Review Ganzo G101S – 2019S

Review Ganzo G101S – 2019S

Introduction

We've all heard that Ganzo makes good multi-tools, which are fine for the price as their flagship G302. But ... will it be worth the cheapest multi-tool they have? Is it better a multi-tool without a brand for the same price as the G101S - 2019S? To these questions i would like to answer in this review and in some following in which i will make tests comparing it with others without brand.

Exterior design and appearance

Well, first of all clarify that this same model you can find it as G101S and also as G2019S. Let's continue…

Overview 1

The truth is that i must admit that for its price it surprises in the hand, it is very beautiful to my taste, with a great color and design, in general the handle scales are made of metal, being an aluminum type alloy, although it also has a plastic part that in my opinion it pretty much ruins the final result and makes it look cheap, but apart of that plastic part, visually is very attractive.

Closed view

Plastic parts

The sheath in a tool is important, and the truth that is very good for the price, is better than the generic sheath that bring the unbranded multi-tools, is strong, thick and well made.

Sheath 1

Sheath 2

Thick cloth

It is a very small multi-tool pliers, which although at first seems useless compared to a normal size, which you can get with your whole hand, once you test you can think you have a knife Victorinox style multi-tool but with pliers much more powerful than those usually carried by that brand.

Overview 2

The measures are quite moderate: 7.2 cms long, 3.5 wide and a weight of 81 grs.

The tools provided to us, apart from the main pliers are:

- Plain edge blade

- Serrated edge blade (not a saw)

- Can opener

- Small flat Screwdriver (2.5mm)

- Large flat Screwdriver (3.5mm)

- Star screwdriver

- Punch

- Double-sided file with punch

- Ring

- Can opener

Folded tools 1

Folded tools 2

Unfolded tools

Actually if you look at the factory sharpening of the blades, we will see that the plain edge blade has a very poor sharpening, it cost a lot to cut the paper, and the serrated edge blade more or less the same. Even so, i have seen unbranded multi-tools with poorer sharpening on both blades, basically without sharpening directly on the plain edge blade and having the serrated edge blade of ornament basically.

Tools unfolded from the side 1

Tools unfolded from the side 2

The steel used for the tools is 440C, however, i can not guarantee that it is the same 440C that uses Ganzo for its 7 series knives or that has its heat treating.

I do not want to deepen this section in its handling because i keep everything for the next section...

Comparative

To see the size correctly, here is a comparison with a Victorinox style standard size multi-tool  folder knife and a generic multi-tool full-length pliers, which you get with your whole hand:

Against all-purpose knife 1

Against all-purpose knife 2

Against all-purpose knife 3

Against all-purpose knife 4

Against all-purpose knife 5

Against multi-tool pliers 1

Against multi-tool pliers 2

Against multi-tool pliers 3

Against multi-tool pliers 4

Handling and use

And we go to the section that matters most in this case, the handling and use. Well, the first one, i have to say that although it is very pretty, it is also quite slippery in the hand, it has no pores in the handle, besides they are very polished. It is pleasant to touch but without any grip.

Slippery handle texture

I was surprised one thing is that it opens and closes very well, it is as if it transmitted that is of much higher range than it is, above all i appreciate it when closing it, which closes in two steps (in the video you can see), it closes until a stop, leaving an opening still between the handles, and finally in a last step it closes completely.

Regarding the main pliers, well, with its spring makes it very easy for us to open and close with a hand. It has grooves for grabbing objects and a wider part for larger and rounded objects.

The spring is very comfortable

Slightly sharp cutters

And so far the good...

Everything up to now was worth it, for the price was very good, but unfortunately, the behavior of the supplementary tools makes them not worth anything. Yes, i can not say it in any other way, except the main pliers, the rest seems useless and even some dangerous. And why do i say this when everything seemed to be all right at the moment? because the tools are not kept in place, they simply do not have a method of attachment that works, the spring is practically nonexistent and with a slight friction they leave from its position. I think the video will clarify this.

Then, if i take the plain edge blade and i'm going to cut something, beware of trying to penetrate with the tip, because it will move to the slightest. If i use the screwdriver, care must be taken not to close it on the finger, and do force with a screwdriver is very normal. 

There are two screws to tighten the tools, but this does not solve it, i've tried, because that you tighten the tools does not make the spring improves. At least the tools can be taken out with the pliers closed.

Lastly, the cutter from the main pliers, the blades to cut cable... well, at first view it is already noticed that they are not very sharp and even as jagged or not straight perfectly, let me want a lot its execution and in fact do not cut very well.

Cutter somewhat jagged from the factory 1

Cutter somewhat jagged from the factory 2

Final verdict

I'm going to summarize it: it's a shame, a huge shame, simply because its tools were well secured with a spring strong enough, would be a great purchase, because it is very nice designed and opens and closes very smooth and with a "click" transmitting quality and even the case is good for its price. But the tool clamping system, without almost spring, makes them useless and somewhat dangerous.

Therefore, i can not recommend these multi-tool pliers, except that having a small pliers is enough for you for its price, but for me it is not.

This is my experience with this model, what i can not confirm is that it happens with all or is a quality control problem, but nothing tells me that they are not all like this.

A real shame ...

The best

- The appearance and design is very good, it is beautiful.

- It transmits quality when you close it and open it, as if it were more expensive than its price.

- Good price.

- A thick cloth case with good quality for the whole price.

- You can take off the tools with the pliers closed, that is very comfortable and makes it look more like a multi-tool folder knife.

The worst

- Simply the tools they bring are useless and somewhat dangerous because they have little restraint, and this is very important because it is part of the core of what is the multi-tool.

- The blades of the cutters look a little wrong, not being executed well and seeing the edge not straight, something wavy or jagged.


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