Are there any types of tools you would buy from a foreign manufacturer first before the US ?
For me the only one I can think of is Machetes.
I use them quite a bit around my yard, and I believe the south Americans who use them every day have a better understanding of what they should be.
Aside from the standard Ontario machetes anything that's US made these days usually caters to the knife and outdoors community , most are made by knife companies and are fancier and more expensive than a working machete really needs to be.
The Ontario is known to be a good tool, but is just not my choice.
The 18" is $20+ when a good machete from the 3 major south American manufacturers will run you under $12, the Ontarios are just not on the same level of economical beater tool.
I do normally prefer American made wherever I can, but a machete is an inexpensive working tool that needs to be just hard enough to take a beating yet soft enough to maintain with minimal work and material removal.
I'm not putting down The Ontario knife company as they make a great product, but the south American manufacturers have a better understanding of machetes and how to make a machete that will last but can essentially be disposable if need be.
