7/16 Square Drive Blackhawk

[twooter]

Hey guys, I'm new here I was going through some old tools and found these two items here and I thought I was losing my mind when I couldn't fit a 3/8, 1/2, or 1/4 socket on this and it's a 7/16 Drive. I found one article about this and not the tool itself online. The part number on it is 39996 every time I type that in nothing comes up. Is this a two-piece tool? Because there's a hole on the bottom of it. Thanks

 

[humber2]

Welcome to this group, google alloy artifacts, find Blackhawk and these tools from late 1930’s

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The 0 stamp is a date code. It is a 1940 free wheeling ratchet.

 

[3baygarage]

Hello and welcome. Is the hole threaded? That could be one of the two length models where the handle unscrews. Flip it over to change the length.

 

[twooter]

The hole is not threaded.

 

[four.cycle]

Hello twooter ane welcome to the site.
Keep this link handy at all times.
and this one too!

HERE is the thread for Blackhawk hand tools (exclusive of Porto-Power and Jacks)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's a hole for a cheater bar

 

[jgrickett]

This came up on another thread back in 2020, and someone suggested that perhaps the square drive had been machined, or perhaps even filed, down to 7/16. That was my first thought, too, looking at the nice, sharp corners on yours. On the other hand, the OP stated that his was found with a bunch of Blackhawk 7/16-drive sockets, so apparently those were a thing back in the early days of ratchet wrenches. The thread also mentions that they made a 9/32 drive set. Easy to see why both died out, though. Most of us have enough trouble keeping 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sets sorted out and organized.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Blackhawk made the 7/16 drive to replace the 3/8 and 1/2. Two drive sizes one ratchet. They made two versions of the ratchet the gearless like you have and the baldie which used a conventional ratchet mechanism.

I have the baldie and the handle extends with two sets of threads one in the collapsed position and one in the extended. Not familiar with yours but from the pix it looks like the handle may be separate from the rest and able to extend.

These are collectable pieces and no doubt an easy sell if you were so inclined

 

[Ralphstiff41]

I was going through some old tools and found a blackhawk 39996 ratchet. I was wonder does anyone know the value of these ratchet

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I would say 300 or so

 

[Ralphstiff41]

Thank you