Swingline

The r/BuyItForLife community holds vintage and all-metal Swingline staplers in high regard, with many members citing decades of reliable use across inherited, thrifted, and personally owned models. However, there is a clear and important distinction: older American-made Swinglines — particularly the 747 — are considered genuinely BIFL, while newer models manufactured after the factory closure in 1999 are widely seen as cheap and unreliable. The brand also carries heavy cultural cachet from Office Space, which colors many of the comments.

Vintage American-made Swingline staplers — particularly the all-metal 747 — are legitimately BIFL, but modern post-1999 production is widely considered inferior, making brand and era of manufacture the critical factor.

Vintage, all-metal Swingline staplers — especially the 747 — are praised for exceptional longevity, reliability, and resistance to jamming. Community members frequently report using models that are 30, 40, or even 60+ years old without issue.

• Vintage all-metal models last decades with minimal maintenance
• Older Swinglines praised for not jamming compared to competitors
• Model 747 specifically cited as the gold standard for BIFL staplers
• Capable of stapling large stacks where modern staplers fail
• Frequently found at thrift stores and estate sales for just a few dollars
• Mini stapler line praised for ergonomics and built-in staple storage

The community draws a sharp line between vintage American-made Swinglines and modern production. After closing their Long Island City factory in 1999 and moving manufacturing to Mexico and China, quality is reported to have dropped significantly.

• Post-1999 models widely considered cheap and unreliable
• Factory relocated from USA to Mexico; current products seen as generic
• School-issued modern Swinglines reported to fail within weeks
• Newer can opener version reported to fail within months of purchase
• Modern alternatives like Zenith (Italy) or Max (Japan) recommended instead

One commenter described stapling a 40-sheet stack with a 1950s-era Swingline to the disbelief of a boss — it went through cleanly, proving that older models were built on a different level entirely.

A teacher spent most of a $50 classroom budget on an American-made Swingline stapler; 18 years later, returning to that classroom, they found the same red stapler still in service.

A longtime collector and moderator of a stapler community noted that vintage Swingline and Ace staplers are among the only brands still using the same staple size as their original designs, making them practical as well as collectible.

Several commenters noted that Swingline closed its US factory in 1999 and that anyone looking for a genuinely BIFL stapler should seek out vintage American-made models at thrift stores or estate sales, as the current lineup no longer meets that standard.