Swiss+Tech quality?

Bushminer · Oct 23, 2009

Accquired a Swiss+Tech 8 in 1 ex PRC. Packaging is mostly in English with some simplified characters which appear to be mostly ad points. Price ~USD5.

Brilliant concept but quality is lacking. Appears to be forged with hand finishing at a very poor standard eg small phillips is missing one groove, small flat end is off 20% etc.

Is this normal or will getting one from a reputable outlet give me a genuine article which is a useful tool

SuzukiGS750EZ · Oct 23, 2009

Well, on mine it says Swiss-Tech, no + and it's a http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=Dj4v2vu2iwgA in black. Quality is great. No defects and it's a heavy little tool. I think you got a dud. Return it and check out the next one you buy, or like you said, go to a reputable dealer.

znapschatz · Oct 23, 2009

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Well, on mine it says Swiss-Tech, no + and it's a http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=Dj4v2vu2iwgA in black. Quality is great. No defects and it's a heavy little tool. I think you got a dud. Return it and check out the next one you buy, or like you said, go to a reputable dealer.

Originally, Swiss+Tech products were made in USA, but current versions of the same items are not. My Utilikey and 8-in-1, both made in China, are okay quality, but I wonder if the earlier USA made versions were at all better. If any BF subscribers have had experience with both, please advise.

GIRLYmann · Oct 23, 2009

careful now, like everything else on the market - there are look-alikes which are illegal clones...

SuzukiGS750EZ · Oct 23, 2009

znapschatz said:
Originally, Swiss+Tech products were made in USA, but current versions of the same items are not. My Utilikey and 8-in-1, both made in China, are okay quality, but I wonder if the earlier USA made versions were at all better. If any BF subscribers have had experience with both, please advise.

i have the earlier version.

znapschatz · Oct 23, 2009

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
i have the earlier version.

Hm. I was thinking to send you mine to compare, but it is Ti coated, not black, so direct comparison would still be problematical. Well, maybe someone with samples of both might weigh in.

Tsquare · Oct 23, 2009

I have the plier tool for the keychain in both us made and off shore and the original us made has bet fit, finish, and quality.

Eyegor · Oct 24, 2009

Tsquare said:
I have the plier tool for the keychain in both us made and off shore and the original us made has bet fit, finish, and quality.

I also own both. The US version seems to have better overall quality but the import is not bad. My US pliers have loosened up much more than the import but then I have owned/used it longer. One nice touch is the import came with "holder" that also houses a cheapy LED flashlight. Not great, but a nice addition none the less. I've had my Utili-key for a few years now and I am just starting to get a little corrosion. My fault, not the tools. Overall, I'm sorry to see that they went off-shore for production but at the price-point I certainly think they are worth it. Of course I also willing paid the higher price when they were still made in the US too.