A reader tipped us off about what looks to be a new USA-made Harbor Freight Icon pry bar.
This new Icon 58″ pry bar with curved tip clearly says “USA” right on its handle, although the online product listing does not talk about this at all.
I reached out to Harbor Freight, asking them to confirm that this new pry bar is made in the USA, and whether additional sizes or styles are planned, but have not yet heard back.
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Harbor Freight has been steadily expanding their Icon line of professional mechanics tools, but this would be the first I know of to be labeled as being made in the USA.
They don’t actually say that it’s made in the USA, but “USA” labeling is usually indicative of this. Or rather, I don’t know any tools that are labeled with “USA” that aren’t made here.
Given the $99.99 pricing, it could very well be produced in the USA.
The Icon looks a lot like the Mayhew Dominator Pro 58″ curved pry bar, which can be purchased for ~$96.
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Jason
It looks similar to the Mayhew Dominator Pro, but the Mayhew has a thick triangular shaped grip with a relatively rounded striking end of the bar sticking out the end of the handle. This looks like it has a slim square grip and a somewhat blunt striking end.
It’s possible that they are made in the same factory, but the handles (at least) are different so it’s not just a rebranded Dominator Pro (which is an amazing prybar)
fred
Tekton says that their pry bars are also made in the USA. They recently sent out emails promoting a new set of mini-pry bars that they say are made in Michigan.
Looking at their longer pry bars, their handles do not look like the Icon.
https://www.tekton.com/
Wilde, another USA source for pry bars also seem to produce theirs with different style handles.
Eric
Tekton’s “big” pry bars are made by Wilde (same as Walmart Hyper Tough and Menards Masterforce), and their new mini line looks to be made in-house.
Franco Calcagni
Interesting you mention Tekton, which I always considered a good brand…like a GearWrench, but not premium price/quality.
So slightly off topic, but I got an email from Tekton advertising there cabinets….holy c**p! 400lb drawers!
Stuart, maybe you can do an article on these?(If you did and I missed it, my bad)
Franco Calcagni
Forgot, here’s a link https://www.tekton.com/60-inch-wide-11-drawer-tool-cabinet-red-ocl64200#details
KMR
Tekton’s cabinets are supposedly manufactured by Rosseau Metal in Quebec.
http://www.rousseau.com
Franco Calcagni
Could very well be…like I mentioned, I always thought of Tekton as decent tools, but these cabinets, price and quality is not what I expected from Tekton.
Jim
I have the 5pc Mayhew set (Amazon B006WZOJFE), and branding aside this looks almost identical from the pics.
MKY
Stuart-
This new Icon 58″ pry bar with curved tip clearly says “USA” right on its handle, although the online product listing ***does***not talk about this at all.
Stuart
(Thank you, *fixed*!)
Robert
Maybe “USA” on the handle merely indicates it is to be sold in the USA. Instead of say Germany, Chile, the Russian Federation. Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, Canada, Sri Lanka, or other HF markets.
Stuart
That would be incredibly misleading then.
Besides, as far as I am aware, Harbor Freight only has stores in the USA. Here’s their store directory – https://www.harborfreight.com/storelocator/store-directory . Harbor Freight has no other markets.
A lot of USA-made tools don’t say “made in USA,” they simply have “USA” markings on them.
TomD
Don’t HF have multiple suppliers for many products? Could be that one supplier is in the USA but they don’t want to limit themselves overall.
John
That would be illegal in the US according to the FTC. Putting ‘USA’, or an american flag, or anyting similar means it must be manufactured in the US. Of course HF has knowingly flaunted regulations before (like their last class action lawsuit).
Hunter
Look at the Icon quarter turn ring pliers. You can partially see USA on them in one of the pictures. Maybe Lang? They also had the USA Icon wire strippers a couple months ago but it seems they’ve discontinued them. People where saying they where made by Southwire and where the say as the Snap on set. There’s also a Doyle branded wire stripper that’s made in the USA, probably Southwire too?
Mateo
The quarter turn pliers are rebranded imperials from what I’ve seen.
S
It would be funny to me if it was made in China, and the ‘USA’ marking was simply a new product line.
Can’t have high wages, low prices, and global competing markets. Pick one.
IronWood
I don’t think deceptive branding is funny, and $99 is not low prices for a Chinese bar. Hope to start seeing some US tools for HF’s premium lines. Then I might actually go in and buy something some day.
Matt DeSio
I have heard that there is Plant in China named USA, that produces wrought iron storm doors. It is a cheezy way for companies to prophet on Chinese goods that appear to be made in US
Stuart
There is no foreign town called “Usa” that is producing tools with “made in USA” labeling.
Al
It’s a made-up story about the city Usa on Kyushu island in Japan. The Wikipedia article has been edited because people keep claiming this story is real.
Al
That being said, there _are_ deliberate attempts to deceive consumers. I have a 100-piece security bit set that I bought with an American flag sticker. Upon closer inspection, the fine print (under magnification) said “WE LIKE USA”. This was from a retail electronics store named Fry’s…back when they were still in business.
Stuart
Yes, or American flags with “engineered in the USA, manufactured in China” labels in the smallest font possible on the back.
JM
In the 80’s I bought a US made DELTA bandsaw and table saw from Harbor Freight. They were happy to sell it because everyone always bought the cheaper import stuff. I gave them away a few years ago to a pro woodworker and he didn’t believe me. I had to show him the Harbor Freight receipt. They just respond to whatever the consumer is buying.
IronWood
I remember my dad buying a Delta lunchbox planer at HF in the early 90s. Still running after a few blade changes.
Harry
harbor Freight had that pry bar on display at their SEMA booth last year. It looks and feels like a Mayhew dominator to me.
Michael
The tag on the pry bay in store day “made in usa”
Addicted2Red
Mayhew for cheaper if you wait for an icon/no exclusions coupon. Fast replacement if you do manage to break it. Nice