Keepers Updated October 19, 2026

Tools they'll
hand down.

Pliers, a hammer, a pocketknife, a pruner and a hand plane that people pass down. Every one is scored on the warranty the maker honors, how it's built, how long it's been made well and whether it can be fixed.

6 gifts made it from 12 we scored Next update October 26 80 or more out of 100 is a Keeper, and 75 to 79 is Almost. How it's scoredOne formula scores every gift: warranty 30, build 30, repair 20, track record 20 (how long the maker has made it well). Tap Why on a card for its points. No maker pays for a spot or a score. If you buy through an Amazon link, Amazon pays Keepers a small commission, and that never moves a score.
Huntsman Things · Keeper 86Keeper

Huntsman

VictorinoxWe scored it 86 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record Where you buy it Authorized sellers only: check the seller on Amazon. Find it on AmazonWhy 86
Warranty26/30

Lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship, and they may ask for proof of purchase.

Build26/30

Stainless tools on a design that's barely changed in decades.

Track record20/20

Making Swiss Army knives since 1884.

Repairable14/20

Parts and service are available, though wear isn't covered.

Full page for HuntsmanSourceFind it on Amazon
110 Folding Hunter Things · Keeper 85Keeper

110 Folding Hunter

Buck KnivesWe scored it 85 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch Normal wear, rust and loss aren't covered. Find it on AmazonWhy 85
Warranty25/30

Lifetime warranty on defects in material and workmanship. Normal wear, rust and loss aren't covered.

Build24/30

Ebony handle and brass bolsters on a lockback that's barely changed in decades.

Track record20/20

Making knives since 1902.

Repairable16/20

Sharpening and tune-ups cost $6.95, and a new blade runs $10 to $15.

Full page for 110 Folding HunterSourceFind it on Amazon
No. 4 Smoothing Plane Things · Keeper 85Keeper

No. 4 Smoothing Plane

Lie-Nielsen ToolworksWe scored it 85 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch Only materials and workmanship are guaranteed. Find it on AmazonWhy 85
Warranty20/30

Materials and workmanship are guaranteed for the life of the tool, with a 30 day window if you simply don't like it.

Build29/30

Manganese bronze body, stainless yoke, cherry handles and a 1/8 inch A2 blade hardened to Rockwell 60 to 62.

Track record18/20

Started in 1981 to bring back American-made hand tools, and still casts and machines in mid-coast Maine.

Repairable18/20

They take repairs and sell every part, so a worn blade or cracked handle is a parts order, not a new plane.

Full page for No. 4 Smoothing PlaneSourceFind it on Amazon
Multi-tool Things · Keeper 83Keeper

Multi-tool

LeathermanWe scored it 83 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record If it's a gift Leatherman covers only the original owner. Find it on AmazonWhy 83
Warranty25/30

25-year limited warranty on defects. Rust and corrosion aren't covered.

Build26/30

Full metal body.

Track record18/20

Invented the modern multi-tool in Oregon in 1983.

Repairable14/20

Warranty repairs through the company.

Full page for Multi-toolSourceFind it on Amazon
1150 Protector Case Things · Keeper 82Keeper

1150 Protector Case

PelicanWe scored it 82 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch The foam and what's inside aren't covered. Find it on AmazonWhy 82
Warranty25/30

Lifetime guarantee against breakage and defects with proof of purchase. The foam and what's inside aren't covered.

Build26/30

Polypropylene shell with an o-ring seal, a pressure valve and stainless hardware.

Track record17/20

Making hard protective cases since 1976.

Repairable14/20

They repair or replace broken cases once you file a claim.

Full page for 1150 Protector CaseSourceFind it on Amazon
535 Bugout Things · Keeper 80Keeper

535 Bugout

BenchmadeWe scored it 80 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch A modified or misused knife isn't covered. Find it on AmazonWhy 80
Warranty25/30

Limited lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship, as long as the knife hasn't been modified or misused.

Build22/30

S30V steel in a light plastic handle, with lock springs that can eventually wear.

Track record15/20

Started as Bali-Song in 1979 and has been Benchmade since 1987.

Repairable18/20

LifeSharp sharpening and tune-ups are free, plus a $20 shipping kit.

Full page for 535 BugoutSourceFind it on Amazon

Worth your time, not Keepers

Scored 75 or more: good, just short of a Keeper. We score them again next month, and some will move up.

440 Tongue & Groove Pliers, 12" Things · Almost 78Almost

440 Tongue & Groove Pliers, 12″

ChannellockWe scored it 78 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch Rounded teeth and wobbly joints aren't covered. Find it on AmazonWhy 78
Warranty21/30

Limited lifetime warranty. Rounded teeth, wobbly joints and misuse aren't covered.

Build27/30

Forged high-carbon steel with hardened teeth, made in the USA.

Track record20/20

A family-run toolmaker in Meadville, Pennsylvania for 140 years.

Repairable10/20

Replace-only, through a retailer or by mail.

Full page for 440 Tongue & Groove Pliers, 12"SourceFind it on Amazon
2 lb Wood-Craft Pack Axe, 24" Things · Almost 78Almost

2 lb Wood-Craft Pack Axe, 24″

Council ToolWe scored it 78 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch The full warranty terms aren't on Council Tool's site. Find it on AmazonWhy 78
Warranty17/30

Council Tool refers to a limited lifetime warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, but the full warranty terms live in a separate policy document that isn't on the site.

Build26/30

The head is 5160 steel heat treated at both ends on a curved hickory handle, made in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina.

Track record20/20

Council Tool has made axes since 1886, and the fourth and fifth generations of the Council family still run it.

Repairable15/20

Council sells replacement hickory axe handles, and its FAQ walks you through fitting a new handle yourself.

Full page for 2 lb Wood-Craft Pack Axe, 24"SourceFind it on Amazon
FELCO 2 Hand Pruner Things · Almost 76Almost

FELCO 2 Hand Pruner

FELCOWe scored it 76 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record How long it's covered Two years of cover on defects. Find it on AmazonWhy 76
Warranty10/30

Two years on defects with a lifetime warranty on the forged handles. Blades, springs and shock absorbers count as wear parts.

Build26/30

Forged aluminum handles with a hardened steel blade, made in Switzerland.

Track record20/20

Making pruners in Switzerland since 1945, and the 2 is the model the company was built on.

Repairable20/20

Every wear part is sold on its own, and FELCO repairs tools with the labor covered.

Full page for FELCO 2 Hand PrunerSourceFind it on Amazon
16 oz Claw Hammer, Leather Grip Things · Almost 75Almost

16 oz Claw Hammer, Leather Grip

EstwingWe scored it 75 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record The catch Estwing says plainly it isn't a lifetime warranty. Find it on AmazonWhy 75
Warranty20/30

Covers failure in normal use but not misuse or wear. Estwing says plainly it isn't a lifetime warranty.

Build27/30

Head and handle forged from one piece of American steel. The leather grip is the only part that wears.

Track record20/20

Making hammers in the USA since 1923.

Repairable8/20

They don't re-grip or refurbish used hammers.

Full page for 16 oz Claw Hammer, Leather GripSourceFind it on Amazon

Not yet

Scored under 75. Each one's page says what holds it back.ShowHide all 2
3/8 Inch Drive x 8 Inch Quick-Release Ratchet Things · Not yet 72Not yet

3/8 Inch Drive x 8 Inch Quick-Release Ratchet

TEKTONWe scored it 72 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record If it's a gift No receipt needed. Why 72
Warranty29/30

The warranty has no time limit and needs no receipt, TEKTON may ask for a photo of the tool, and it pays shipping on the replacement.

Build18/30

It uses a 90-tooth gear with a 4-degree swing and keeps nine teeth engaged at once so it doesn't slip, and it is made in Taiwan.

Track record8/20

TEKTON is a family-owned tool company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a much shorter record than the old-line toolmakers.

Repairable17/20

A $12 service kit with replacement parts, a T8 bit and grease is sold for this exact model, so you can rebuild the ratchet yourself.

Full page for 3/8 Inch Drive x 8 Inch Quick-Release RatchetSource
ML300L 3-Cell D LED Flashlight Things · Not yet 67Not yet

ML300L 3-Cell D LED Flashlight

MagliteWe scored it 67 of 100 on warranty, build, repair and track record How long it's covered 10 years of cover. Why 67
Warranty16/30

Ten-year limited warranty on parts and workmanship. Battery leaks and LED failure aren't covered.

Build22/30

An aluminum body assembled in California around an LED module that isn't covered.

Track record15/20

Making flashlights since 1979.

Repairable14/20

They repair or replace defective lights within the ten years, and you pay shipping in.

Full page for ML300L 3-Cell D LED FlashlightSource

Hear about the next Keeper.

One short email when something new makes the list: an album to play, a game to buy, a film to watch, a book to read, tech worth buying, a thing that lasts. Nothing else.

Only new Keepers. Every email has a one-tap unsubscribe. Rather not give an email? Follow the feed.

How the score works

Things

  • Warranty, 30. What the company will actually fix or replace, read from their own policy.
  • Build, 30. Materials and construction, and whether there's anything to wear out.
  • Track record, 20. How long the maker has been making this well.
  • Repairable, 20. Whether you can get it fixed instead of replacing it.

A Keeper is our bet on what lasts. Some releases show it right away: the reviews, the players and the people behind them all point the same way, the way they did for Elden Ring. For albums, games, films, shows and books, 85 or above is a Keeper and 75 to 84 is worth your time. Things and tech need 80. We score everything again as time goes by, and a Keeper that fades loses the label. Nobody pays to be here or pays for a score. Every score links to where its numbers came from. Each one has a link to find it on Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate, Keepers earns from qualifying purchases.

Also made by the same person