Knipex--made in Japan??

[kwyjibo]

This picture/thread is mainly for Importtuner:
Hopefully there is a picture below of the Knipex cable cutters that I got from Chadstoolbox. The thing to notice is the "made in japan" stamped on the handle. I thought Knipex made a big deal about being all in-house, in-Germany to monitor quality??? The way I see it, either this is obviously not true or this is new marketing and I was sold NOS cutters that pre-dated it... anybody know why my "German" Knipex is made in Japan?
And, no, the last time I checked there was no town in Germany named "Japan".

 

[ImportTuner]

Thanks for the follow up ... could not tell from the picture, is the fit and finish as good as the one's made in Germany ... all my Knipex stuff is made in Germany ...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Cable cutters, very handy when needed and not cheap when bought new. I got mine used and love using them when the circumstances require their use.

 

[bchee]

maybe under the red grips it says made in germany

 

[ImportTuner]

Was at the Knipex web site ... the one they show does not say made in Japan on it ...

 

[dps]

Regardless of quality, I hate it when mfgrs. put a bar code on the product. It looks cheap, like they couldn't afford packaging, or even a sticker. Hopefully that all wipes off with some solvent.

 

[eschoendorff]

Japan... Germany, does it really matter if the quality is there?

 

[April]

I wouldn't be too worried - it's weird, given how they used to be, but Japan has some of the highest quality manufacturing in the world today. If they feel like quality, then I wouldn't worry. And yes, the barcode thing looks crazy tacky.

 

[ImportTuner]

Japan... Germany, does it really matter if the quality is there?

USA... Taiwan, does that matter since everybody seems to like GearWrenches ...

 

[old salvage]

I wouldn't be too worried - it's weird, given how they used to be, but Japan has some of the highest quality manufacturing in the world today. If they feel like quality, then I wouldn't worry. And yes, the barcode thing looks crazy tacky.

Agreed.
It was in the postwar period late 40's to 1960's that Japan cranked out some junk . Everyone has a bad day (decade). I have a war era Japanese micrometer and the thing is top notch.

 

[billymade]

I think I would rather have something from Japan at this point; then from Taiwan or China! Japanese manufacturing is probably the "made in germany" of asia! If their cars are quality manufactured; arn't their standards to the point, where tools would be high quality too? Needless, to say getting a "made in germany" tool with made in japan on it is anti climactic to be sure; certainly not what you expected! I believe Germany has the highest production costs in the world; having them made in Japan may reflect this issue.

 

[geaugafletcher]

The notion that Japanese products are not up to European or American standards is long outdated.