IRWIN 41-Piece Metric Tap and Die Set (26317) - Professional Thread Repair Kit for Metalworking, Automotive & DIY Projects

I almost didn't order these due to the complaints and pictures of the machining defects (large, hanging burrs) in the dies. However, after looking around, I realized EVERYTHING else is hencho en China so I took a chance, figuring I could always send 'em back if I didn't like what I saw. The dies in my set DO in fact have a bit of a burr in some of them, but it's on the back (non-cutting) side of the entrance "ramp" to the die, and will have no effect on threading performance whatsoever. Now mine weren't as bad as those in the other reviewers' pics, but I wouldn't even consider the burrs in mine to be a defect; they don't hurt a thing. Otherwise, the finish on the taps and dies is excellent, and I'm very happy with them. All the dies and all but the smallest three taps are labeled "USA," and it could just be that there wasn't room on the line to mark the smallest taps - they appear to be identically manufactured.Now for the bad... I would guess the tap handles and pitch gauge are all Chinese. The chuck-style tap handles are made of steel and seem pretty good, but the chrome plated tap and die handles are all made of some pot metal Chinesium, and feel pretty darn cheap in the hand. I've got US made tap and die handles from my mid-90s Craftsman fractional set, so the handles weren't a big deal to me, but for the money, and given the quality of the actual taps and dies, I would have hoped for better here. The case is decent, but a couple of the taps are tight in their slots, and the tray will not sit properly unless the die centering tangs are fully closed, which is a minor annoyance. Overall, I'd give this set 4.5 stars, mainly because they put the quality where you really need it, and have kept making these in the U.S. which matters to me both in principle and for practical reasons (they actually work). I gave it 5 stars because a tie goes to the runner.