I ran into the same problem when looking for good locking pliers. I have some USA made vice grips, but the second time I bought them (years later) they were made in China.
I have two pairs that I use all the time that are Strong Hand brand. They are made in China, but they have really impressed me with how well they work. They happen to be the Ground Hog welding ground clamp. They work like vice grips, but have an isolated copper pad on one side and an adjustable pad on the opposite side. The adjusting knob is longer than the vice grip style and it has a hole to put a screwdriver or allen wrench in to tighten it. Some of their other models come with an arm installed in this hole, so you don't need another tool. I want to get some of their other pliers. They make them in a throat depth of up to 20".
In the past, I noticed the hex in the vice grip adjustment so you can tighten it with an allen wrench. It just recently dawned on me, after looking at the strong hand web site, that some people may clamp the pliers on and then tighten that adjustment.
Is that how it is meant to be used? How many of you clamp it first and then tighten it? I always just unlock them and turn the screw by hand and then re-clamp. Maybe I have been doing it wrong all of these years.
I saw the Milwaukee stuff at home depot, but stuck my nose up at it because most of their stuff is imported and seems to be as expensive as what the US made tools used to be a few years ago. I don't have nearly the respect for the company since it went overseas. I have a V28 cordless set that has been great and a 5" VS angle grinder from 2001 or so that I just love, but the new tools that I have used didn't do anything for me and I know of some that have failed way too soon. It really ***** to have to reconsider that Taiwan or China stuff may be pretty decent and it is even worse that we don't have many options in US tools anymore.
