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When you search for Lishi tools, you will quickly encounter three distinct brand names that all seem to refer to the same product: Original Mr. Li, Original Lishi, and Genuine Lishi. This is one of the most common sources of confusion for buyers new to the market. The short answer is that all three are legitimate — but they are not the same thing, and the differences matter depending on how and where you work. “Lishi” is not a single brand. It is a name synonymous with a design — the 2-in-1 pick and decoder concept pioneered by Mr. Li Zhiqin in the early 2000s. What you are choosing between is not genuine versus counterfeit (that is a separate issue entirely), but rather which factory’s interpretation and licensing arrangement best suits your needs.

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The three legitimate brands

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Original Mr. Li — The inventor’s direct line

Original Mr. Li tools are manufactured under Mr. Li Zhiqin’s direct supervision at his factory in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China — the same facility where the original 2-in-1 design was developed. This is the most direct expression of the inventor’s specifications.How to identify them:
  • Stylized portrait of Mr. Li Zhiqin etched directly into the tool metal — not printed, not stickered, machined in
  • Orange scratch-off verification sticker on the back
  • Verify the revealed code at lizhiqintool.com
What makes them distinctive:The feedback through the lifter arm is what professionals who have used Mr. Li’s tools for years consistently describe as “crisp.” The spring tension, the pivot response, and the wafer engagement all feel precise and deliberate. There is no play in the pointer — when it indicates a depth, that depth is accurate.Best for: Professionals who prioritize the most direct factory sourcing, and buyers who want to verify their tool against Mr. Li’s own authentication database.

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Brand comparison

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Which brand should you buy?

Choose Original Mr. Li (Orange Label). These tools come directly from Mr. Li’s Qinhuangdao factory and verify on his own authentication site. If provenance and the “true original” designation matter to you, this is the line to buy.
Choose Original Lishi (Red Label) with the AG finish. The Anti-Glare matte surface on the reading pane is the difference between squinting at a reflection and reading a clear grid. For roadside technicians who cannot control their lighting environment, AG is the practical choice.
Choose Genuine Lishi Night Vision series. The luminescent grid coating eliminates the need for a flashlight when reading bitting depths after a successful pick. This is the most practical tool for late-night callouts.
Either Original Mr. Li or Original Lishi will serve you well as a first tool. For residential work, both lines offer SC1, SC4, and KW1. For automotive, start with HU101 or HU66 from either line. The Genuine Lishi Night Vision series is also beginner-friendly if low-light readability is a priority.
Genuine Lishi has the deepest distribution network in the UK and European market through Tradelocks. Availability, after-sales support, and warranty handling are all optimized for that region.
Consider Original Mr. Li for your highest-demand keyways (HU66, HU101, HON66) — the stainless steel construction and quality control on these tools make them long-lasting under heavy shop use. For durability-critical applications, also evaluate the Genuine Lishi T3 line.
All three brands — Original Mr. Li, Original Lishi, and Genuine Lishi — are legitimate products. The choice between them is a professional preference, not a quality risk. The risk of buying a counterfeit is separate from this choice entirely. Any tool without a verifiable authentication sticker and a logo matching the descriptions above is a clone, not one of these three legitimate lines.

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A note on the “Lishi Wars” and brand history

The distinction between these three brands has its roots in a business split in the Lishi tool market. Originally, Mr. Li worked with a UK-based partner (UAP Limited) to bring his tools to the international market — which led to the Genuine Lishi line. After that relationship ended, “Original Lishi” became Mr. Li’s new international distribution partner, while Mr. Li also continued producing tools directly under his own name as Original Mr. Li. The practical result is that you now have three legitimate brands with different histories, logos, and distribution networks — all making genuine, high-quality tools. Understanding this history helps explain why the branding is confusing, and why two tools with different labels can both truthfully claim to be “original.”