The Knipex 71 01 160 CoBolt S Compact Bolt Cutters are a compact high-leverage cutting tool built for bolts, nails, rivets, wire, and other tough small-diameter material. This is a compact bolt cutter designed for cutting hard wire, piano wire, and small fasteners with less hand effort. Model Number: 71 01 160. If you need real cutting power in a tool that fits tight spaces and smaller hands, this is the kind of cutter that earns a permanent spot in the bag.

What makes this model matter is the balance between size and force. Knipex rates it for soft wire up to 13/64 inch, medium hard wire up to 11/64 inch, hard wire up to 1/8 inch, and piano wire up to 1/8 inch. In practical terms, that means it is made for the kind of stubborn material that quickly exposes weak cutters. The lever action design is there for a reason: Knipex states up to 60% less effort compared to conventional high leverage diagonal cutters, which translates to better control and less fatigue when you are making repeated cuts.

The head is small and slim, which is a big deal on real work. You can get into cramped spots where larger bolt cutters are awkward or flat-out useless. The center-cut, straight blade layout keeps the cut controlled, while the micro-structured cutting edges help hold material in place so it does not walk out of the jaws. That matters most when you are cutting harder stock or larger cross-sections, where slipping wastes effort and can ruin the cut.

Knipex builds this cutter from chrome vanadium heavy-duty steel, then forges and multi-stage oil-hardens it. That is the kind of construction you want in a compact cutter because the whole point is packing more force into a short tool without beating up the pivot or rolling the edges. The black atramentized finish and plastic-coated handles keep the build straightforward and job-ready, with no extra bulk where it does not help.

Another useful detail is the gripping surface below the joint. This is not filler. It gives the tool a second job beyond cutting by letting you grip and pull wire starting from about 3/64 inch diameter. That makes this Knipex compact bolt cutter especially handy for fence work, landscaping, farm use, and general repair, where tensioning wire or pulling stubborn material is part of the day. It can also be used as a lever for bent nails or staples in construction, drywall, woodwork, fencing, and demolition tasks.

At roughly 0.44 lb and 160 mm overall length, this cutter is easy to carry and quick to grab, especially for overhead work or service calls where you do not want a full-size cutter hanging off your side all day. It is not insulated for live electrical work, so that is not its lane. Its lane is simple: high cutting performance, strong edge life, and compact access for contractors, maintenance crews, fence installers, metalworkers, and serious DIY users who want a small cutter that actually cuts like a much bigger tool.

Why the Knipex 71 01 160 CoBolt S Compact Bolt Cutters Punch Above Their Size

This is the kind of compact cutter that surprises people the first time they lean on it, because it cuts like a bigger tool without feeling like one in your hand.

• Who it's for: Anyone doing fence work, service work, remodel work, metal cleanup, or general repair where tight access and strong cutting force both matter.
• Why it stands out: The leverage is excellent, the edges are properly hard, and the gripping surface below the joint makes it more useful than a one-trick cutter.
• Worth knowing: This is a compact bolt cutter, not an insulated electrical tool. If you want one small cutter for tough wire and small fasteners, though, this one is easy to recommend.

• What can this compact bolt cutter cut? It is rated for soft wire up to 13/64 inch, medium hard wire up to 11/64 inch, hard wire up to 1/8 inch, and piano wire up to 1/8 inch.
• Is this a good choice for tight spaces? Yes. The small, slim head and 6-1/4 inch overall length are built for access where larger cutters are harder to position.
• Are the cutting edges hardened? Yes. The cutting edges are induction hardened to approximately 64 HRC for durability on tough materials.
• Is it insulated for electrical work? No. Source data lists this model as not 1000-volt insulated.