Alu-Coba
- Japan
- Est. 1946
-
Budget Luxury
Alu-Coba is a Japanese shear brand by Tokyo Riki (est. 1946), known for lightweight aluminum handles paired with cobalt steel blades.
Aluminium handles over cobalt steel blades, the build the Alu-Coba name spells out, let maker Tokyo Riki Co., Ltd. cut weight while keeping a thicker grip. Founded in 1946 in Itabashi, Tokyo, Tokyo Riki runs the AC series catalogued here from 5.5 to 7.0 inches, with guide prices of $200...
Aluminium handles over cobalt steel blades, the build the Alu-Coba name spells out, let maker Tokyo Riki Co., Ltd. cut weight while keeping a thicker grip. Founded in 1946 in Itabashi, Tokyo, Tokyo Riki runs the AC series catalogued here from 5.5 to 7.0 inches, with guide prices of $200 to $250, and says the style is especially popular outside Japan.
About Alu-Coba
Alu-Coba is a Japanese scissors brand manufactured by Tokyo Riki Co., Ltd. The parent company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in the Itabashi ward of Tokyo. Alu-Coba is one of several scissor lines produced under the Tokyo Riki umbrella.
Product Range
Alu-Coba’s catalog includes cutting scissors and thinning scissors. The brand’s listed specialties are base cutting, step cutting, volume control, and texture control.
The name “Alu-Coba” reflects the product’s construction: aluminum handles paired with cobalt steel blades. According to Tokyo Riki, the aluminum handle design gives these scissors a noticeably lighter feel compared to all steel models. The thicker handle profile is possible because of the reduced weight of the aluminum material.
Availability
Alu-Coba scissors are carried by several international retailers, including Scissor Dude, Takano (Canada), and Scissors Shop Hayashi in Japan.
Heritage
Tokyo Riki Co., Ltd. has been manufacturing scissors since 1946. The company produces multiple brand lines, and Alu-Coba represents their approach to lightweight, ergonomic shear design. According to the manufacturer, Alu-Coba’s style has been particularly popular with customers outside of Japan.
Sources
- Alu-Coba brand profile and Tokyo Riki manufacturer statements (tokyoriki.co.jp)
Product range overview
Alu-Coba scissors are currently carried across multiple ScissorPedia-listed stores. The brand’s lightweight aluminium-cobalt alloy construction is its defining feature — the aluminium frame reduces overall scissor weight while the cobalt-added steel insert retains the performance edge expected in professional-tier instruments. For current model specifications, sizing options, and pricing, the authoritative source is the retailer or storefront carrying Alu-Coba for the relevant market.
Where to Buy
SCISSOR Dude → Scissors shop Hayashi → TAKANO →
See Also
Alu-Coba at a glance
- Budget
- Mid-range $200–400
- Makes
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors
- Based in
- Japan
- Catalogue
- 4 models listed
- Established
- 1946
Product Types
Specialties
Where to Buy
Authorized Retailers
Retailers stocking Alu-Coba
ScissorPedia catalogues 3 retailers carrying Alu-Coba.
- TAKANO — Canada
- Scissors shop Hayashi — Japan
- SCISSOR Dude — USA · ships to USA
Products
How Alu-Coba Compares
| Brand | Alu-Coba | Tohri | BW | Kyoto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Typical price | US$200–US$250 | US$180–US$190 | US$200–US$200 | US$195–US$200 |
| Steel | Cobalt steel | Cobalt steel, Stainless steel | 440C Japanese steel | 440C |
| Blade types | — | — | Convex | — |
| Handles | Offset | Classic, Offset | Offset | Offset, Swivel |
| Specialties | Base cut, Step cut, Volume control, Texture control | Base cut, Thinning, Cut ratio about 25% | — | — |
| Founded | 1946 | 1946 | 1987 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alu-Coba is made by Tokyo Riki Co., Ltd., a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1946 and based in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo. The shears are made in Japan.
It reflects the build: lightweight aluminium handles paired with cobalt steel blades. The handle design gives the shears a noticeably lighter feel than all-steel models.
The blades are made from cobalt steel, which is where the cobalt part of the name comes from.
Expect $200 to $250 at guide prices for the catalogued Alu-Coba models, in line with professional shears made in Japan.
Alu-Coba makes cutting scissors and thinning scissors, with strengths in base cutting, step cutting, and volume and texture control.
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