They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I can appreciate that, as long as it not directly trying to be identical and passing off as actual products. I've seen a few really nice knives that "resemble" more expensive items from harbor freight, camillus and stuff, but you just can't deny the bang for the buck for some of them. I am thankful that there's quality brick and mortar available budget blades available out there, and we're seeing more and more items, including cold steels, which gets me excited about the future. Gideonsstuff shows a lot of budget items also, and I really like those recommendations that are more in my price range. Thanks for showing this one, I dig it.

Is the Harbor Freight Icon Knife Knife a "Rip off"? Or Does the Harbor Freight knife help the Begg Knives Brand? Please Comment Below, let me know what you think!

Thank you for your review and honest opinion. Very much appreciated.

Jake is Awsome - looking forward for a fresh point of view on the affordable blades. Cheers!!

I bought one a few days ago. I think it’s a great buy. I’d certainly recommend buying one. It’s a good deal. Cheers!

Jake is awesome!! And so is this channel, glad to be a new subscriber!

Jake is Awesome for working with you on this surprise gaw - nice video as intro to your channel. Would not have thought of Harbor Freight as place to buy knifes. BTW I like the use of the printed specs - gives a good overall view of the knife as you show the features.

Jake is awesome. Thanks for the review. I’ll be interested to see your other reviews.

Just got one, nice knife!

Jake is Awesome - Thanks for review. I bought for my brother who is into knives. Will have to let him know of the Begg origins.

Jake is awesome 😊 and you seem like a solid guy as well. Looking forward to following what you do!

I bet this has brought begg knives a lot of attention so I'd say its a win for them.

Jake is Awesome - Glad to see the world of quality knife reviews growing. I look forward to your content.

Jake is Awesome - have been a supporter of his for quite some time. Thank you for doing this!

Jake is awesome. I am so glad he sent me over here. Looking forward to following your channel. Your honesty is refreshing. So many people only have good things to say about the knives they review.

I'm still not convinced that Harbor Freight didn't buy the right to make this from Begg Knives with an NDA. I kinda have to disagree with just grabbing one at HF, they've been getting 4 or 5 per shipment and selling out instantly. You might get lucky and catch one but it's entirely luck right now. I carried mine in the waistband for a few days and it was totally comfortable for me. Totally different from a pocket carry, but it's my experience with it.

I picked up one of the Icon knives when they first came out. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a decent work knife. I don't really know the backstory as to how Harbor Freight copied the design or if the OEM is to blame. Either way, It's a solid knife. I ended up adding a thumbstud because I love multiple deployment methods on a knife. I might be too late but Jake is Awesome. Thanks!

JAKE IS AWESOME, NEW SUBSCRIBER, LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING MORE OF YOUR VIDEOS BROTHER

The good old debate about budget brands borrowing the designs of other products. It was something I used to talk a lot about on my channel when I first started out on KZfaq about 7 years ago or so. I am convinced, largely because people have told me, that they sometimes buy the cheap "rip off" version of knives in order to help them determine if they want to buy the original knife or not and they tell me that they do buy the real thing - sometimes. So does it help? Yeah, in a way, but in a way it's also not something Harbor Freight should be proud of doing.

Jake is Awesome and thanks for your excellent video, nicely done.

Jake is awesome for sending me here. Very interesting video.

I like Icon brand & I'm glad that a retail store is carrying a bit better quality knife. I'll probably pick one up in August when they have their next sale. HOWEVER, I'm really trying to dump all my D2 steel knives and the weight plus the poor carrying features are negatives. So I don't know how long I'll actually keep this one after I test it

Got here via CCE.

The only knives you can get in an ordinary store with any good steel is the kershaw blur in 14c28n until this came along. Walmart's Rat 1s are still in AUS8, not D2.

Jake is Awesome" I like what Jake recommends, so I'll take a gander at your channel. Subbed Too late for the GAW?

Has anyone noticed or mentioned that both are made in China, not saying that is a bad thing just interesting to me. I bought the Harbor Freight Icon knife, really like it. It’s a good value knife. Also attached a lanyard the hole, makes it easy to remove from the pocket

Jake is awesome. He's a great guy that send me here

After viewing the review. Went to buy one at the store. Out of stock at all local outlets. So ordered directly. It still took a month. Very popular item. Not found of the clip also, and wanted to just remove it. Can you tell me what kind and size of the screw head for the clip? Thanks, and nice review.

The lockbar sticks out of the real mini glimpse in the same exact manner, as too does the knife ride high in your pocket Just like the mini glimpse.. so if you bought it because you like the mini glimpse.. you got nearly exactly that.. a near identical knife to the mini glimpse.

Jake is awesome, great video

Look, it reminds me of the Dayton floor jack. Some other of their tools. If you review/research, you can get an EDC. For a third of what big name brands are and a quality peace. Family airloom, maybe not but a keeper on a budget.

Jake is awesome... or so I hear, I am unfamiliar as of yet but came here from CCE & can never have too many Canadian knife channels in my subs either way🤣Harbor freight did sell me a pretty awesome lathe once though, great company! Edit: on clones, they're a different market imo, anyone who cares enough to buy the real thing would & vice versa, it's a compliment if anything & might increase sales but won't hurt them.

Why has this knife turned into such a instant collector’s item⁉️

Has anyone confirmed or denied Begg made these or didnt for the Icon brand? I know HF has contracted with a few companies such as southwire for sure for tools. So everyone speculating its a copy one could say they have an exclusive deal with Begg. Would be curious to know who makes it.

“Jake is Awesome” I have yet to see one at the HF store in my area. Looks good though.

"Jake is awesome." Truer words... As for the question you asked... I don't think it significantly hurts or helps Begg's sales. When you start looking at people who primarily buy low-cost ($30 or less) and ultra low-cost ($10 or less) knives its really a different market demographic. People who primarily/exclusively buy knives in that price range (like me) either are only interested in a tool and/or can't/won't afford to spend more than that. So they're not really going to buy (and carry) a Begg/Spyderco/Benchmade/Sebenza/Grimsbo.../etc... knife whether some company makes a copy/very similar design or not. There's also the minor issue that there are only so many functional shapes for knives. And given how long we've been using/making knives that's been the case for a long time. Whether companies/designers want to admit it or not, most knives today are derived or took inspiration from previous designs. As long as the companies making low-cost versions/homages/inspired by/etc... are making good quality (safe) products and clearly marking the knife with their own name and logo, I don't really care if they do something like Ganzo did with the FB727 or the F759M or SanRenMu did with the 710/7010. If they're making poor quality (unsafe) products and trying to pass them off as a premium maker's stuff by copying the premium maker's name and logo... That's a different story. In this case it sounds like Harbor Freight falls into the same category as Ganzo and SRM...

Jake is awesome. Hope I’m not too late.

At the end of the day I don't think it's a huge deal. There is no way anyone that want, or even knows about the real thing will accidentally buy the Icon. And if a person can afford to carry the legit one they likely aren't shopping at harbor freight for knives. This knife if for people on a budget that want a work horse with a bit of style. People who care about the Begg name or want it as a collectible will get the real deal. My attitude with knockoffs of premium/collectible knives is this.... If the designers don't make affordable variants for the masses, somebody else will. If you don't want to lose market to the pretenders beat them to it. And in this instance the Mini Glimpse is already made in China so why didn't he just cut some corners like the Icon did and beat the copycat to the punch?

Not a big fan of copy cats, but I doubt HF actually knew. Someone fed them or their people the design, nobody there knows a damn thing about Begg Knives. As to the Liongmah, so excellent! And I got mine at Blade as well! (Atlanta last year). 80 bucks iirc, right from the man's hand.

Probably both made in the same place.

Looks like the best big brand knife I've ever seen looking at you Milwaukee.. with your garbage knives

Jake is Awesome. 👍

you said thickness behind the edge. No, you are referencing stock thickness. TBTE is how thick it is directly behind the bevel.

Jake is awesome! If Jake recommended this channel, I’m looking forward to seeing what you have. “Jake’s Dave” 😬

It's a toolbox blade and that's where mine will stay.

Jake is awesome

"Jake is Awesome" I like what Jake recommends, so I'll take a gander at your channel. Subbed

Jake is Awesome. Hope you get some subs and your channel grows.

Jake is Awesome

FYI this design was never licensed to HF

Ultimatum , not interested!

I can see some similarities to the Begg kinfe, but really do think it's just coincidence. If there's one thing Harbor Freight would never do, that's to rip off someone else's idea.