review of the 5 1/2" pliers.
Please read Parts A & B before reading this section.
Second Review – Cobra Marine JAWS 5 1/2 ” Stainless Steel Pliers:
The Cobra Marine JAWS 5 ½” Stainless Steel Pliers are the kid brother to their 7” Stainless Steel Pliers. Comparing the 5 ½” pliers to their big brother, the first thing you’ll notice is the difference in the fit and finish. Although both pliers are advertised as being made of the same matierial, you can definitely see a difference between the two.
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Note on Photo's:
All photo's were taken using a Nikon CoolPix 995 Digital Camera with a built-in flash. Due to the extremely bright finish on these pliers, I had a hard time getting good photos without a lot of flash-back when using the flash. To compensate, all photo's were taken without a flash, which may cause some background to be darker. |
On first glance, you’ll be impressed with the smooth and shinny almost chrome like finish on the 5 1/2” pliers not present on the larger ones. Second, the slight imperfections in the material at the joint of the 7” pliers are not present in it’s baby brother. The joint is tight and the edges even and smooth. They open and close very smoothly without any binding at either end of the swing. Additionally, as in the 7” pliers, the 5 ½” pliers have the flat spring spreaders that keep the jaws slightly in the open position. These have the same vinyl slip-on handle covers, but in a deep bluish purple rather than the jet black.
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5 1/2" Pliers - Top View |
5 1/2" Pliers - Side View |
5 1/2" Pliers - Bottom View |
Testing the 5 ½” Pliers:
I used the same procedure on these pliers as I used for the 7” pliers, using the same hooks and making the additional cut about a ¼” above the previous cut. I know, call me a cheap-skate. But at the cost of hooks these days, I don’t like to waste any more than I have too.
Blame it on my Irish-German heritage--- stubborn AND frugal!
| Hook Test Results – 5 1/2 ” pliers: |
First Test -Hook #2 - Gamakatsu 2/0:
No, not a error... I cut hook #2 first. After the results of the previous test with the 7” pliers and the subsequent damage made by the first hook, and realizing the larger size Gamakatsu hook actually had a thinner diameter wire than the 1/0 XPont hook, I decided to cut the Gamakatsu hook first, then the XPoint hook.
Second Test - Hook #1 - XPoint 1/0:
The pliers cut the hook without any problems, or marks left on the cutters.
Third Test - Hook #3 - Daiichi 3/0:
The pliers cut this thickest diameter hook as well as the other two and left no noticeable marks or indentation on the cutters. |
5 1/2 " pliers after all cut were made
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Conclusion - Cobra Marine JAWS 5 ½” Stainless Steel Pliers:
These are beautiful looking pair of pliers! Their fit and finish is better than you’ll find on any other fishing pliers--- They look like they’d be more at home on a surgeons operating tray than in an anglers tackle box. As great as they look, it will be easy to forget there two most important features: being made from stainless steel, they will not rust (You can take that to the bank!), and with the tungsten carbide cutters, you’ll get many years of service.
At a less expensive price than their older brother, these pliers are a great value. So if you’re looking for pliers that you don’t have to be afraid to cut through thick tough hooks, and you can throw into a tackle box or boat compartment and not worry about them getting all rusty until you need them again, these are the pliers you’ve been waiting on!
You can purchase these pliers NOW from Cobra Marine at www.cobramarine.com.
JEB
Link to: Cobra Marine JAWS Pliers Review Part A
Link to: Cobra Marine JAWS Pliers Review Part B - 7" Pliers
Link to: JEB's (fishing) Website - Tackle Review Page
If you have any comments or questions about this or any review, please contact me at the email address at the top of the page.
Remember - "They call it fishing,
but the goal is catching."
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