Blackhawk & Proto tool review

[Dodgepu360]

I just received some tools I ordered from MSC.
Here’s what I bought:

Blackhawk 1-½” 6 point socket $10.66
Overall this socket looks good as nice as my other sockets (mostly craftsman)
I needed this socket to replace the heating elements on my water heater it worked much better than the crapy $8 stamped steel element wrench from the hardware store

Blackhawk 5 piece 8 point socket set ¼”- ½” $9.20
These sockets look just as nice maybe a little better than my other sockets
I haven’t used these yet

All of these sockets had the sizes stamped into them and were USA made
I will buying these instead of the laser etched Craftsman’s for any others I need

Proto torque adapters 9 piece set 3/8” - 7/8” $126.35
These look pretty good there are a few areas that could have been smoothed out a little better before being plated but that wont effect how work
I haven’t used these yet either

Overall I am happy with my purchase but I will report back after I use the 8 points and the torque adapters, I will be buying more Blackhawk and Proto stuff from MSC and recommend them to others

 

[Fedwrench]

You lucked out getting US made Blackhawk sockets. Most of the line in made in Taiwan now.

 

[Coach James]

Very true. I emailed Stanley/Blackhawk last year and was informed that Blackhawk production had been moved overseas.

Coach

 

[wrenchr]

So the name will change from Blackhawk to Japcrap.

 

[Merkava_4]

You guys mean to tell me that Stanley is going to eventually make ALL of the Blackhawk tools in China?

 

[eschoendorff]

You guys mean to tell me that Stanley is going to eventually make ALL of the Blackhawk tools in China?

You mean they aren't all made there already? I thought they had already moved production over there and that the odd bits that are USA made are just NOS.

 

[RenegadeEngr]

No!!!! Blackhawk is off my list now. That is rediculous. I thought Stanley might help save these companies in there big ring but I guess they will shape there brand names into lesser entities of there company. My father always said that the two sets of Blackhawk tools he had back in the 70's were some of the best. Now, we went to CarQuest and they were all on clearance in a display case that smelled like moth balls.

 

[Bo Heck]

found this thread while searching, I've bought blackhawk tools off ebay and they are USA made, so, anyone know for sure where current production sockets are made?

 

[Bull]

found this thread while searching, I've bought blackhawk tools off ebay and they are USA made, so, anyone know for sure where current production sockets are made?

How old were the ones you bought?

My understanding is that all new Blackhawk products come here via the slow boat from China

 

[Bo Heck]

I honestly dont know how old they are. They must be new old stock, its a socket set i got on ebay. Every one is labeled blackhawk USA. I emailed stanley proto and asked as well. They replied that most all current production is overseas. That's a real bummer. I guess anything I get warrantied is going to be china or taiwan made.

 

[jteck75]

Stanley as a corporation,absolutely makes me sick. I hope I live to see the day they go belly-up.

 

[Bull]

I've seen a good number of guys on here talk about how they hate Stanley as a company...what happened?

 

[jteck75]

I've seen a good number of guys on here talk about how they hate Stanley as a company...what happened?

I guess this is kind of a sore spot for me,since I've made my living as a manufacturing maintenance tech for most of my adult life.They have swallowed up alot of proud great tool brands in the last several years,shut down most of their manufacturing,and sent it overseas (Mac,Blackhawk). I guess my beloved Proto is next to be assimilated into the Stanley/Asia,borg collective. When that day finally comes(and it probably has to a degree),I will have officially washed my hands of them. Stanley can ROT!!

 

[TBD]

I bought a set of blackhawk 1/2" drive sockets in a blow molded case three years ago and they were Chinese and the size was printed on in this goldish lettering. Good quality sockets so far but not the USA product being talked about here.

 

[usmc_noma]

i've got a blackhawk blow mold set that's over 10 yrs old. it's got over 101 pcs. it includes a 3/8 and 1/4" ratchet with extensions, 12pt/6pt deep and shallow sockets. they're all labeled made in the usa and have served me well. it's sad to see a good product being moved overseas. hopefully proto doesn't go down this road too.

 

[Griff93]

I have a bunch of their wrenches and sockets that are made in USA. They have been very good. I notice that mac is starting to sell them through their tool trucks. While I was on the mac truck last week I noticed that they have started making their locking flex blackhawk gear wrenches back in the USA. Apparently they had some problems with the Taiwan setup.

 

[JHZR2]

I recently made a purchase via mcmaster carr, and ordered two 17mm 1/2" drive, 6 pt sockets. When they arrived (with a bunch of impact stuff that was all proto professional or Armstrong), they were stamped blackhawk USA.


I find it kind of hard to believe that mcmaster would still be selling NOS. A cursory look at the blackhawk site shows that at least some of their stuff is still usa made. I have to say I like these blackhawk sockets, and the chrome is as nice if not better than my SK stuff.

 

[Ruger_556]

I've seen a good number of guys on here talk about how they hate Stanley as a company...what happened?

I don't get some of the Stanley hate either, Blackhawk is the mid tier tool line. It's going to be made more cheaply than their pro brands, sorry guys. Everyone has a hissy fit over price and then can't figure out why companies then offer cheaper products. Is it that complicated?

If you want high quality Stanley also offers that, owned by them are Lista, Proto, Facom etc... This taken directly from the webpage of one of those Stanley companies.

WE ARE MADE IN AMERICA.
We make tools in America; Not because it’s cheaper and not because it’s convenient. We don’t even do it out of a sense of pride (although we are proud of the U.S.A.). We make tools in America, because put simply...it’s how we can ensure making the best quality tool we can. And in the rare instance when we can’t make a tool in America, we do so because... again, making the highest quality tools comes first.