Knipex 6.5" Long Nose Grip Pliers

Absolutely necessary for opening up the hose clamps that are glued in place. The finish has held up to me dropping them through engine bays and onto the floor. Jaw alignment is fine on my pair.

Disappointing. They work properly, and I prefer the euro-direction release very much more than the US/ViceGrip direction. This particular pliers arrived with multiple scuffs and scratches and there is a very small dip in the edge of one of the tips, which is not functionally significant, but shows either impact in mfg shipping (not by KC Tool), or suboptimal QC. The adjustment screw feels rough, even after lubrication (probably where the bolt bears against the lever, rather than the threads)
Purchased on sale, so I am only moderately disappointed for the price. They really don't seem any better in quality than recent Irwin grips I have bought, although the release direction makes a big difference to me. AFAIK these are made FOR Knipex, not BY Knipex. If that is true, the OEM mfg has lower standards than what Knipex likes to claim. If it is not made for them, then Knipex is getting sloppy. I also bought a Knipex 'Universal grip pliers with one pivoting jaw", which arrived with similar scuffs and scratches, as well as a couple places where the plating was defective. It works OK, although not really self adjusting at the pivot. No more Knipex grip pliers for me. I would rather try Gedore and Stahlwille which are reported to have better fit and finish, even if they cost more.

Great build quality. Also exceptional service by KCTool. Selection is better than on Amazon. Very much enjoy doing business with KC Tool.

Just got these and I'm very impressed. Hoping to put them to work soon, they seem capable enough.

I'm a little baffled by folks that think the world of Knipex. Don't get me wrong, the pliers wrenches are magnificent, but I exchanged a pair of alligators where the jaws were offset about 30%. These are very serviceable. The long locking nose is very handy; squeezing the release trigger is far more comfortable and controlled than a pushing trigger; the chromed screw is the smoothest I've used on locking pliers.
On the other hand, they arrived with small rust rings around the pivot points, the jaws have more side slop than I think is appropriate at this price point, and the release is a little finicky, especially under light clamping. A brand that starts with a "G" does far better on these second two but normally cost a lot more. Still, looking around at the full rand of offerings in the marketplace, I think it's reasonable to expect more than these deliver for the price.

Feels solid. Nice small grip pliers. I would have liked for the jaw serrations to go all the way to the end. Jaws has a slight wobble but they are still great for their intended purpose.

These pliers have a much higher quality feel than the last few pairs of Irwins that I have used.