Another $350 Craftsman ratchet

[alinc100]

Once again a Flex head ratchet popped up on Ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/111125433951?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Is there something magical about these ratchets?Hard to believe it is that much $$$. Of course I now look at every sale/flea/CL ad hoping to find one.

 

[softailgarage]

rare, this is the second one I've seen

 

[langss]

Not rare at all.I have two of them bought in the 80's.I think the saying.... A fool and his money is soon parted, applies.

 

[Mike007]

I don't get it.

 

[Wakefield]

I wonder when they first started putting "wear eye protection" on them

 

[jusridin]

Damn! I have one of those in my box?
Mine is a vv 44984, I may have to sell it!

 

[Farmall450]

And buy some more tools!!

 

[ken w.]

The ad said that this ratchet was a fine tooth ratchet. The one I have isn't fine tooth.Is the fine tooth one that's rare ?

 

[gatewaysysop]

I don't get it.

Me either. I have one, and I gave my dad one for free because I didn't want to keep dupes in my box. As I said the last time this came up, what the hell was I thinking?

No more early retirement for me!

 

[d.mcfarland]

Flex head RHFT ... apparently worth good money. Mental note taken.

 

[jakemac]

The VVQ code isn't listed on the Cman date thread at GG, but other codes similar to it don't date back past 2000.

Since when is ten years (max) considered "Vintage" ? I feel soooooo old.

I can't believe that someone actually paid $350 for it !

 

[devoncoolman]

Some a$$ hole bought it. My snapon was cheaper and better.

 

[Fedwrench]

I really don't understand why you guys get mad when someone buys a 1/2 drive Craftsman round head fine tooth quick release flex head ratchet at 10 times what it was new.

I mean it's not your money and the buyer obiviously wants pretty bad.

Hell, even the 3/8 drive versions run $150 on ebay.

I for one am on the look out for them. If more than a few people are willing to pay that, I consider it my duty to find them and sell it to the highest bidder. If I had one in my garage, it would be listed as we speak.

I'm happy for the sellers who can make a tidy profit even after ebay and paypal fees skim their take.

They're nice ratchets, not 10 times what they were new on the rack at Sears nice but, good ratchets. I'll keep looking.

 

[bimmerZ5]

so what was considered "fine tooth" back then? 45t? 36t was sort of standard for a long time....

 

[Flatintoone]

I really don't understand why you guys get mad when someone buys a 1/2 drive Craftsman round head fine tooth quick release flex head ratchet at 10 times what it was new.

I mean it's not your money and the buyer obiviously wants pretty bad.

Hell, even the 3/8 drive versions run $150 on ebay.

I for one am on the look out for them. If more than a few people are willing to pay that, I consider it my duty to find them and sell it to the highest bidder. If I had one in my garage, it would be listed as we speak.

I'm happy for the sellers who can make a tidy profit even after ebay and paypal fees skim their take.

They're nice ratchets, not 10 times what they were new on the rack at Sears nice but, good ratchets. I'll keep looking.

Thank you. If I had one of these, I'd happily use the $350 to help provide for my family.

 

[Fedwrench]

so what was considered "fine tooth" back then? 45t? 36t was sort of standard for a long time....

the 3/8 version had 41 teeth and the 1/2 drive version had 45.

30 -36 teeth was the norm actually to about 10 years ago when Matco came out with 60 and the tooth wars continue to this day

 

[jakemac]

so what was considered "fine tooth" back then? 45t? 36t was sort of standard for a long time....

"back then" was only just a few years ago. That ratchet isn't old at all.

My beef with this auction isn't that the seller was asking $350, or even that someone paid it (shaking head). My problem is that the seller listed it as "vintage" when it clearly (by date code) isn't. It may indeed be a "rare" ratchet, and worth more, IDK about fine tooth thumbwheels. But to know that it's rare and still call it vintage tells me that the seller either isn't informed, or is lying to make a buck. Which in my mind equals fraud.

 

[ChevyEFI]

My beef is RH stuff feels terrible.
So the buyer might need taken in for evaluation.
Other than that, yay for buyers.

 

[Rickster]

I have only seen one 3/8dr Craftsman RHFT Flex Head Ratchet and I've never seen a 1/2dr RHFT Flex until now! I have seen several of the regular style ratchet heads but the RHFT versions are indeed rare.

 

[Requin6]

Wow I got one of these ~15years ago. I love mine and use it pretty regularly, almost as a breaker bar. I had no idea these were fetching $300+!!!

Even so I still don't have the urge to sell!

 

[KinzeMech]

Wow I got one of these ~15years ago. I love mine and use it pretty regularly, almost as a breaker bar. I had no idea these were fetching $300+!!!
Even so I still don't have the urge to sell!

Hold a locking flex dual80 in your hand, then think about the fact you could sell, pay the ebay/paypal rip, buy the dual 80, and still have $150-$200 in your pocket.

so what was considered "fine tooth" back then? 45t? 36t was sort of standard for a long time....

It's 45 teeth, but the double pawl action gives it 90 clicks, or the same effect as a 90 tooth rat.

 

[TJJP77]

Damn! I have one of those in my box?
Mine is a vv 44984, I may have to sell it!

Although the picture is a bit fuzzy, I don't see the knurled "speeder" ring on yours, so I don't think it's the same one

I actually have one like the auction piece, but its definitely seen it's share of use breaking lugs or other large/tight fasteners loose whenever I work on my vehicles. It still works great, but its not very pretty. Now I kind of wish I'd been nicer to it!

 

[Bjkearns]

that is absolutely insane for some old ratchet

 

[Elwood42]

I should of invested in these

 

[John316]

Damn! I have one of those in my box?
Mine is a vv 44984, I may have to sell it!

As someone mentioned the 44984 is not the same as the 1/2 RHFT flex. In fact the 44984 can be had for around $15:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-R...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Back on topic... yeah crazy price, but they are fairly rare. I had a CM RHFT flex in 3/8" around a year ago I picked up and thought it sucked compared to pretty much every other 3/8 flex I own. To me, the thumbwheel makes less sense on a long flex ratchet. Although I actually like the old school standard RHFTs, the head is fat and the QR makes it even fatter, and the mech is not the best for strength really. I sold my 3/8" and quickly got like $125 for it, which is list price for a FLF80

Anyone drooling over this ratchet needs to take a look here: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Ratchets/12-994.html

 

[Josey Wales]

The buyer has more money than I do, so maybe I'm the fool.

 

[Requin6]

Hold a locking flex dual80 in your hand, then think about the fact you could sell, pay the ebay/paypal rip, buy the dual 80, and still have $150-$200 in your pocket.

Yeah I have a couple Dual 80 ratchets in 3/8 drive and they are definitely my go to.

This craftsman gets mostly breaker bar type action.

 

[4BT]

I have the same ratchet, although it is the more common cman ratchethead from the 80's-2000's. One of my personal favorites for engine teardown.

 

[hofferwood]

Not rare at all.I have two of them bought in the 80's.I think the saying.... A fool and his money is soon parted, applies.

Me either. I have one, and I gave my dad one for free because I didn't want to keep dupes in my box. As I said the last time this came up, what the hell was I thinking?

No more early retirement for me!

Wow I got one of these ~15years ago. I love mine and use it pretty regularly, almost as a breaker bar. I had no idea these were fetching $300+!!!

Even so I still don't have the urge to sell!

Break out the camera------let's see them

 

[hickfied]

Two were listed last night while I was reading this thread. In less than a day the auction for one 3/8 and one 1/2 went from .99 to $350, with 5 or 6 days left.

 

[ARFLY]

Two were listed last night while I was reading this thread. In less than a day the auction for one 3/8 and one 1/2 went from .99 to $350, with 5 or 6 days left.

This the listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/141024994746?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I don't get it. I would like to get a Craftsman 1/2" flex ratchet made in the USA, but not at that price.

 

[trout]

This the listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/141024994746?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I don't get it. I would like to get a Craftsman 1/2" flex ratchet made in the USA, but not at that price.

$26 w/ less than 50 minutes to go and only two bidders. With the added bonus of some nice new britain era pieces.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-V-CRAFT...736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a833a8970

It's only the RHFT flex ratchets that go for that much. All the tear drop ones are at decent prices.

 

[Requin6]

Break out the camera------let's see them

Ask and you shall receive!





Looks like the VVS date code is circa 2003. So it's more like ~10years old not 15 as I was estimating.

 

[hofferwood]

Ask and you shall receive!

Looks like the VVS date code is circa 2003. So it's more like ~10years old not 15 as I was estimating.

Thanks Requin6,
Sweet

 

[Josey Wales]

I don't get the 1970 Hemi Cuda that sells for a million dollars either...

 

[1Garageman]

Once again a Flex head ratchet popped up on Ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/111125433951?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Is there something magical about these ratchets?Hard to believe it is that much $$$. Of course I now look at every sale/flea/CL ad hoping to find one.

I might of just bought one of those at a yard sale last week for $2!!!
I am going to have to do some research!

 

[otis66]

so what was considered "fine tooth" back then? 45t? 36t was sort of standard for a long time....

I was turning wrenches when 30 tooth was considered "fine tooth" for a pear shaped ratchet. The only other option was SK or Wright round head ratchet. Course ratchets were 20 or 24 tooth.

 

[Fialaja]

There’s a Craftsman rhft flex head 3/8 ratchet up on EBay right now for $140.
I don’t get what makes people think these are worth that kind of money.
Glad I picked up my 2 flex head Eascos before the RHft ratchet craze hit!

 

[mikebaker1129]

I would guess they are somewhat rare in the Craftsman flavor.
I have seen 1 3/8 Craftsman RHFT flex in the wild,found at a pawnshop and it was $4.
Never seen a 1/2 RHFT flex but the hunt continues.

 

[WWheeler]

Thread raised from the dead.

So,if I'm reading the replies right the ratchet in the OP was a 1/2"dr Craftsman RHFT and it actually sold for $350 back in 2013. That's definitely the most I've seen or heard of one going for. That's more than twice what they typically fetch, though every now and then one sells for upwards of $200.

They're nice ratchets. I can't say I'm looking to sell any of mine even if people are paying ridiculously stupid money for them. Some were my grandfathers, and others were some of the first ratchets I owned. I was hooked on the fine tooth ~4° swing arc of my RHFTs decades before snappy's dual 80s came about. I still put them to use right regularly.

That said, if you look hard and fast enough they can apparently be had for less. I'd sure have bought this one though that sold the end of Aug if I had seen it. Someone got a 1/2" flex RHFT and an old 3/8 pear head flex for a 'best offer' of less than $85 + $13sh. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the person that got that deal flipped both of them and close to tripled their money in no time.