Monopol Westmark Germany Steel Two-Prong Cork Puller with Cover (Silver Satin)

EDITED (see end of review)This is well-made and seems to be designed and built to last for a long time. However, I recommend that you look up a video with instructions on how to use it. I didn't, and tried to follow the un-intuitive drawings (directions) that come in the package. The first cork was pushed in far enough to render this opener useless on that particular bottle, and I had to use a corkscrew to retrieve it.The second bottle, after seeing instructions on Youtube, opened just fine.The third bottle however, was a slightly carbonated red wine with a common (non-champagne) cork. While opening this particular bottle, the cork expanded more than usual and this made the metal prongs extremely tight against the neck of the bottle, thus cracking and chipping the neck of the bottle when I tried to remove the cork. I am not sure if this was due to the carbonation or not, but be aware that this might happen.All in all, it's a good opener but I don't trust it enough to not have a backup corkscrew just in case.Edit: I've had this opener a few years now, and it still looks great. Best of all it actually works and it has become second-nature to use, and my favorite. So much so that I will take it with me rather than use other people's openers. It just works once you're used to it. Great buy, but get used to it first! Also, again, be extremely careful with anything carbonated and in fact, use a regular screw for something like that.Still, for durability and ease of use, I've bumped it up from 3 stars to 5.

This is a really fine cork puller. The materials and build quality are extremely high. I will assume here that you know how to use an Ah-So cork puller. If not, watch the manufacturer's video included with the product images above - it really is as easy as it looks in the video.I bought this to replace a 30+ year-old Ah-So. The blades are well angled and thin yet quite strong and smooth. They slide down between the cork and the bottle very easily. The unit is tightly built so there is no "give" as you start twisting and pulling the Ah-So to remove the cork. The cork pulls out very easily.The Ah-So may be used with any cork. It excels with "problem" corks that are either very dry or very wet.The Ah-So may also be used to put a cork back into a bottle. Again, refer to the manufacturer's video. That can be a bit tricky since the bottom of a pulled cork is by design wider than the bottle neck opening. You need to push and twist a bit to get the cork end reinserted in the bottle. Once in, simply twisting and pushing (rather than pulling) with the Ah-So replaces the cork in the bottle.One plus associated with using the Ah-So is that it is very unlikely that any of the cork will break off and end up in the wine. The cork is left completely intact.I also use Le Creuset (formerly Screwpull) corkscrews which are also great - e.g. https://smile.amazon.com/Creuset-Pocket-Model-Wine-Opener/dp/B007E64EYQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543780961&sr=8-4&keywords=screwpull+wine+bottle+opener and https://smile.amazon.com/Creuset-TM100L-31-Original-Table-Model/dp/B007FNMD7I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543780961&sr=8-5&keywords=screwpull+wine+bottle+opener.Some reviews and questions comment about grease on the blades. There was none on my unit although the blades are so smooth and polished that you may think there is grease. Wipe the blades with a paper towel if you think they are greasy, or wash them with warm water and dish detergent, and dry before using.This Monopol unit is a bit more expensive than others available on Amazon but you are getting a really well-made, durable tool that should last a lifetime.There is another Monopol model sold on Amazon for about twice the price - about $45. I inquired with the manufacturer. There is no significant difference in materials. This unit comes in an attractive plastic package that could easily be wrapped for use as a gift. There is no reason to spend more money on the other model.I plan to buy another of this Ah-So to keep in my wine bag. Which is better - this or a Le Creuset? A matter of personal preference, although with a problem cork the Ah-So is definitely the tool of choice.

I ordered this wine puller as most reviewers gave it high marks, however, I did have some reservations because of another reviewers comment. I drink wine almost every day with dinner and when I'm having a 20 year or old bottle, I prefer to use a two-prong cork puller as aged corks can sometimes crumble when using a screw type puller. The Monopol is well made and like many pullers of this design, it has a handy bottle opener built into the handle.The 3 Star review by Aging Boomer is spot on and I too found the handle to be way too small to get my fingers into. While he was unable to get four fingers into the handle, I could not even get three. Grant it, I have large hands but I let several others try this puller and they too had a difficult time getting their fingers into the small opening. I think it might work well for women and others with small fingers but this opener is not for me.I will probably give this to a friend as a gift and select one of the other brands that appear to have a larger opening in the handle.UPDATE!!!I have now used this for 2 years and thanks to the comments by others I am changing my review from a 2 star to a 5 star. I guess it was just out of habit that I would place my fingers into the loop, and having large fingers made it difficult to grip. It took me only a couple of times to wrap my fingers around the outside of the loop to get use to the new feel. This product has worked flawlessly and I open a bottle of wine almost every night for dinner. The built in bottle opener is a plus!