It is virtually impossible not to buy products with Chinese made parts.
Was gonna say the same thing. I have two 038 mags, 1993 and 1995 both Brazil made. I know Stihl is quite particular about the steel they use to make bars, not sure about laminated but ES bars are made with German steel. Would think that holds true regardless of where they’re made.
Exactly. For large scale high tech factory production, China kind of runs circles around most places including the US for their ability to do repetitive precision. Nearly all the processes are automated. All the problems are in the steel. Plenty of good companies manufacture in China and demand quality steel in their products and produce as good products as they would elsewhere. But lesser quality companies cut corners and produce crap. We were fed a whole line about Japanese products being inferior in the 80's when they were starting to eat our lunch. I now realize owning a variety of 80's-era Makita equipment that Japan has made top quality steel and products for decades. The factories are pretty much the same now wherever they are. The quality of steel being used for products is everything in tools, as you say. A lot of things that depend on real quality steel for strength, like pullers, I only buy old OTC made in the USA ones or the like because virtually none are made with quality steel anymore. Some things like Archer chain, which is regarded as cheap China junk by a lot of folks, is actually made from good quality Japanese alloy steel so it's not that bad. The chrome plating may not be as well done as some other chains and the teeth may not hold an edge as well as a result, but the steel of the chain is fine. For products manufactured in China, I try to find ones that specify they were made with Japanese steel where I can.
