Many hobbyists and professionals always have a knife strapped to their tool belt. Whether you are skinning game, cutting cords, or needing a quick utility tool, the need for knives is nearly universal. We spent some time researching the knife brand CobraTec.
As far as company history goes, there isn’t much to find about CobraTec. Even their website is barren of defining information. This may be because the brand is still quite small and family-owned. There are a lot of stories that can come out of the family, but CobraTec doesn’t share them on their website.
The brand specializes in OTF, or Out The Front, knives, meaning knives with a sliding or telescoping blade. This type of knife is popular for its quick access and easy storage. It’s important to know your state knife laws, as some do not allow auto-open knives to be owned by non-law enforcement individuals. CobraTec outlines these limitations on its website, which is the most thorough page they have.
We do know that CobraTec is located in Meridian, Texas, and aims to produce knives that will last a lifetime. As far as where those knives are made, it’s a blindfold fling at a bullseye. Let’s see if we can cut a little deeper towards that answer.
Verdict: Are CobraTec Knives Made in the USA?
No, CobraTec knives are not made in the USA – they are primarily made in China. CobraTec knives are manufactured in pieces abroad, and the final assembly is completed in the US.
It wasn’t surprising that we couldn’t find much about manufacturing on the brand’s website after a futile search for their history and company information. If they won’t even broadcast how the brand started, why would they share where the brand works today?
Ultimately, we reached out directly to CobraTec to ask where they’re making their knives. When you can’t find what you’re looking for, you gotta go right to the source. Thankfully enough, the reply we received was quick and clear:
China is indeed the hot spot for manufacturing. Because knives have few parts, the majority of the labor required to produce a single product occurs mostly overseas. The final assembly takes place at the company headquarters in Texas.
Despite their overt attempts at appearing patriotic, this knife brand is not American made. There’s a reason why you can’t find “Made in USA” plastered on their website. They can’t legally claim it. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of US origin.” With CobraTec, this just isn’t the case.
Don’t be fooled by a handle painted with an American flag. It doesn’t feel quite as homemade as Betsy Ross’ version, and that’s because it isn’t.
Overall, this brand investigation has left us with more questions than answers. Who really is CobraTec? Why are they so into America but don’t manufacture here? What’s with the name “CobraTec?” Do they keep pet snakes?
One interesting thing to note is that no species of cobra snakes are native to the United States. Clearly, that includes the knife version, too.
Popular American Made CobraTec Knives
- None
Popular CobraTec Knives Not Made in the USA
- Enforcer Knife
- Trapper Hidden Release Knife
- Ghost Knife
