I purchased a Klein ratcheting screw driver in May and I've been using it a lot. I didnt pay attention to the fact that it didnt take regular bits when buying it.I really like the mechanism and the whole thing in general except for the fact that it takes proprietary bits. I wore my PH2 bit finally today , not badly, but it now slips out when I apply a lot of torque (probbaly more than I should be anyway ). I got another klein ratcheting screw driver but one that takes impact bits as now replacing bits , finding replacement bits or using an adapter that takes 1/4 bits has made life a whole lot easier.
I do not like it when something that can be universal, isn't for the sake of not being universal which I've been ok with here as the bit lasted longer than I'd ever have expected but now that it did wear ,i had to stop and drive to HD when i should have just repalced the bit and carried on with the task at hand, something that can take universal bits had become a requirement.
This is my favorite ratcheting screw driver at this price point +-$20. The Lennox i bought a few mo ths ago has awful backgrag and is too heavy.
There are lots of “proprietary” screwdriver bits, that aren’t really “proprietary”, they’re just a weird standard, designed years ago, before there was much in the way of a “Universal Standard” for screwdriver bits.
Many of these “Weird Standards” are used by multiple manufacturers, and still in production.
While 1/4” hex shank buts are common in the USA, there are still variations, such as “Insert Bits” with the small tiny groove, and “quick change bits” with the much larger round groove for a ball bearing lock (and If I’m not mistaken, there are at least two or more standards for this system with different dimensions).
In addition, there are “Long Shank 1/4” screwdriver blades” used in products like the Facom, and Craftsman, and USAG screwdrivers, as well as some Japanese made screwdrivers.
There are also the “Multi Bit 6 in 1” screwdrivers, with double ended bits with the ball lock mounted in the bits, which GJ members seem to love.
In Europe, hex shank multiblade screwdrivers were common, but 6mm and 4mm shanks seem to have been the standard, and Wiha, Wera, and some other manufacturers still make the screwdrivers and blades, as did Facom in the past, and some Japanese manufacturers.
4mm hex still seems to be a common standard for smaller screwdriver bits.
Even before hex shank bits became standard, there were other standard interchangeable screwdriver blade systems, such as the Yankee (Stanley) bits, which came in three standard blade shank diameters, and which may still be in production. (Although not by Stanley).
Goodell-Pratt had the Mr Punch, spiral screwdriver drill system, which used a standard but different bit type to the Stanley/Yankee drivers.
There are also multiple screwdriver designs that use flags or tabs pressed out of the driver shank for interchangeable bits, but these aren’t always interchangeable amongst each other, such as Excelite and PB Swiss.
There are also small screwdrivers, such as the Moody precision screwdrivers, that have their own interchangeable designs. (I think Moody actually has two separate systems), and one of these systems may be used by other precision screwdriver manufacturers like Starrett, although I’ve never checked.
While I would prefer it if larger screwdrivers had a holder for 1/4” insert bits, it is still not common, and there are plenty of reasons for this.
Some of the other screwdriver systems work better, either for carrying more bits in the same space, or for use in certain areas, such as deep screws in electronics, were even a 1/4” hex blade won’t fit (but a 6mm hex blade will).