Made In The USA: Tekton

As always, these are free to read in their entirety

not shown: your mom’s hand around eight and a half inches

In our facilities, we cut, engrave, and polish steel, mold plastic, and carry out a range of finishing and assembly operations. We are an industry leader in using agile manufacturing methods that support fast engineering improvements.

We also work with carefully selected outside partners in the U.S. and in other countries. When we say that a tool is made in the United States, we mean both that the materials are U.S.-made and that the manufacturing takes place in the U.S.

About 74% of our current product lineup is made in Taiwan, 23% in the United States, 2% in Canada, and less than 1% in both China and Nicaragua. You can find the country of origin for every tool on Tekton.com by referring to the “Specs” section at the bottom of each product page.

An ACF reader sent me an email from Tekton last month, containing the following clarification:

We want to clarify that the trilobe handle on our Spinner Handle is
molded in the United States with a steel blade from Taiwan. Earlier
today we sent an email that stated the product is USA-made.

I doubt the FTC was going to go after Tekton on that one, so the only reason to send an email like that was out of a sincere ethical impulse.

Some of you will recognize the Tekton brand from Project Farm, which includes the company almost as a rule. Or you’ve seen it in an independent hardware store. I didn’t know much about them, but after reading their email I figured I’d take a look. After some examination, I’d say they are kind of the Tissot or Audi of hand tools. Kind of an “entry-premium” proposition.

As far as I can tell, this is what they make in the USA:

• Open-end and box wrenches

• Crowfoot wrenches

• Screwdrivers, picks, stubby drivers

• Pliers

• Various plastic pieces

Their labeling is explicit and honest, just like the excerpt at the top of this article suggests. And even where they are not making something in the USA, they do an exceptional job of documenting and explaining the tools:

if only there was a diagram like this that showed you how to be a senior vice president; you’d see there’s no piece labeled “simping”

Pricing for the USA stuff aligns almost exactly with Harbor Freight’s “ICON” brand, which makes it a no-brainer if you can get it easily. Which you mostly can, through Amazon. Heck, most of it is significantly cheaper than the used Snap-On stuff I get at KB Tools.

The next time (I know I will need to) buy a tool (well in advance) I will order something from Tekton. Project Farm didn’t much care for their open-end wrench, although I should note that the Tekton wrenches have as a selling point a very different angle and internal cut compared to Snap-On or the Taiwanese competition, which might make them easier to use at the cost of some overall strength.

As we’ve discussed over and over again on this site, it’s fairly easy to make things that are both simple and eye-wateringly expensive in the USA: think $500 knives and $25 socks. Too many brands look at American production as a chance to charge through the nose for something. Tekton should be congratulated for making good stuff and selling it at a reasonable price. If you give them a shot, or are already using their USA-made tools, I’ll be curious to hear about your experiences.