It Happened. The Harbor Freight Wave Clone...

[SwissHeritageCo]

Major failure!

Please watch the entire video.

From the comments section:

"That's too bad. I'm a huge Leatherman fan. I'm not one for the many "Wave" clones out there but this was the one I really liked. Its currently sold out at the two nearest stores about 30- 35 miles away in my area. I wonder how the other people's experience is going with the Harbor Freight Gordon 20-1."

Uploader response:

"This tool may have permanently sold me on the (actual) Wave+. Other than the qc issue, I loved how it functioned and just how downright useful it was. Even broken, I’m still running it over my Swiss army knife. I also wonder if I simply got a lemon or if that spells disaster for the Gordon and its reputation."



Now, to be fair, I've seen plenty of examples of Leatherman pliers failing and breaking. But seeing something like this, it looks bad to me. I'm not an expert on this kind of thing by any stretch, so I will leave judgement to others who may know more about it and who will hopefully be able to provide some helpful insight and perspective.

Was just about to comment on the heat treat before seeing this.

I realize there exists chinese companies that are capable of good heat treats but usually it's from more established chinese makers that also sell higher end products. I'd much rather trust Leatherman's protocol then "Gordon's" or whatever company makes the fake.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Major failure!

Please watch the entire video.

From the comments section:

"That's too bad. I'm a huge Leatherman fan. I'm not one for the many "Wave" clones out there but this was the one I really liked. Its currently sold out at the two nearest stores about 30- 35 miles away in my area. I wonder how the other people's experience is going with the Harbor Freight Gordon 20-1."

Uploader response:

"This tool may have permanently sold me on the (actual) Wave+. Other than the qc issue, I loved how it functioned and just how downright useful it was. Even broken, I’m still running it over my Swiss army knife. I also wonder if I simply got a lemon or if that spells disaster for the Gordon and its reputation."



Now, to be fair, I've seen plenty of examples of Leatherman pliers failing and breaking. But seeing something like this, it looks bad to me. I'm not an expert on this kind of thing by any stretch, so I will leave judgement to others who may know more about it and who will hopefully be able to provide some helpful insight and perspective.

I mean...
Can't say I'm surprised

 

[EngrSorenson]

With condolences to the fanboys, these Gordon Wave clones already seem to be quite popular.

A lot of people who don't know any better will buy junk once.
Look at the number of Jarbenzas in the world.

Leatherman has nothing to worry about.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Harbor freight is a good place to buy a cheap tarp or replacement tire and wheel for your garden cart. That's about it.

I needed an angle grinder in a pinch, and the thing's damn near bullet proof.
Harbor Freight is where I go to buy things that either 1) are expendable or 2) I don't have access to a better tool.

HF really pisses me of with the clones though.
They might not be breaking any laws, and people elsewhere might do it, but undercutting quality products with a cheap knock off bothers me.
Well meaning wives preparing for father's day will get the ad, think, "boy, my husband would sure like one of those, and look how cheap it is!" and boom, there's the sale.

 

[ShaiHulud]

I needed an angle grinder in a pinch, and the thing's damn near bullet proof.
Harbor Freight is where I go to buy things that either 1) are expendable or 2) I don't have access to a better tool.

HF really pisses me of with the clones though.
They might not be breaking any laws, and people elsewhere might do it, but undercutting quality products with a cheap knock off bothers me.
Well meaning wives preparing for father's day will get the ad, think, "boy, my husband would sure like one of those, and look how cheap it is!" and boom, there's the sale.

It will definitely appeal to the Walmart knife buying crowd, who buy kershaws over spydercos and will likewise buy a Gordon over an actual wave.
I didn't have to buy a harbor freight Gordon to know its garbage, but people bought them and we're genuinely surprised to find them rubbish, that's the mystery to me

 

[Guy McVer]

I mean...
Can't say I'm surprised

Neither am I. But this is only one case. As time goes one we will start to see exactly how good the QC is overall.

Mine is doing just fine so far. If the pliers break, well.. okay. I'll just make one of the handles into a regular knife with a bit driver, a diamond file, a can opener, and a pocket clip.

By the way, I've seen tons of examples of broken Leatherman pliers. Usually it's the skeletool for some reason.

A few days ago I stumbled on this gem of a video and I've been dying to share it somewhere:

I was laughing until I realized that the video was 30 minutes long. Imagine if everyone had the same attitude as this kid and were instantly willing to write off Leatherman because of one bad experience.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Neither am I. But this is only one case. As time goes one we will start to see exactly how good the QC is overall.

Mine is doing just fine so far. If the pliers break, well.. okay. I'll just make one of the handles into a regular knife with a bit driver, a diamond file, a can opener, and a pocket clip.

By the way, I've seen tons of examples of broken Leatherman pliers. Usually it's the skeletool for some reason.

A few days ago I stumbled on this gem of a video and I've been dying to share it somewhere:

I was laughing until I realized that the video was 30 minutes long. Imagine if everyone had the same attitude as this kid and were instantly willing to write off Leatherman because of one bad experience.

I have so many bad experiences with leatherman back to back to back but because it feels like I'm the only one who has had these issues and the grand majority of leatherman owners don't have the issues I've experienced it puts me in the minority and rather invalidates my own issues/complaints With that said I'm not firing off the tip cussing leatherman up and down. Leatherman is still a good company with quality products even if I can't seem to buy one without issues out of the box
So having said that I'll never buy a uh, Gordon