Harbor Freight Recalls Folding Knives Over Injury Risk

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says that Harbor Freight Tools is recalling its Gordon Folding Knives due to a potential laceration hazard.

The recall of the knives was instituted on Oct. 4, 2019, and affects around 1.1 million units. As part of the recall, the company has offered to refund customers’ purchases of the recalled knives.

Unfortunately, this recall was issued after there were seven reports of the knife failing to lock, which resulted in six laceration injuries. Four of these injuries required professional medical attention, says that CPSC.

USA Today notes that the knives can fail to lock because the locking mechanism may not engage when the blade is extended.

The affected knives are Gordon brand folding knives made of stainless steel. The knives are around three inches long, and are equipped with a silver-colored belt clip on the back of the knife. They are designed with black metal on the handle, and five cutouts on each side of the handle, says CPSC.

The knives were reportedly manufactured in China and imported by Harbor Freight Tools of Calabasas, Calif. “China” is reportedly printed on one side of the knife’s blade and “Stainless Steel” is printed on the other side.

Customers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled knives and return them to a Harbor Freight Tools store, where they are eligible for a $5 store gift card plus sales tax.

The CPSC reports that the knives were sold in Harbor Freight Tools stores around the country, online at HarborFreight.com and by phone between July 2008 and July 2019 for around $5.

Customers can contact Harbor Freight Tools at 800-444-3353 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers can also reach the company by email at recall@harborfreight.com or online at HarborFreight.com, by clicking on “Recall Safety Information” on the bottom of the homepage for more information.

Customers are invited to report an incident involving the product on the CPSC’s website.

The CPSC also notes that the company conducted the recall voluntarily, as part of the CPSC’s Fast Track Recall process, in an effort to best protect consumers from possible injury.

Recalls can help protect customers from defective and possibly dangerous products. In some cases like the Harbor Freight Tools recall, recalls can involve refunds or reimbursements for customers. These reimbursements can help lift the financial burden of purchasing a refunded product.

The Harbor Freight folding knives are not the only tool that has been recalled recently. In late September, the CPSC reported that DeWALT had recalled its utility bars over the possibility that the bars could break during use and cause injury.

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