Artisan 1/2 inch drive ratchet.

[Musicinabottle]

I frequent a certain second hand store in my area, and am always finding small treasures. Today, I scored this Artisan shown here off ebay, but mine is identical, 1/2 drive ratchet in excellent condition for $4.99. Knowing my SK tools, I was aware that these 50 tooth ratchets are made by SK. These ratchets feel very comfortable in the hand and the fact that the innards are identical to the SK ratchets means that you can rebuild them easily and the handle is very strong. This shop really prices the Craftsman tools high, but they figured that Artisan was a hokey brand, not realizing that they are made by the desirable Sherman Klove. Anyways, I'd been wanting to get one of these Artisan's to add to my casual SK collection, and had been watching Ebay, but this here was a nice short cut off the bat **** crazy pricing trail. Anyone else have these ratchets by Artisan? Did they ever make them in 3/8 drive?

 

[raiderhillbilly]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=612376&d=1483665328

 

[Musicinabottle]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=612376&d=1483665328

Nice! Are they yours? I'm on the look out for other tools by them, but they seem very flighty!

 

[ken w.]

Don't forget about the SK Frankenstein ratchets. I see them pretty cheap as most think they are Asian .

 

[pilotmotor]

can you send me an image of " SK Frankenstein ratchets" I never heard of that before.

 

[jacked_72]

I picked one of those up in 1/2" a few months ago that was branded MAC. It was missing chrome, but I think it was only about $3. This isn't mine, but it shows the same ratchet: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111057

 

[Musicinabottle]

Looking at SK on a history site, it looks as though these ratchets are from the late 1930s onward. The site doesn't say anything about them being made in Taiwan but my ratchet doesn't say where it was made. I wonder if they indeed were made in the states or abroad. Sure is built well, that's for sure.

 

[jd_1138]

Great find -- you ****!

 

[Musicinabottle]

Great find -- you ****!

I gotta admit that most folks just sneer at smalls such as this, but I love small little finds like this. I thought about titling this thread "Small buy............... Big happy!" I'd be even happier if I could locate another for reasonable. I really like the feel of this ratchet.

 

[plinker]

Looking at SK on a history site, it looks as though these ratchets are from the late 1930s onward. The site doesn't say anything about them being made in Taiwan but my ratchet doesn't say where it was made. I wonder if they indeed were made in the states or abroad. Sure is built well, that's for sure.

It was US made, S-K never had an Asian made ratchet. A repair kit from a 42470 will drop in your Artisan, FWIW. These are referred to as "beavertail ratchets".

They did make 3/8 drive version but they're a bit harder to find and go high on ebay.

 

[bbrins]

I have all three sizes; 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. These were also produced as Mac, Chrome Alloy(Brazil Tools), Western Giant, Tiger Tools, and maybe others that I can't remember, or don't know about. My absolute favorite ratchet is a well worn Mac X3R, which is the same as the 3/8 version of the OP's ratchet.

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[Musicinabottle]

It was US made, S-K never had an Asian made ratchet. A repair kit from a 42470 will drop in your Artisan, FWIW. These are referred to as "beavertail ratchets".

They did make 3/8 drive version but they're a bit harder to find and go high on ebay.

Sucking up this info. Appreciate it! I have enough 3/8 ratchets to where I'm not going to actively search for one unless one happens to cross my path and is reasonably priced. I only had one long handled SK 1/2 ratchet, and a TCI torque wrench. I recently picked up an older Blackhawk as a ratchet for my to go box, but it's not really that strong of a ratchet on account of the age and design. So I'd like to replace the Blackhawk with a version of SK.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I have all three sizes; 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. These were also produced as Mac, Chrome Alloy(Brazil Tools), Western Giant, Tiger Tools, and maybe others that I can't remember, or don't know about. My absolute favorite ratchet is a well worn Mac X3R, which is the same as the 3/8 version of the OP's ratchet.

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When you say Brazil tools, are they produced in Brazil? I've never seen that style here, but they sound more common in your area, or did you go ebay? They are crazy expensive on ebay.

 

[bbrins]

Not made in Brazil. "Brazil Tools" was the brand name. My collection is about 50/50 eBay and yard sales or flea markets, the Artisan stuff definitely came from eBay. Artisan was Gambles house brand, and Gambles stores were nowhere near here, so it would be really rare to find one in the wild around here.

The Chrome Alloy(Brazil Tools) marked stuff that I have, as best I can remember also came from eBay. I do find a pretty good amount of SK around here.

 

[plinker]

Here's a 3/8.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ARTISAN-Tools-4570-Reversible-Ratchet-3-8-Drive-PAT-NO-2232477-Nice/183114906723?hash=item2aa27fbc63:gYcAAOSwvP9aoHzd

 

[Musicinabottle]

Not made in Brazil. "Brazil Tools" was the brand name.

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I see. I've heard that term before but wasn't sure. Thank you for the education! I feel a bit ashamed because I've been collecting SK since around 1985 -86 or so. I kind of slacked off in 1991 when I got married, and started obsessing about SK shortly after joining garage journal! I have to say that I have a couple Snap on, SK's and a vintage Blackhawk, but this Artisan is a favorite! They are super cool for what they are.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Here's a 3/8.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ARTISAN-Tools-4570-Reversible-Ratchet-3-8-Drive-PAT-NO-2232477-Nice/183114906723?hash=item2aa27fbc63:gYcAAOSwvP9aoHzd

I put in an offer on that very ratchet but he won't budge more than $3. $35 is a bit high. He had two of them as I recall. I might put a wanted ad here for another 1/2 inch, heck, I might even entertain getting a 3/8.

 

[davethorik]

Seems like the 1/4 drive versions of these sell for silly money on ebay.

I have a 3/8 Mac X3R that is my favorite of all my SK ratchets. It is so smooth! However the handle is cool to look at, but I don't like the ergos. I prefer the standard SK knurled grip. So my 2nd favorite of my SK ratchets, an early 3870, actually gets used.

 

[ken w.]

Here is the Frankenstein ratchet.

 

[Toothaker]

can you send me an image of " SK Frankenstein ratchets" I never heard of that before.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85209
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141902'

Ken W. - I was too slow, you got yours posted quicker.

 

[ken w.]

I put a better pic up.

 

[davethorik]

Here are some comparison pics in 3/8.

A Dresser-era SK 45170 and a Mac Sabina X3R. The Mac is shorter, I'm wanting to say it is the shortest 3/8 I have except SK 3/8 in 1/4 body.

That could be a selling point. I'm just not the biggest fan of the flat handle, although I like it more than the Indestro flat panel or craftsman rp because your fingers sink in to get a grip like an adjustable wrench.

Edit: but in the looks department, these beavertail rats have the rest beat!
Even the Mac's offset stamping seems to add to it's charm.
Also, some may spot the SK has a bow to it, that must be a factory defect as it came out of a NOS set like that.

 

[pilotmotor]

OK thanks guys , I remember when they released that ratchet , sometime in the 80's just never heard it referred to as such.

 

[mv213]

The handle on that Artisan looks super beefy! I like!

 

[Musicinabottle]

The handle on that Artisan looks super beefy! I like!

It is indeed stout. I actually like that handle more so than my regular SK ratchets. I wish they'd revive that design, then bring out a long handled version of it as well. I'm salivating for a project where I can use the beavertail! I went through and cleaned up the mechanism and greased it up.

 

[bbrins]

Here's a group shot of all of my "beavertail" ratchets. I have no idea how I wound up with three Mac X3R's.

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[Musicinabottle]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaang.......No wonder you don't see many of them anymore.

 

[3baygarage]

Darn nice lineup bbrins. Is that third from the bottom a Western Giant?

 

[bbrins]

Yep. Western Giant.

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[Musicinabottle]

Here's a group shot of all of my "beavertail" ratchets. I have no idea how I wound up with three Mac X3R's.

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Those two at the top of the photo must be older or what is the story with them?

 

[bbrins]

From what I understand, that type of ratchet predates and was replaced by the 4270/42470.

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[bonneyman]

can you send me an image of " SK Frankenstein ratchets" I never heard of that before.

Here ya go!