Umm... New USA-Made Crescent Wrenches at HD?

[Stuey]

I just came back from Home Depot with a couple of new tools, include an 8" Crescent adjustable wrench.

I was looking over the display, and noticed that 2 wrenches in a combo pack had "USA" on the handles. I looked at the back - yup, made in USA.

Then I looked at the loose 6", 8", and 10" wrenches. Made in USA, Made in USA, Made in China. I took a closer look, the USA-made ones were in the back.

China: vinyl handle wraps
USA: grippier handle wraps

What I also noticed is that the USA wrenches appear to have tighter tolerances than older USA-made Crescent wrenches, which clanged when you shook 'em.

I don't think what I saw was NOS since the packaging had Crescent's newer branding. I'm really hoping this these are new products.

Update: Cell phone photos added.

 

[SMKS]

Will you be posting more info or pics here or on TG? I'd be interested in seeing them and the packaging.

 

[Brownsfan]

You saw NOS stuff. They are all china made now. Took me a month to find a USA made 8".

 

[wjamyers]

sorry for my ignance, peeps but, what's NOS?

 

[beatcad]

sorry for my ignance, peeps but, what's NOS?

new old stock

 

[retDAC]

New Old Stock. It's usually something no longer made. Can be something that was replaced/superseded. Can also be something still made but the stock you're looking at is some years old and not sold when one would expect for whatever reasons.

 

[SMKS]

You saw NOS stuff. They are all china made now. Took me a month to find a USA made 8".

Stuart is pretty on-the-ball on these issues. He specifically noted that the packaging has the new Crescent branding.

If memory serves, when they released the Chinese Crescent wrenches they came in new packaging with a different Crescent logo.

So, it would seem very odd that now, something like a year after most stores started receiving the Chinese wrenches, we now have USA made wrenches in the new packaging.

Could they be old stock? Yes. But Stuart's comments make it seem like that may not be the explanation.

 

[beatcad]

like when a hardware store does a serious cleaning of the back room(ware house) and some one finds an unopened box full of real deal made in USA vise-grips that's been hidden behind a stack of stuff for 5 years.
of course they'lle put 'em out for sale. and thats the day i walk in and catch them hanging 'em up for display and buy as many as i can.

a guy can dream, right

 

[bobcatdan]

I noticed at Fleet Farm, USA wrenches and that is a large store with product turn over. I have seen chicom wrenches on the rack before. I didn't pay attention to the packaging. I figured they found old stock in back.

 

[basspro]

I said this before, I can swear I seen the new branded Crescents with USA stamped on em' at Fleet recently. I was just thinking last night actually...what am I going to do when my beloved 12" USA Crescent shits the bed, which may be soon... hopefully another USA replacement.

 

[comedyman809]

http://www.grainger.com/product/CRE.../N-/Ntt-crescent+wrench?sst=subset&s_pp=false

Coo not listed on their new website, but zoom in the pic, you can see USA right on them

 

[comedyman809]

http://www.grainger.com/product/4NV53?cm_sp=HIO-_-HIDP-_-BTM_BTB_P&cm_vc=IDPBBZ11

coo is listed as USA

 

[woody 73]

Not sure about the tool in question and not to hijack the post but HD is stepping up to the bat; worth having a second look at some of their tools. lowes seems to be dropping the ball and HD is taking up that slack.

 

[metaldad]

could it be?
cooper's website, go to adjustable wrenches, click on the hi res image of selected tool, every non gimmicky wrench is USA
http://www.cooperhandtools.com.au/ProductDetails/ViewDetails.aspx?CategoryId=1&Subcategory1Id=9
and........... on apex's USA site, same thing.
http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands...1&att_id=CRE001&att1=Wrenches&att2=Adjustable

 

[Brownsfan]

Well I guess there's hope? Would be nice wouldn't it. Are you talking about the stupid C logo? I will have to look closer now. I was always looking for the package that had more red and USA in the bottom right corner. The wrench itself stamped with the new logo? Anytime I have found a old USA wrench it was in the back of the peg hook

 

[JasonCAT]

http://www.grainger.com/product/CRE.../N-/Ntt-crescent+wrench?sst=subset&s_pp=false

Coo not listed on their new website, but zoom in the pic, you can see USA right on them

That doesn't mean you're going to get USA. That just means that the stock picture they have says USA. Sears gets people with this one all the time.

 

[wjamyers]

new old stock

New Old Stock. It's usually something no longer made. Can be something that was replaced/superseded. Can also be something still made but the stock you're looking at is some years old and not sold when one would expect for whatever reasons.

Thanks guys!

 

[Tellingthem]

I was going to spring for the craftsman set this weekend but I may have to check these out instead. I would love to own some new USA Crescent wrenches.

 

[SMKS]

I was going to spring for the craftsman set this weekend but I may have to check these out instead. I would love to own some new USA Crescent wrenches.

The Craftsman adjustables are made in the USA by Western Forge (at least for now). They're better than any Crescent brand wrench I've seen from recent years.

 

[cburnscrx]

The Craftsman adjustables are made in the USA by Western Forge (at least for now). They're better than any Crescent brand wrench I've seen from recent years.

Agreed. I bought a NOS Crescent USA 8" adjustable from Lowes recently...it's the worst adjustable wrench I own including the Chinese Kobalts. I've got the Craftsman Pro's which I really like.

 

[Burgerkong]

Iregas all the way! (shameless plug for my Channellocks haha)

 

[Tellingthem]

The Craftsman adjustables are made in the USA by Western Forge (at least for now). They're better than any Crescent brand wrench I've seen from recent years.

Agreed. I bought a NOS Crescent USA 8" adjustable from Lowes recently...it's the worst adjustable wrench I own including the Chinese Kobalts. I've got the Craftsman Pro's which I really like.

Thanks...still might take a look just out of curiosity. But if they don't impress I'll go with the craftsman. Heh would have bought them already but I have to wait for a paycheck. As always the shopping list is bigger than the wallet.

 

[kunkernator]

By far, the best adjustable I have is made by Wilde. I got it during Wilde Wednesday, and I actually use it often. I even compared it to Snap On's, and it still has better tolerances.

As for the "new" (possibly) Crescent...... We can only hope for a glimmer of light in USA production.

 

[Jawn]

I saw these too... new-logo USA 2-piece dipped handle set at my local HD store. Did a double take and checked the package COO... sure enough, USA.

 

[seagullplayer]

I order this 4" Crescent from McMaster-Carr a couple months ago, it is made in the USA.

I carry it in my pocket and use it just about everyday at work, next to my Leatherman its the most used tool I own. It might look like a toy, but it has proved its worth many times over for me.

 

[kngelv]

I picked up a 6" NOS USA Crescent at Lowe's a few months ago. The jaws are already deformed. My Craftsman 6" is over ten years old and still in great shape.

James

 

[jeffmoss26]

Crescent's website seems to be pretty out of date...old logos, etc.

 

[Stuey]

Model numbers are different:

AC28CVS for China
AC18CVSML for USA

USA packaging is card stock with plastic on top, China packaging is plastic clamshell.

There were a LOT of these USA-made wrenches.

A quick shake and they rattle less than older USA-made Crescents.

I visited this Home Depot in the past and picked up some of the made-in-China ones when they first came out. At that time there was a branding and packaging shift between USA-made and China-made.

 

[SMKS]

By far, the best adjustable I have is made by Wilde. I got it during Wilde Wednesday, and I actually use it often. I even compared it to Snap On's, and it still has better tolerances.

I think the Wilde adjustables are made by Western Forge. I don't think Wilde makes them in house. I don't have one to look at right now, but if memory serves I noticed that when I looked at them in person.

There should be a little "W" "F" on the bottom of the handle if they're made by WF.

There are really only two companies I'm aware of that make adjustable wrenches in the US. Western Forge makes most of the ones you'll find sold by many different brands. Klein also makes some adjustable wrenches in the USA in one of their factories.

If it turns out Apex has restarted US production of Crescent brand wrenches, then I guess that would make three, but right now it's too early to tell for sure.

 

[Stuey]

I dug out my older smartphone and looked through the images.

Yup, I took photos in Jan 2012 showing the differences between older USA-made wrenches and then-new China-made ones.

 

[Brownsfan]

Ok. Just was at HD and yes there are some newer ones USA made. The 2 pack with the 6"and 10" and the single 15". The rest were china. One of the 15" said USA on the package but not on the wrench itself. Maybe there was a over stock of old USA made wrenches?

 

[jsackin]

From what I've heard Crescent has had a push to introduce their Chinese adjustables to their retail clients, but has reserved the USA wrenches for their more industrial clients, one of them being, the US government. If the government continues their policy of trying to buy US tools whenever possible, then I think Crescent will keep both lines.

From what I've heard through the grapevine, APEX is looking to make some changes to Crescent, one of them being that they're going to release a much cheaper tool line. Whether this will replace the Crescent product out there, or whether this will be a secondary line like Craftsman Evolv, I'm not sure. Word on the tool street though.

Jori
Harry J. Epstein Co.

 

[cburnscrx]

From what I've heard Crescent has had a push to introduce their Chinese adjustables to their retail clients, but has reserved the USA wrenches for their more industrial clients, one of them being, the US government. If the government continues their policy of trying to buy US tools whenever possible, then I think Crescent will keep both lines.

From what I've heard though the grapevine, APEX is looking to make some changes to Crescent, one of them being that they're going to release a much cheaper tool line. Whether this will replace the Crescent product out there, or whether this will be a secondary line like Craftsman Evolv, I'm not sure. Word on the tool street though.

Jori
Harry J. Epstein Co.

Very interesting...

Cheaper than Crescent? There's only so much cheaper you can go. Are they looking to compete with Evolv, Kobalt, and Sheffield? Even Husky is priced similarly to Crescent. I think when I purchased my Crescent (USA) a few months ago, it was maybe a $1 or $2 more than the Kobalt of similar size...Wow.

 

[comedyman809]

my armstrongs are usa made and i think they are the same as the more recent crescent usa wrenches, who actually made them, was it danaher or crescent?

they are damn good wrenches

 

[comedyman809]

was at hd last night, the crescents on display were all USA, even the small diagonal crescent cutters were USA, looks like something is happening with the company

i also saw some husky screwdrivers that said" assembled in USA with global materials)
maybe a new beginning for some us made tools!!!! that with the mayhew stuff i like!!!

 

[Stuey]

was at hd last night, the crescents on display were all USA, even the small diagonal crescent cutters were USA, looks like something is happening with the company

i also saw some husky screwdrivers that said" assembled in USA with global materials)
maybe a new beginning for some us made tools!!!! that with the mayhew stuff i like!!!

That 2pc mini pliers and cutters set has always been USA-made, in my recollection at least.

 

[Brownsfan]

The screwdrivers have always been USA as well as the mini pliers. Th USA made adjustables is new. Maybe HD is trying to up their tool selection. Seems they are going forward while lowes goes in reverse. I was in lowes yesterday and ALL the Crescent adjustables were china. Why some USA at HD and not at lowes. It's been said here before that HD caters more to the pro than lowes. Pros maybe want better tools than home owners.

 

[Stuey]

The screwdrivers have always been USA as well as the mini pliers. Th USA made adjustables is new. Maybe HD is trying to up their tool selection. Seems they are going forward while lowes goes in reverse. I was in lowes yesterday and ALL the Crescent adjustables were china. Why some USA at HD and not at lowes. It's been said here before that HD caters more to the pro than lowes. Pros maybe want better tools than home owners.

I checked my local Lowes as well, and they still had some older USA-made Crescents and newer imported ones.

 

[Brownsfan]

My lowes had USA crescent adjustables but I bought them all. The only had one of each size way back on the hooks. They also had some NOS USA vice grips. Bought all those as well.

 

[allinon72]

All but one of the adjustables at my HD had USA versions in the back

I much prefer the USA style grip.