William S. Ward and his Perfect Handle hammer.

For any GJ members that like good tool stories this one has it all.

(Just a few special notes).

Some E-bay sellers are referring to it as rare; the jury is still out on that one.

I am listing ten links some have great stories like the tool company fire and the like; if some kind GJ member can make these links stay for a long time I will thank you in advance.

Lastly the two screwdrivers in my photos are from the Irwin co. not from the H.D. Smith and Co.

Now for the story (short version)
The H.D. Smith Co., of Plantsville Ct. got their start in 1855, by the turn of the century they started to produce the "PERFECT HANDLE" into a line of tools like hammers, screwdrivers, hatchets, monkey wrenches, etc. you get the general idea by now.

So how did Irwin and others borrow their ideas; sad fact is that the great Depression of the 1930's killed off the company. They were sold to Trimont who just stopped making the screwdrivers, which led other companies make copies of them.

Following is a brief synopsis of the 10 links for you to get the full story. Sit back and read the stories and the next time you have that tool in your hands you will know about the perfect handle.

Link 1 William S Ward Patent.
Link 2 The perfect handle screwdriver story.
Link 3 E-bay Sale.
Link 4 Old Garage Journal Sale.
Link 5 Jim Bode Tools Ad for the sale of the hammer.
Link 6 H.D. Smith screwdrivers woodworking story.
Link 7 AA Web-site showing the screwdriver.
Link 8 AA web-Site shoeing the Monkey Wrench.
Link 9 The Hatchet
Link 10 A great story about the company and it's fire.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=22431

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-perfect-handle-screwdriver.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-H-D.../201194054113?pt=Folk_Art&hash=item2ed819a1e1

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126470

http://www.jimbodetools.com/Fine-H-D-SMITH-Perfect-Handled-Hammer-p23757.html

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/joinery/h-d-smith-screwdrivers-–-not-neighborly

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti..._smith_660-6_screwdriver_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...dj_8in_wrench_monkey_pat_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

http://connecticuthistory.org/the-perfect-handle-hatchet-who-knew/

http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/get.php?message_id=190534&submit_thread=1

I've seen pictures of hammers before and I have a couple "Turn Screws" with this handle type I'll have to dig up. I'll have to come back later and read through the links you provided. Posts like this keep me coming back.

tl;dr

I've got one of those screwdrivers. What do I win?

It ***** as a screwdriver (too soft) but is good as a drift.

My grandfather still has some "Perfect Handle" tools, he will be a 102 this year

H.D. Smith Perfect Handle Solid Head Off-Set (15 degrees) 5/8 Nut Wrench, Opening 1 1/16 Inches.