scooby074
Well-known member
Last Best Tool is saying they might not be as dead as we thought..
Malco Eagle Grips not dead?
- Thread starter scooby074
- Start date
From the Eagle Grip website: “
Malco expanded to a new facility in DeWitt, Nebraska, in 2017, with the goal to produce the best American-made locking handle products on the market. We’re very proud to say we accomplished that goal with the introduction of the Eagle Grip line.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have made the difficult decision to exit the locking handle tools business.
Thank you for continuing to be a loyal supporter and user of Malco’s products. We will continue to provide the same high-quality tools of the trade you have known and trusted for the past 72 years.
Our limited remaining inventory of pliers and clamps will be available for purchase by locating an online seller on the Eagle Grip website until sold out.”
Malco expanded to a new facility in DeWitt, Nebraska, in 2017, with the goal to produce the best American-made locking handle products on the market. We’re very proud to say we accomplished that goal with the introduction of the Eagle Grip line.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have made the difficult decision to exit the locking handle tools business.
Thank you for continuing to be a loyal supporter and user of Malco’s products. We will continue to provide the same high-quality tools of the trade you have known and trusted for the past 72 years.
Our limited remaining inventory of pliers and clamps will be available for purchase by locating an online seller on the Eagle Grip website until sold out.”
dnschmidt
Well-known member
If you were trying to dump inventory where would you go to do so quickly: AMAZON. They sell more **** in a day than anybody else does in a year.
Maddog1337
Well-known member
I'm glad someone brought it up at least, I'm sure many of us are curious. Some of us probably just want to let sleeping dogs lie. Based on Malco's exit write-up, it kind of seemed like we might see an update once '22 concluded. Personally I'm a bit surprised there's not more updates on some of the more recent polarizing tool industry news such as...
• Eagle Grip fate (has Malco found a buyer, etc.)
• Craftsman USA Ft Worth
• SK tools - has anyone received a 'new stock' socket/wrench
I'm sure there are some I'm missing but kind of surprised we don't have more insider leaks here. But, I guess if there's no news, then there's no news.
• Eagle Grip fate (has Malco found a buyer, etc.)
• Craftsman USA Ft Worth
• SK tools - has anyone received a 'new stock' socket/wrench
I'm sure there are some I'm missing but kind of surprised we don't have more insider leaks here. But, I guess if there's no news, then there's no news.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I received an email from Palmac.net the other day. In it they said SK Tools Returning to our Store They wrote: "SK Tools is back up and running. We will be going live with their tools once again in APRIL/MAY."
Personally, I don't care about any of the three brands but, I know many people here cling to hope.
neophyte
Well-known member
Maybe Malco sold the stock to retailers, with a clause to report sales of the pliers back to Malco, in the hopes that Malco could use the sales figures to entice someone else to purchase the production plant ?
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
They are charging twice as much as the next competitor. Surely there is a number cruncher that could show them selling at a lower price point over a longer period of time would net a better return.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
I hope that is true Fedwrench. I'd really like to see SK back up and running even if they're manufacturing in both PRC and USA. I do like my SK stuff even if it is rough-finished. They are tough sockets like my Protos but have the shallow shoulder which helps a ton more than I would have thought.I received an email from Palmac.net the other day. In it they said SK Tools Returning to our Store They wrote: "SK Tools is back up and running. We will be going live with their tools once again in APRIL/MAY."
Personally, I don't care about any of the three brands but, I know many people here cling to hope.
Y00PER
Well-known member
Or having them on store shelves so people could actually know they exist purchase them. Unless you follow tool news online, virtually nobody would know they even existed.
Walkers
Well-known member
I bought a pair. While pretty decent, they were not much different than the competition, yet double the price.
I agree that I don't think many people even knew they were a thing. Hell I live about 2.5 hours from the factory and I have NEVER seen any of them in any brick and mortar stores around here. And even if they were on shelves your average Joe isn't going to buy them when there are Vice Grip or Milwaukee branded ones they've heard of for 1/3 of the cost.
I'll probably grab a few more pair because I feel like my Snap On branded Eagle Grips are miles ahead of any other brands I have owned. Yes, I could buy 3 or 4 sets of cheaper ones for the price of one set of the Eagles, but I'm convinced one pair of the Eagles will last longer than 3 or 4 sets of Irwin/Vice Grips or Milwaukees or whatever other brands I have.
Ghostghoster
New member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2022
- Messages
- 3
I warrantied an SK 1/2” to 3/4” impact socket and 3/8” chrome universal joint. No COO marked on the impact but my assumption is Taiwan. The universal joint is clearly stamped USA and it is either old stock or proof that they are continuing at least their primary line up here in the U.S. (which is what I am sure all of us are hoping for)…
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reader2580
Well-known member
A big box chain is only going to bring in tools that will sell in a large volume with a decent profit for the chain. No way that Eagle Grip would sell well enough without a significant price cut.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
More than likely, this is just old stock being dumped on Amazon.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Wow. They didnt even use the company logo on the impact adaptor.
shockwave
Well-known member
Just curious if snap on took over production as these are now available thru website
shop.snapon.com
Snap-on Store
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Just curious if snap on took over production as these are now available thru website
Snap-on Store
More new USA Locking Pliers from Snap On
We all know the Malco Eagle grip situation. Obviously Malco made some of them for Snap On, but i just came across these on the Snap On website: https://shop.snapon.com/product/supplemental/6-1-2%22-Long-Nose-Locking-Pliers/LP5LN...
www.garagejournal.com
LNKMK8
Well-known member
My guess is that they already had these in the works and just now got them to Snap-on as they cleared out inventory. Epsteins and Acme both received close-out of the 8" Clamps that were not previously released, so I am guessing that is the same with Snap-on. Snap-on was the first to receive any stock out of the plant, having them available to purchase ahead of the regular Malco branded ones. Seems a shame they had made so much progress in getting production up on that many models to not keep going.Just curious if snap on took over production as these are now available thru website
Snap-on Store
From my understanding, Malco is fulfilling Snap-On's contract of making locking pliers. My dealer just got the latest 6" long and curved jaw locking pliers.
Then Snap-on also purchased the design and manufacturing rights to the product to replicate it. While it will not be made it in Dewitt, NE, it will still be made in the United States.
With that being said, I have all the Malco produced Snap-On locking pliers. I have to say that they are far above any other locking plier that I have used, and I have used a lot of them. They do not mushroom or mess up the teeth even under the most stressful use. Every other brand I have used has deformed on the first use. I hope they continue to make these and to this quality.
Then Snap-on also purchased the design and manufacturing rights to the product to replicate it. While it will not be made it in Dewitt, NE, it will still be made in the United States.
With that being said, I have all the Malco produced Snap-On locking pliers. I have to say that they are far above any other locking plier that I have used, and I have used a lot of them. They do not mushroom or mess up the teeth even under the most stressful use. Every other brand I have used has deformed on the first use. I hope they continue to make these and to this quality.
finn
Well-known member
I thought other posts confirmed that Malco auctioned off the tooling and machinery after they closed the plant.