Counterfeit Tools Are Putting Critical Systems at Risk

Date Posted: 5/19/2026

Daniels Manufacturing Corporation® (DMC®) is aware that several tool manufacturers and resellers are advertising knockoff crimp tools as meeting military specifications (Mil-Spec). These misleading and unqualified tools pose significant risks to the aerospace community, the DOD, and maintainers of electrical wiring interconnect systems.

Despite prior warnings, unauthorized marketplaces such as Walmart.com, Alibaba, eBay, Grainger, Allied, and Graybar continue to distribute these knockoff tools, and the number of manufacturers falsely claiming Mil-Spec compliance continues to grow.

Many of these manufacturers mark their tools in ways that wrongly imply qualification to AS22520 and other standards. Some knockoffs bear DMC part numbers and closely resemble genuine DMC-qualified products listed on the Qualified Products Database (QPD) and Qualified Products List (QPL).

Recently, we were made aware that non-qualified M22520 dies are being marked with MIL part numbers. These products often appear almost identical to genuine DMC-qualified tools, but they are not approved or qualified under MIL-DTL-22520, AS81969, or other applicable specifications.

If you suspect that you have encountered or purchased a knockoff item, please contact us immediately at: 407-855-6161 or dmc@dmctools.com. Any information you can provide will help our efforts to maintain the integrity and safety of Mil-Spec tooling throughout the industry.