Harbor Freight Knife Lawsuit Claims Ejected Razor Blade Caused Permanent Blindness

Lawsuit alleges safer folding knife mechanisms could have prevented the man’s serious injuries.

An Oregon man has filed a product liability lawsuit claiming a Harbor Freight folding knife unexpectedly ejected a blade into his eye, causing permanent injuries and disability.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by David Christopher Hanson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on November 10, naming Harbor Freight Tools USA Inc. as the sole defendant.

The Harbor Freight folding knife is a utility knife designed to hold replaceable razor blades. Similar to a pocketknife, the blade folds into the handle when not in use, while a release button allows users to remove and replace the blade.

Harbor Freight Product Defect Allegations

Harbor Freight has faced safety concerns involving several of its store-branded products in recent years, including alleged defects that have prompted recalls and product liability lawsuits.

In 2021, the company recalled more than 350,000 propane heaters following reports that wind could cause flames to grow high enough to melt the devices’ safety switches. Federal regulators warned that a damaged safety switch could become inoperable, increasing the risk of fires and serious injuries.

More recently, a Texas man filed a lawsuit alleging that a Harbor Freight transmission jack failed, causing a heavy transmission to fall onto him. The impact allegedly crushed his hand and arm, nearly severed his thumb, fractured his wrist and caused severe lacerations to his left hand.

Harbor Freight Knife Injury Allegations

According to the complaint, Hanson purchased the folding knife from a Harbor Freight store in North Bend, Oregon, in 2022. On November 11, 2025, he was using the knife to cut upholstery from a sofa he was disassembling when the blade release mechanism allegedly activated without warning, ejecting the razor blade directly into his left eye.

Hanson was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries. He claims the incident left him with severe vision impairment, permanent disfigurement and a disability, and that he is likely to require additional surgeries in the future.

The lawsuit alleges the Harbor Freight folding knife was defectively designed because its blade release button was positioned where it could come into contact with materials being cut or otherwise be accidentally activated during normal use. As a result, Hanson claims the mechanism allowed the razor blade to eject with enough force to penetrate a user’s eye.

Hanson also maintains that Harbor Freight failed to adequately warn consumers about the risk of accidental blade ejection, despite knowing or having reason to know that the design posed a serious injury hazard.

According to the complaint, Harbor Freight subsequently discontinued the knife model involved in Hanson’s injury after receiving reports about the dangers associated with its blade release mechanism. The company allegedly now sells alternative knife designs that incorporate safer mechanisms intended to prevent blades from unexpectedly ejecting during normal use.

“Defendant’s knife was defective and in an unreasonably dangerous condition when sold by Harbor Freight. The mechanism for releasing the razor blade from the blade holder on Defendant’s defective knife was placed where it would foreseeably be unintentionally engaged during anticipated and foreseeable uses.”

— David Christopher Hanson v. Harbor Freight Tools USA Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict products liability and negligence. It seeks compensation for pain and suffering, permanent injuries, disfigurement, disability, loss of vision, interference with normal and usual activities, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of earning capacity.

Sign up for more legal news that could affect you or your family.