Harbor Freight knives
2 reports to CPSC, the latest made Aug 13, 2025. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 2reports to CPSC
- Aug 13, 2025the latest report was made
- Dec 31, 2011the earliest
- 1with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Harbor Freight
- Maker
- Harbor Freight ToolsMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- KnivesCPSC’s product type: Knives, Not Elsewhere Classified (code 464), in Kitchen: Knives & Slicers
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| August 2025 | 1 |
| December 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
- No one hurt 1 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
No one hurt Made Aug 13, 2025, sent to the company Aug 18, 2025, published by CPSC Sep 9, 2025
The product, in the report: It is a Harbor Freight 18” machete with a serrated saw blade opposite the normal beveled edge. The blade and tang appears to be stainless steel and the handle is a black soft synthetic rubber material. The currently sold closest equivalent is the Harbor Freight GORDON 18 in. Machete with Serrated Blade, SKU 57951. The handle of this later product may be of a different material and be attached to the tang differently.
While using a Harbor Freight machete to clear brush and small tree branches, the tang of the blade separated from the cushioned rubber handle. The tang has four holes through it, which apparently are filled in by the handle material when the handle is cast around the tang. That creates four internal studs of approximately !/4” diameter that resist the centrifugal force of swinging the machete blade and are subject to impact and torsion forces when the blade strikes an object. It appears that all four studs were sheared by the forces applied during use. The blade and tang separated from the handle, leaving an empty slot in the handle. No injury resulted from this failure.
- Model
- Not known
- UPC
- Not known
- Serial number
- None
- Bought from
- arbor Freight, [REDACTED], Augusta, GA
- Bought
- Jun 30, 2016, about then
- Where
- Calhoun Falls, South Carolina: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 75, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Harbor Freight, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Emergency room Made Dec 31, 2011, sent to the company Jan 10, 2012, published by CPSC Jan 25, 2012
The product, in the report: 3-1/16” Stainless Steel Folding Knife, purchased at Harbor Freight in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Item # 97668 Manufacturer: Gordon. Description (via website): Compact and lightweight knife, ideal for hunting, fishing, backpacking, boating, and camping. Convenient carrying clip Spring-loaded, quick release locking mechanism Satin-finish stainless steel construction Knurled handle improves grip Blade length: 3-1/16” L Handle length: 4-1/2” L Overall dimensions (open): 7-1/2” L x 1-3/4” W x 3/4” H Shipping Weight: 0.46 lbs website: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-1-16-inch-stainless-steel-folding-knife-97668.html
I was using a folding pocket knife purchased at Harbor Freight a few weeks ago to open a box (it was the first time I used this particular knife). I extended the blade completely and when I went to open the box using my right hand, the blade collapsed on top of my right index finger. I immediately applied ice and pressure and was driven to the hospital by my neighbor. My doctor examined the wound and informed me I had cut off a portion of my finger and that I most likely sustained nerve damage. Since this injury was a slice, there was nothing to suture. A pressure bandage was applied and pain medication prescribed. When I returned home, I examined the knife and noticed the mechanism that is supposed to lock the blade in place did not (and would not) lock which is why the blade collapsed onto my finger.
- Model
- Item #97668
- Serial number
- n/
a - Bought from
- Harbor Freight
- Bought
- Dec 13, 2011, about then
- Where
- Florissant, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 48, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.