Mine (86 03 180) looks just like yours, top flat, bottom “not ground”
Like Oli said, if you don’t want to scratch something, you’ll have to use a barrier, like paper or tape or whatever. This would be the case even if both surfaces were ground.
Total noob here and first time posting but I do own a set of 86 03 250 (same size without the comfort grip handles) Knipex pliers wrenches. I don’t know if it’s clear in the attached pictures but the upper jaw is forged with a machined surface. If it didn’t get machined, there would be a parting line through the gripping portion of the upper jaw. However the lower jaw doesn’t have any obvious secondary operations. My thoughts are that it is investment cast. Either way it’s not as rough as the lower jaw in the set you received.
i have ~10 knipex PWs, and the surface finish on the jaws of OP's pics are within the range of what i've seen. it's normal imo, but funny to see both on one tool.
besides, after use, they will get a bit chewed up and will have bigger surface defects than that.
btw, i would have asked this on garage journal.
I had not noticed this before . I have the 86-03-250 , and 86-03-180 . Both have ground upper and a slightly textured bottom jaw .
Checked my set of pliers wrenches, they all look like strangequark’s one.
It looks like neither the top nor the bottom pieces are forged as you can see the parting line of the pressure casting mold and the taper or draft in the side wall of those “strengthening” holes in the lower jaw. Likely the flashing was unsightly and needed to be ground off the top jaw.
Odd, mine is also 86 03 180, but both top and bottom are the same. Both sides are not quite ground but not rough.
do you have the older or newer model? (New 10″ Knipex Pliers Wrench is Lighter and Opens Wider)
mine is the newer model
Thanks everyone, I think I got of got the idea what is the standard for these.
I see that faint seam there in the middle along side the length of the jaw.
That is what was so raised on the first Knipex I have bought that was only clamping with the seam, the not whole plain of the jaw.
Interesting the process is not the same on all these lower jaws, some have the seam some only have some rough “casting” surface?
Mine is also the newer model.