Harbor Freight Recalls Gordon Brand Knives

Harbor Freight—the budget tool and hardware retailer with more than 1,000 outlets nationwide and e-commerce website—has issued a recall for the 1.1 million Gordon brand folding knives it sold between July 2008 to July 2019. “The locking mechanism can fail to engage on extension of the blade, posing a laceration hazard,” according to a notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

The knife’s profile and recall volume indicate some may be serving self-defense backup duty in the bottom of some readers’ toolboxes or vehicle consoles. Well-meaning family or friends undoubtedly gifted thousands of the checkout-line impulse buys in more than the decade of sales.

Anyone in possession of a Gordon brand folding knife purchased from Harbor Freight affected by this recall should immediately discontinue its use due to the risk of injury. The blade’s failure to lock has results in lacerations to at least six people. Owners who bring their Gordon brand knife back to a Harbor Freight store qualify to receive a $5 gift card.

The recall notice includes distinguishing features to help identify the affected folding knives. “The knife is stainless steel with black metal on the handle and five cutouts on each side of the handle,” it reads. “The knife measures about 3-inches. The knife also has a silver-colored metal belt clip attached to the back of the handle. ‘China’ is printed on one side and ‘Stainless Steel’ is printed on the other side of the knife blade.” Harbor Freight offered the knives in its stores, by phone and through the company website.

Owners with questions can call (800) 444-3353 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday for more information. They can also e-mail recall@harborfreight.com or visit the company’s notice [PDF] on its website.