Snap-On Ferret F-70N history lesson needed

BFBOB · Dec 3, 2011

I have a Snap-On Ferret F-70N 3/8 ratchet, and it has such an intrigueing name I'm curious about exactly what I've got. I've been able so far to ascertain it was made between 1937 and 1946, and that's about it. In looking at pictures and reading descriptions it seems there are several variations: Reverse lever may be screwed or peened, May or may not have patent and COO stampings, may have concealed or visible bushing, Phillips or slotted screws, and may have a date code between the "off" and "on" which indicates the last digit of the year of manufacture.

I have found nothing aout WHEN these variations were made, except for the date code, and I have that from only one source.

To complicate matters, many of these characteristics can change at rebuild time!

So, here are the details of my little wratchet: Reverse lever is peened, there is no Patent or COO stamp, the bushing is visible, the screws are Phillips-fillister head, and the date code is 9 (maybe).

I'm enclosing a couple of pictures because the date code is a bit odd. It appears to be a 9, but a kind of odd one. Turn it upside down, and it really looks more like a capital G. And a picture of the logo, just in case there are subtle clues there.

Thanks for any light all you Tool Gooroos can shed!

Oh, yeah, after a disassembly, cleaning and greasing, it works like new!

RKSpeed · Dec 3, 2011

Date code looks like 1939 to me.

I just researched these Ferret ratchets myself, because I was curious why Snap-On would put Ferret on the handle. From what Ive read, Snap-On advertised that their ratchets could "Ferret" out the hard to get to fasteners

Never seen a Snap-On ratchet that had the reverse lever screwed on but maybe I wasnt paying enough attention.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32932#post438432

lbgradwell · Dec 3, 2011

From the 1939 catalogue:

yasha32 · Dec 3, 2011

have one similiar except 1\4.... same ferret thing too. kinda cool

I can fix anything · Dec 3, 2011

Thats a G 1945

BFBOB · Dec 3, 2011

RKSpeed said:
Date code looks like 1939 to me.

I just researched these Ferret ratchets myself, because I was curious why Snap-On would put Ferret on the handle. From what Ive read, Snap-On advertised that their ratchets could "Ferret" out the hard to get to fasteners

Never seen a Snap-On ratchet that had the reverse lever screwed on but maybe I wasnt paying enough attention.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32932#post438432

There was one that sold recently on evilBay -- showed the screw clearly. Also a post by a GJ member contained a scan of the SO rebuild instructions. It had details for screw vs peened levers. Very instructive.

BFBOB · Dec 3, 2011

I can fix anything said:
Thats a G 1945

Why?
"It's not that I don't trust you, William Tell."

Assuming first year (1937) would be "A" , "G" would be 1943. Logically, that is. Can you cite references?

Muddying the waters further, it could be a stylized 6 just as easily, making it the incredibly valuable LAST YEAR Special Edition.

Make me an offer?

NinetyTwoFifty · Dec 3, 2011

lbgradwell · Dec 3, 2011

I think it's a 1939.

Granted the mark does not look exactly like the chart code, but it looks more like the 1939 than the 1945!

930dreamer · Dec 3, 2011

I'm curious now, I'll need to check mine.

snapmom · Dec 3, 2011

I have a 1936 F70N ferret. Most of the 36-38 ones had a screw instead of a pin. There is not to much diff. in these over the years. the early ones had brass selector switches. Not much diff in price, some collectors just want the one with the screw in the switch.
The 37 date on the collecting site, its from the cats, but they were made starting in 36

RKSpeed · Dec 3, 2011

snapmom youre the resident expert it seems. Is it a G or a 9? Seems to be a bad/in-complete stamping either way. Im sorta leaning towards G now, but upside down?

snapmom · Dec 3, 2011

It looks more like a G, a 39 has a flat side on the 9.

BFBOB · Dec 4, 2011

NinetyTwoFifty said:

Well, thanks for effin' nothin'

Examined carefully with an 8X loupe, my ratchet's marks most closely resemble --- none of the above!!!

What it really looks like arrrrrrgggh.

Is a capital G. The outer line is a circle, not a diamond, octogon or hexagon. So it must be '39 or '40. Only it doesn't have the vertical cutoff of the '39, and the horizontal bar doesn't continue all the way across as in the '39 and '40.!
In fact, in all the glyphs that have a horizontal bar, the only one that doesn't go across the full width is for 2027, and I kinda doubt that's it, since it isn't made of stainless, and doesn't have any flux capacitors.

You'd have to hold it upside down to make it look like a G, and even then, it doesn't look at all like Snap-On's G! So, I think I'll declare it a 1939.

Anyone want to debate or request more photos, I'm game.

I can fix anything · Dec 4, 2011

BFBOB said:
Well, thanks for effin' nothin'

Examined carefully with an 8X loupe, my ratchet's marks most closely resemble --- none of the above!!!

What it really looks like arrrrrrgggh.

Is a capital G. The outer line is a circle, not a diamond, octogon or hexagon. So it must be '39 or '40. Only it doesn't have the vertical cutoff of the '39, and the horizontal bar doesn't continue all the way across as in the '39 and '40.!
In fact, in all the glyphs that have a horizontal bar, the only one that doesn't go across the full width is for 2027, and I kinda doubt that's it, since it isn't made of stainless, and doesn't have any flux capacitors.

You'd have to hold it upside down to make it look like a G, and even then, it doesn't look at all like Snap-On's G! So, I think I'll declare it a 1939.

Anyone want to debate or request more photos, I'm game.

Dude, G , like for real, seriously :beer:

BFBOB · Dec 4, 2011

snapmom said:
It looks more like a G, a 39 has a flat side on the 9.

Okay, now I'm leaning more toward '40. Your pictures show quite a difference between the actual object and the "supposed to be" in the date code paper. On mine, the stamping is lighter toward the right side. So, maybe a '40 with the bar disappearing before it reaches the right? BUT, then how would that make the circle disappear on the lower left before it reaches the left end of the bar? It can't be a G; the Snap-On G is much too rectangular. Must be a deformed, defective 9 or theta. Could be '39 or '40.

My brain hurts.

So, the date codes. Do they appear on all SO products, or just ratchets? I only have a few SO sockets, and a quick glance didn't reveal any.

Thanks to all for input!

I can fix anything · Dec 4, 2011

BFBOB said:
Okay, now I'm leaning more toward '40. Your pictures show quite a difference between the actual object and the "supposed to be" in the date code paper. On mine, the stamping is lighter toward the right side. So, maybe a '40 with the bar disappearing before it reaches the right? BUT, then how would that make the circle disappear on the lower left before it reaches the left end of the bar? It can't be a G; the Snap-On G is much too rectangular. Must be a deformed, defective 9 or theta. Could be '39 or '40.

My brain hurts.

So, the date codes. Do they appear on all SO products, or just ratchets? I only have a few SO sockets, and a quick glance didn't reveal any.

Thanks to all for input!

Not a 40, here is a 40 with my G Ferret next to it. My G is lightly stamped and my camera *****. It is upside down like yours. The one on my G 1/2" is sideways.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

BFBOB · Dec 4, 2011

Posting one more picture, as close as I can get. Too round to be the SnapOn G for 1946, too round to be the 9 for 1939, but a broken stamp, missing pieces could make it a theta for 1940.

My best guess. Others welcome.

I can fix anything · Dec 4, 2011

BFBOB said:
Posting one more picture, as close as I can get. Too round to be the SnapOn G for 1946, too round to be the 9 for 1939, but a broken stamp, missing pieces could make it a theta for 1940.

My best guess. Others welcome.

so they stamped my 1/2" drive ratchet in the pic with the same broken stamp? :wtf:

BFBOB · Dec 4, 2011

HEY, progress! The mark on you r 1/2" is remarkably similar to mine. But, notice, the overall shape is waaaay wrong to be a G. The G is very rectangular, and our marks are perfectly round. Even the 6 is very narrow compared to the '39 and '40 marks. I think both of ours are '40, but with a defective stamp, missing a little on the crossbar and the lower left circle. A worn stamp couldn't ADD material to turn that slab-sided G into a rounded 9 or theta, nor could it add material to round out the straight part of the outer circle of the 9.
Gotta be 1940.
Too bad; when I learned of the production run of these ratchets, I was hoping it would turn out to be a '38, to match my '38 Ford pickup.

I can fix anything · Dec 4, 2011

I say bad artwork on that chart, please view below.

http://www.collectingsnapon.com/Data_Chart/Date Chart.html

lbgradwell · Dec 4, 2011

I still say you both have 1939s!

The Collecting Snap-on chart mark for 1939 is very similar...

rick carpenter · Jul 16, 2013

(Edited!)

I hope everyone from this old thread is still here. I know SnapMom is because she answered my "Disassembling S/O F-70N ratchet" ( http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208557 ) post of earlier today. My ratchet is date stamped just like BFBOB's, and I assume a 1940 model as a poor choice best bet. If the date stamp is viewed with the handle straight down, it can be described as a circle starting about 10:30 going counter clockwise until about 11:30 then rounding in (definitely) at 11:00 and stopping past dead center but not connecting to the circle. Definitely not a 1939, as it has the flat where BFBOB's and mine do not. But... it's not the theta of 1940 in the chart. Hmmm, could the chart be wrong? But "I Can Fix Anything's" theta looks to be a 1940 theta!

In addition, my serial number is 185413 with the bottom of the 8 gumped up, and the lower leg of the F in FERRET is simply not there. The Snap On wordmark is more like "Snap/on" (like BFBOB's) rather than having a stylized dash. However my horizontal line under Snap/on is not interrupted by the descender of the "p".

What's the best lube? It's soaking in atf right now.

snapmom · Jul 16, 2013

could be a 42.

fourtythree · Jul 16, 2013

"what's the best lube?"

Mine likes super lube just fine, but I've also used bearing grease, which was also fine.

rick carpenter · Jul 16, 2013

Here's the pics... First pic shows the bad 8 in the serial number. Second pic shows the date stamp. On closer look the transition from the circle to the flat (about 11:00 in the pic) is rounded less than I originally thought, but it is rounded and not a sharp transition, and it does not meet the circle at its end (about 5:00 in the pic). Third pic shows the missing part of the F in FERRET and the underline under Snap/on not interrupted by the p's descender.

I have a S/O F-220 3/8" drive 11/16" socket with the same date stamp as above except that the transition from circle to flat is sharp. There's no theta in either tool but 1940 is, again, in my opinion a poor choice best bet.

FWIW, I did notice that the chrome on the hand grip of the handle is satiny and the rest is shiny.

snapmom · Jul 16, 2013

Its a G for 1945.

rick carpenter · Jul 16, 2013

Date solved!

Frank Murch on the Collecting Snap On website's forum discussing date stamps and warranty issues said: It did not stay this way, during WWII and for cheaper – industrial customers the warranty was different. All tools that carry a WWII stamp – That is an “E” or “G” (Emergency or Government) have zero warranty. And then Alloy Artifacts further refines the G code for 1945.

Ta-dah!

[Edit: Between the time I was researching this and posting it, SnapMom came up with 1945 also. I did not check the latest posting before I posted else I would have credited her. So, thanks SnapMom!]

ganymede · Jul 16, 2013

Boy do I miss my ferret and this thread doesn't help.

I've got an F710a now and it feels like **** in comparison . My ol ferret was smaller, felt better in my hand and was smooth as silk.

3xpendable · Jul 16, 2013

1939 all day

Bruce Lancaster · Jul 17, 2013

The very compact wartime G as shown in the photo in post #26 is what I see at home on my tools. The G in the post #14 chart is so far off it is unrecognizable, and the G in the chart over at "collecting Snap-on", while it adds a bit of curvature, also seems entirely wrong.

Pontiac787 · Aug 31, 2016

I've had one of these in my ratchet drawer for a while. I have no idea where it came from and I never thought it was this old. I always assumed it was from the early 60's but the date stamp shows it's a 1946.

Realmongo · Mar 9, 2024

I've got to go with G for Government.

JSCraftsman · Jun 6, 2024

snapmom said:
It looks more like a G, a 39 has a flat side on the 9.

Hi again snapmom, I have a question for you about the long handle F70N. It looks to be around 10 to 12 inches in it's overall length? Do you remember exactly what the length was? Thanks

-Jed

snapmom said:
It looks more like a G, a 39 has a flat side on the 9.

snapmom · Jun 6, 2024

10 inch

JSCraftsman · Jun 8, 2024

snapmom said:
10 inch

Excellent! Thank you.

Realmongo · Jun 9, 2024

fourtythree said:
"what's the best lube?"

Mine likes super lube just fine, but I've also used bearing grease, which was also fine.

After a good cleaning, I tried the Super Lube and My Ferret now operates so quiet and smooth, that I'm using that exclusively in all my ratchets.

kevlar59 · Sep 30, 2024

JSCraftsman said:
Excellent! Thank you.

9
I've read this entire thread & enjoyed it
As I too have one of these little ratchets, so I have questions also. A little more unique maybe? If I may go directly to snapmom with it. It's very simple & yet hard to figure out why? As the picture shows the 'Snap-On'
name has been filed
off! This is a 1944 unit. Could there be a reason in war time to remove the company name? I'm at a loss on this one! Any ideas snapmom
???
Or is anyone still here?

JSCraftsman · Sep 30, 2024

kevlar59 said:
9
I've read this entire thread & enjoyed it
As I too have one of these little ratchets, so I have questions also. A little more unique maybe? If I may go directly to snapmom with it. It's very simple & yet hard to figure out why? As the picture shows the 'Snap-On'
name has been filed
off! This is a 1944 unit. Could there be a reason in war time to remove the company name? I'm at a loss on this one! Any ideas snapmom
???
Or is anyone still here?

Hello kevlar59, not to my knowledge. It could of been done for contract purposes, by the owner of the tool...or by anyone for that matter (tool customization). But once or twice, I stumbled upon one or two similar modifications where the logo was clearly ground off the body, (not missed being stamped in production). My assumption was that the previous owner had removed it for whatever reason.

d42jeep · Oct 1, 2024

Wartime Ferret set. I’ve had plenty of help from Snapmom over the years.

The sliding tee has a 1945 date code. Grind off tools often have manufacturing defects but may be perfectly functional.
-Don

Snap-On Ferret F-70N history lesson needed

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