Reading time: 6 minutes / Lars Buchwald / 15 September 2026

What Tool Copies Cannot Replicate

Inhalt des Beitrages

→ Muss das denn wirklich sein?

→ Vertrauen entsteht nicht durch eine Produktbeschreibung

→ Qualität macht den Kopf frei

→ Ein unscheinbarer Held: Die Glocke

→ Warum Behörden andere Maßstäbe beim Einkauf haben

→ Billig war noch nie günstig

→ Kontinuität führt zu Sicherheit

→ Vertrauen beginnt innen – und wirkt nach außen

→ Mein Fazit: Vertrauen ist kein Extra – es ist der Standard

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Not Just Any Steel Makes a Good Tool

For a tool, simply shaping a piece of steel into the right form is not enough. Material selection is a starting point, but it says little about the properties of the finished product. What matters is whether the material, geometry and manufacturing process have been properly matched. Heat treatment also influences how a component behaves under load. None of this can be reliably assessed from appearance alone. A macro photograph may reveal differences along an edge, while measurements can demonstrate dimensional deviations. How a tool actually performs, however, can only be determined through repeatable testing, not assumptions alone.

Tolerances Only Become Noticeable When They Are Not Met

With precision tools, a single spectacular feature is rarely the deciding factor. It is often the interaction of small dimensions that matters. A contour may look correct in a photograph yet behave differently because transitions, angles or material thicknesses vary. A difference of just a few tenths of a millimetre may sound almost laughable on paper. At the point where two components interact or the user expects precise feedback, however, it can become clearly noticeable. Consistency is another factor. A single example may happen to work reasonably well, regardless of whether it is an original or a copy. The more interesting question is whether the next one will have the same characteristics. Product development therefore does not end with a finished drawing. Manufacturing, testing and feedback from practical use are all part of the process, because only they show whether an idea has become a reliable product.

A Fair Comparison Requires More Than Similarity

“They both look like the same tool” is not a technical assessment. The statement merely describes the fact that a copy resembles the original in appearance. Other questions are what really matter. How precisely was it manufactured? How does the tool perform after repeated use? Are the products within a series consistent? Do the image, description and delivered product match? And can the supplier explain why a particular detail was designed in precisely that way? These are the principles on which we intend to base our future comparisons, using our own photographs, transparent criteria and results that you can verify. Not every answer can be found in a single test. But every substantiated answer is worth more than ten claims that the original must naturally be superior. That applies to both sides. If the copy performs well in any particular respect, that also belongs in fair documentation.

What Customers Pay for When They Buy the Original

You are paying for the work that took place before the visible product was created, as well as the responsibility that follows. This includes the various stages of development, defined manufacturing processes and the ability to incorporate feedback into subsequent versions. Verifiable product information and an available point of contact also have value. Ultimately, you decide for yourself whether these differences justify the higher price. Our task is to provide you with enough substance to make that decision.

What Is Not Copied Along with the Product

A copy can come close to reproducing the visible result. What it does not automatically possess is the knowledge behind the decisions that led to that result. This knowledge remains with the people who developed the product and continue to improve it. Or, to return once more to the Rolex from the beginning: the dial, case and weight can be reproduced remarkably well. Whether the watch keeps precise time and possesses the value promised by its appearance is not something you can tell at first glance.

Always Check Suspicious Offers

You can be certain: Multipick distributes its tools exclusively through a network of certified dealers. You will never find Multipick products on Chinese online marketplaces or similar platforms. Our products are available only from us and our selected retail partners. You can find a list of our retail partners here.

Not sure about an offer? Send us the link or a screenshot. We will check whether the offer comes from Multipick or one of our certified dealers and give you an honest assessment.

FAQ – everything you need to know

How Much Damage Is Caused by Counterfeit Products Each Year?

There is no single reliable figure for the total damage. Lost revenue, unpaid taxes, legal enforcement costs and potential harm to users are calculated in different ways. In addition, only a proportion of the counterfeit goods being traded are ever detected. An EUIPO study estimated annual revenue losses of around €16 billion within the EU for clothing, cosmetics and toys alone. Tool copies are not included in this figure. It is therefore not an overall total, but a well-substantiated indication of a much larger problem.

Can a Tool Copy Perform Just as Well as the Original in an Initial Test?

Yes, that is possible. However, a brief functional test reveals little about how a tool will perform after frequent use. Differences in material hardness, dimensional accuracy, surface finish or spring behaviour often only become apparent under repeated stress. A copy does not therefore have to fail immediately to be technically inferior. The real question is whether a one-off success can be repeated reliably throughout the tool’s service life.

Why Can Two Copies That Look Identical Differ in Quality?

Because quality depends not only on the visible shape, but also on manufacturing consistency. If the material, machine settings, heat treatment or final inspection vary from one batch to another, two apparently identical tools can have very different characteristics. A single good copy is therefore not proof of consistent quality. It may simply be the fortunate example from a highly inconsistent production run.

Do a Serial Number, Packaging or CE Mark Prove That a Product Is Genuine?

No. Packaging, markings and serial numbers can also be copied. In addition, not every tool requires CE marking. It is mandatory only for product categories covered by the relevant EU legislation and is not a general seal of quality. What matters is therefore not a single mark, but the overall picture formed by the product, seller, origin, documentation and a verifiable supply chain.

Why Don’t Manufacturers Simply Publish All the Identifying Features of Their Original Products?

A fully public verification checklist would have an unfortunate side effect: it would also show manufacturers of copies which details they need to improve in the next version. Packaging, labelling and individual components may also change over time. A confidential inspection based on several features is therefore usually more reliable than the familiar search for one particular dot, line or sticker.

What Does a Copy Cost Beyond the Purchase Price?

The real difference often only becomes apparent later. A tool that wears out more quickly, has been manufactured imprecisely or does not work reliably with accessories and replacement parts creates additional costs. There is also the time involved, the need to purchase another tool and the possibility of damage to workpieces, locks or training materials. The low purchase price is then merely the beginning of the bill. The rest follows quietly, usually at precisely the moment when it is least convenient.

About the Author

Lars Buchwald has been an integral part of the Multipick team since 2006, where he dedicates his passion and expertise to marketing and graphics. As a trained graphic designer and copywriter, he brings a wealth of experience and creativity to his work, which enables him to convey the messages of the ingenious tools in an appealing and convincing way. With a keen sense for the needs of the target group, he steers Multipick's marketing fortunes. His commitment is characterized by a high degree of sensitivity and the right richer at the right time.

As a native of Bonn, Lars not only has close ties to the region, but has also firmly integrated his passion for marketing spear tools into his professional work. His attachment to the city is reflected in his work and gives his marketing campaigns an authentic, Bonn touch.

About Multipick

Multipick was established here in Bonn in 1997 and has had its headquarters and production facilities here on the Rhine ever since.

Why should we leave here? Anyone who has been here before will agree that it is a very beautiful place and that the people are ‘typically Rhineland’, open-minded and friendly. From an early stage, we began to occupy ourselves with a wide variety of entry tools. We tried out lock snappers and core extractors such as the Bell and gathered a wealth of experience with a wide variety of tools. Whether it was a lock pick set or special tools for fire brigades and locksmiths, in the end the door or window had to be opened. In line with the motto, you got the problem and we got the solution.

Many tools, irrespective of hobby or professional, are dispatched from our warehouse to destinations throughout the world.

Opening tool kits for caretakers and locksmiths, pick sets and lock picking accessories for Locksport enthusiasts and Hobbs hooks for specialists to unlock locked safes. There are thousands of different ways to deploy our specialised tools. Our TFG latch plates and key turners allow a closed door to be reopened. QA Pro 2 and our V-Pro core pulling screws can be used to open a locked door. We also offer milling burrs and drill bits for those situations where there really is no other way. Many useful aids such as MICA opening cards, wedges, door latch spatulas, door handle catches and spiral openers, which are all useful tools to help you get the job done. But even if things get a bit complicated, you are in good hands with us. Products such as the Kronos and Artemis electric picks are our top highlights. Anyone who likes to open dimple locks or disc locks will be delighted with the ARES system. For opening windows, we offer you a range of top products from Kipp-Blitz. Favoured by emergency services such as the fire brigade, THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) and police. Many of our tools are manufactured in-house. This gives us the liberty to manufacture quickly and in a customer-orientated manner. No lengthy supply chains and subcontractor dependencies. This has a number of advantages both for you and, of course, for our environment. One big advantage is that you get everything from a single source, enabling us to offer you consistent quality. This is also our promise to you, all from a single source, Made in Germany, Made in Bonn - promised.