How does Blackhawk compare to Matco wrenches?

[tanda4]

Are they similar quality?

 

[kartracer55]

I would say No. Blackhawk is more on par with craftsman, Matco is more on par with Snap On. Matco wrenches are good but the open ends arnt quite as good as Snap Ons are. Also, Blackhawk tools are being made in taiwan as I recall.

 

[Merkava_4]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MATC...014QQitemZ330242344422QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If you can find the older Matco wrenches with the V style open end like the one in this auction, they're are EXCELLENT.

 

[Uncle Buck]

In the day Blackhawk tools were top shelf high quality tools that were as good or better than any other brands of the era. My old 8pt socket set and several of my old box wrenches are Blackhawk and I would say you can see the quality in their design, and it literally shows in the steel for those that know what I mean. Unfortunately someone tossed them under the bus in recent years and now they are simply more so-so **** like everyone else!

 

[krusty the clown]

right now the answer is no. the current armstrong made wrenches are good although not as good as snap on imho, but it's only a matter of time before matco scources all of thier products from asia........then the answer will be yes

 

[a390st]

I have several sets of the Matco combination wrenched with the V style open end like the e-bay auction above. I have 6 and 12 point and standard and extra long. They are extremely good wrenches. I have SO metric wrenches, as well, and I have to say that the Matco is very similar to the SO. The SO do seem to be a tad nicer, but it isn't night and day. The Blackhawk tools I looked at at Carquest (I think) a couple of years ago weren't bad at all. At least they were chromed. I would compare them to Craftsman, only not US made.

 

[speed bump]

Honestly if I gave you a Blackhawk wrench, a Napa wrench, a Proto wrench, a mac wrench, and A Snap on wrench you probably wouldn't break one of them. As far as quality goes I have a bunch of US made Blackhawk tools and I can't tell a difference in the fit, finish, and quality between them and anybody elses wrenches.

Also I have only heard about the racheting wrenches being made in Taiwan and personally haven't seen anything other than the Ratcheting wrenches that were made in Taiwan but if I get a chance i'll take a look sometime. I'll probably buy some to just so long as they aren't chromed. (black oxide FTW).

 

[eschoendorff]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MATC...014QQitemZ330242344422QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If you can find the older Matco wrenches with the V style open end like the one in this auction, they're are EXCELLENT.

Because they're Bonney wrenches, right?

If you want Bonney wrenches, go to harryepstein.com

 

[Uncle Buck]

Because they're Bonney wrenches, right?

If you want Bonney wrenches, go to harryepstein.com

Yea, but selection is starting to get a bit spotty, so if you want some NOS Bonney, do it now cause the selection isn't getting any better!

 

[Fedwrench]

If we're talking about the basic satin finished Blackhawk wrench that has been rebadged from Husky to Master mechanic, I don't think you can honestly compare those to any variation of Matco wrench. If we're trying to compare the older US made Blackhawk full polish combination wrench sets to Matco, then there may be some similiarities like they're both shiney. You would probably have to do a case by case comparison and it would probably end up being based on personal preference in the end. Things like fit, finish, feel, balance,and price are opinion based and one's man's trash may be another man's treasure. Some of Matco wrenches have modified open ends to prevent spread and to grip the fastener better. Matco has a wider selection of sizes available in sae and metric. In the end it's about how the tool worked for you. Did it perform at the level you expected, or did it cause you more grief by breaking or damaging the fastener?
By the way, if you're comparing Blackhawk polished gearwrenches to the Matco proswing gearwrenches, there are only minor differences aside from the open end.