Malco sent me this pair of Eagle Grips (LP10WC) for evaluation and testing purposes.
Although I haven’t had a chance to test them out yet, the fit and finish on the tool are truly impressive. Malco put a tremendous about of time and consideration into studying the Nebraska-made Vise Grips (by Petersen Manufacturing) and looked for ways to improve on the tool that had become the “gold standard” by which locking pliers are judged. They strengthened weak points in the Petersen design (securing the top jaw to the body of the tool with a rivet in addition to brazing the jaw connection. The “Power Ring” provides additional strength where the adjusting screw threads into the tool body. Long story short, Malco set out to create the very best locking plier ever produced in the USA, and they may have succeeded (time will tell). Eagle Grips are being made in the same DeWitt, Nebraska, factory where Vise Grips had been made before Newell-Rubbermaid moved production to China in 2008. Although the factory is the same, the production tooling and equipment is completely new. Many former Vise Grip employees are now back at the plant working for Malco. As a Nebraskan, it was fantastic to turn over this pair of Eagle Grips and see the “Malco, DeWitt, Nebraska” stamping.
Cant wait to put these to the test and see if they perform as well as they look and feel!
