Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.9 x 15 mm really P-5 and not P-4?
Yes. DIN 66399 sets P-5 at a maximum particle area of 30 mm2. A 1.9 x 15 mm particle is 28.5 mm2, which fits with very little margin, and Kobra states P-5 T-5 E-4 F-2 on its datasheet. For comparison, the C4 model on the same chassis cuts 3.9 x 40 mm, which is 156 mm2 and therefore P-4 against a 160 mm2 limit. The difference between the two machines is a factor of five in particle area.
Can this model shred CDs and DVDs?
No. Kobra lists the shreddable materials for the 300.1 C2 as paper, credit cards, chip cards and films. CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are not listed for this model, although they are listed for the 300.1 C4 and the 300.2 C2. If optical media destruction matters to you, that is a real reason to choose a different model rather than something to test on this one.
How many sheets can it take, honestly?
Kobra quotes 12 to 13 sheets on A4 at 70 g/m2 and 10 to 12 at 80 g/m2. US 20 lb bond is around 75 g/m2, so a realistic planning figure is 11 or 12 sheets. Independent distributor data for this article quotes a flat 12 sheets, which is consistent. Anything folded, glossy or heavier than standard bond will reduce it further. This is a security-first machine and it does not reward optimistic feeding.
Does the 300.1 C2 come with the automatic oiler?
The US-market SKU for this listing is sold as the Auto Oiler version (Kobra article 99.924), and US distributor listings for that article describe it as the auto-oiler build. Kobra's European catalogue treats the AO oiling system as a build option on the same chassis, so the two markets describe the machine differently. Because a cross-cut head that runs dry wears fast, this is worth pinning down: ask us to confirm in writing that the unit allocated to your order carries the integrated oiler before you place it.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
Yes. Kobra specifies the carbon-hardened steel cutting knives as unaffected by staples and paper clips, so ordinary stapled and clipped bundles go in as they are. Do remove binder clips, bulldog clips, plastic combs and ring-binder spines first: they obstruct the throat rather than being cut, and on a machine already limited to a dozen sheets the lost throat space is worth reclaiming.
How often will the bin need emptying?
Kobra's UK distributor estimates roughly 1,300 shredded sheets per 110-litre fill for this cut, which is more than the same cabinet holds from the coarser C4 cut because finer particles settle more densely. For a team destroying a hundred or so pages a day, that is emptying every week or two. The safety stop halts the machine when the bin sensor reads full, so you will not overfill it accidentally.
Is the 300.1 C2 NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a particle no larger than 1 mm x 5 mm and the specific model has to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List for Paper Shredders. The 300.1 C2 cuts at 1.9 x 15 mm and is rated P-5, so it does not meet either condition and must not be used to destroy classified national security information. Kobra's models that are on the current EPL include the 300 HS-6 and the 270 TS HS-6, both of which cut 0.8 x 5 mm.
What warranty covers this machine in the US?
We do not publish a US warranty term on this page because Kobra's US warranty is set by the importing distributor rather than printed on the factory datasheet. Kobra's UK distributor publishes two years on the machine and ten years on the cutting blades (parts only) for this chassis, which is a reasonable guide to the factory position but not a US commitment. Ask us for the warranty document that ships with your unit before you order, and we will send the current terms in writing.