Bahco
- Thread starter jamesryeo
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designer485
Well-known member
Bahco (via Snap-On) had a line of SAE USA made sockets in the early to mid 2000s that were targeted toward the trades. Is the socket you have metric or SAE? It looks like it may be Metric, but i didn't think Bahco had any USA made metric sockets.
Here is one of the sets.
Here is one of the sets.
neophyte
Well-known member
Bahco ( and most of the other brands and companies Bahco owned at the time) were purchased at some point by Snap-On, and eventually became Snap-On Europe. (Supposedly around 1997-1999).
At one point,
maybe around the time period Amazon started carrying tools give or take,
Bahco started selling sets of USA made wrenches and sockets.
The wrenches only came in SAE (fractional inch) sizes from what I recall, and were basically identical to Williams Super Combo wrenches, but without the grooves in the open end to grip off corner.
The socket sets may have also only been offered in SAE sizes as well.
I think around the same time period, Snap-On/Williams may have also been manufacturing tools for Harley-Davidson, and maybe Lowes, although Lowe's might have been earlier.
I’m not sure whether the USA Made Bahco wrenches and dockets were ever offered in Europe which is Bahco’s main market.
Otherwise, there were previous Bahco wrenches that gad been manufactured in South America (I think Argentina) and Bahco owned a few German manufacturers like Belzer, so there may have been German made wrenches as well.
These were completely different from the USA made Bahco tools.
At one point,
maybe around the time period Amazon started carrying tools give or take,
Bahco started selling sets of USA made wrenches and sockets.
The wrenches only came in SAE (fractional inch) sizes from what I recall, and were basically identical to Williams Super Combo wrenches, but without the grooves in the open end to grip off corner.
The socket sets may have also only been offered in SAE sizes as well.
I think around the same time period, Snap-On/Williams may have also been manufacturing tools for Harley-Davidson, and maybe Lowes, although Lowe's might have been earlier.
I’m not sure whether the USA Made Bahco wrenches and dockets were ever offered in Europe which is Bahco’s main market.
Otherwise, there were previous Bahco wrenches that gad been manufactured in South America (I think Argentina) and Bahco owned a few German manufacturers like Belzer, so there may have been German made wrenches as well.
These were completely different from the USA made Bahco tools.
I've got 2 Bahco sockets, they're made in Taiwan. Not that I care, just saying. Which BTW, these only have the size stamped, the Bahco name is laser etched on them.
Man I had a heck of a time finding them. I couldn't find anyone in the US selling Bahco sockets individually. Well they're actually square male for drain plugs. I ended up only finding someone in England who would sell & ship to me. But I had to call them to place the order over the phone.
I don't have international calling on my cell plan. I ended up using an app like WhatsApp or something that allowed me to call for free. But it was limited to like 5min calls at a time. Was pretty interesting trying to get the order placed in that time limit. Luckily the lady who answered the phone was who I was corresponding with through email so it went smoothly.
I was surprised how cheap they were. I needed 2 sizes, because of price & availability (inexpensive & hard to find), I ordered 2 of each size. 4 sockets with shipping was only 19 GBP. But that was in 2019.
Most of Bahco's stuff has not been made in Sweden for quite some time. I think it's just some of their saw blades now? Wrenches moved to Spain a while back.
Anyway, the satin finish sockets in the background of that shot (which I also have) are made in Taiwan. I don't believe that any of their socketry is made in China. The chrome USA socket is courtesy of Bahco's Snap-On connection while the shape/design is modeled off of the earlier Sandvik Belzer sockets.
You can definitely buy new Bahco made in USA sockets in Europe, and they come in metric sizes. I bought one a few months back, deep 13mm. Really nicely made socket. I saw it on a stand in a very generic hardware store and it really intrigued me. Probably the most expensive socket I ever bought at near 20€. It's 12 point though.
They had all kinds of metric socket sizes on a rack, mixed together with the Chinese sockets, and they were all selling for the same price. Like, the other 13mm's on the shelf I took it off were made in PRC, this was the only USA made one. It was so strange and it stood out, that's why I grabbed it - quite different designs, the PRC ones were a lot more satin finished and were notably lighter in the hand, and the inside broaching seemed more shallow.
Also, the others definitely said "made in PRC" on the sticker (not written on the socket), so I don't think those are made in Taiwan.
There were very few USA made ones, and most came in quite useless sizes. I don't know, maybe the more common sizes useful for our DIN fasteners were bought up, or maybe they only made the odd sizes in the USA? Because they came in 16mm, 18mm, 21mm... Those are pretty useless in Europe but I know the ANSI/ISO metric system uses them. Also, I assume they're probably used by the ANSI metric system cause they're closer to certain imperial sizes and it makes it easier to use either wrench on them?
This 13mm deep socket was the only USA made socket that I could find useful...
They had all kinds of metric socket sizes on a rack, mixed together with the Chinese sockets, and they were all selling for the same price. Like, the other 13mm's on the shelf I took it off were made in PRC, this was the only USA made one. It was so strange and it stood out, that's why I grabbed it - quite different designs, the PRC ones were a lot more satin finished and were notably lighter in the hand, and the inside broaching seemed more shallow.
Also, the others definitely said "made in PRC" on the sticker (not written on the socket), so I don't think those are made in Taiwan.
There were very few USA made ones, and most came in quite useless sizes. I don't know, maybe the more common sizes useful for our DIN fasteners were bought up, or maybe they only made the odd sizes in the USA? Because they came in 16mm, 18mm, 21mm... Those are pretty useless in Europe but I know the ANSI/ISO metric system uses them. Also, I assume they're probably used by the ANSI metric system cause they're closer to certain imperial sizes and it makes it easier to use either wrench on them?
This 13mm deep socket was the only USA made socket that I could find useful...
MBfreak
MEMBER EMERITUS
BAHCO has been cannibalized since the 70´s. Started with wrenches made in Portugal, and they were actually very good.
The one BACHO tool made in Sweden I found after 1985 was a scraper for fine woodworking finish. 1,2 mm stainless, perfectly ground edges . Sold at a big box store ( Clas Olsson)
Ola
The one BACHO tool made in Sweden I found after 1985 was a scraper for fine woodworking finish. 1,2 mm stainless, perfectly ground edges . Sold at a big box store ( Clas Olsson)
Ola
cherrybomb
Well-known member
I have not inspected the Bahco sets in New Zealand hardware stores.We just got back in Feb.But the brand is very common there,I see as I walk the aisle.The store is similar to HD.I'm thinking they maybe are not top of the line,average home owner?Stanley also floods this store.Cost of Living is high here ,BTW.
Bahco is definitely not the absolute top of the line, but at the same time it is really decent and better than what many professional mechanics use. Depends on what you look at.
The USA socket I posted is probably same quality as Williams, which is kind of the same quality as Snap On (or nearly there, depending who you ask). That's basically as good of a socket as they can be. The 80 tooth ratchets are using the same mechanism as snap on dual 80, which is again about the best on the market as far as ratchets go. Their adjustable wrench is also the same as sold by Snap On, and also Bahco is the inventor of the original monkey spanner way back, and it's one of the best ones you can buy today.
The screwdrivers are also pretty beefy, I held some of their "demolition" grade screwdrivers and they're really solid. Not sure who makes them but I was impressed (maybe made in Portugal or Spain? Not sure).
I'm sure the regular wrenches are at the very least quite decent too.
The knives are still made in Sweden, and seem to be really nice (awesome considering it's
an 8€ knife).
The USA socket I posted is probably same quality as Williams, which is kind of the same quality as Snap On (or nearly there, depending who you ask). That's basically as good of a socket as they can be. The 80 tooth ratchets are using the same mechanism as snap on dual 80, which is again about the best on the market as far as ratchets go. Their adjustable wrench is also the same as sold by Snap On, and also Bahco is the inventor of the original monkey spanner way back, and it's one of the best ones you can buy today.
The screwdrivers are also pretty beefy, I held some of their "demolition" grade screwdrivers and they're really solid. Not sure who makes them but I was impressed (maybe made in Portugal or Spain? Not sure).
I'm sure the regular wrenches are at the very least quite decent too.
The knives are still made in Sweden, and seem to be really nice (awesome considering it's
an 8€ knife).geojag
Well-known member
I wonder if Armstrong / Dahaner made the Bahco sockets. I went to college in Fayetteville, AR around 2000. There was an Armstrong tool plant there and I picked up an amazing amount of high quality tools in pawn shops for very good prices. It seems that the Armstrong employees would buy at an employee rate and then pawn the tools when they were hard up. I remember seeing Bahco sockets in the pawn shops.
neophyte
Well-known member
I think there was some comment years ago about Armstrong/Danaher, that there was an event once or twice a year where employees were allowed to by new tools from bulk bins at dirt cheap prices.
I’ve never heard about Bahco being produced by them, however Danaher is or was highly connected to PA and I believe Bahco’s US headquarters might have been located in PA.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Bahco (via Snap-On) had a line of SAE USA made sockets in the early to mid 2000s that were targeted toward the trades. Is the socket you have metric or SAE? It looks like it may be Metric, but i didn't think Bahco had any USA made metric sockets.
Here is one of the sets.
They're part of the Snap-On empire. Mostly mid-price quality industrial stuff, and USA made which got over the COO issue a lot of government contracts stipulates.
I freaking LOVE Mora Knives - they are dead to rights cheap enough for a "beat me up, Scotty" shop knife, well balanced, and hold an edge like nobody's business. Our work group used to make up "survival kits" for raffle prizes, I ALWAYS threw one in the kits (with a cheapy homemade leather sheath).
I need to look in my tool box, see if I stiii have a few, the problem was (if you can call it a problem) they were SO well made they were hard to kill.
The_Inspector
Well-known member
Got this small set for about 10 years now, use it few times a week (mostly the sockets) and it velds up pretty good.
CGarage
Well-known member
The Bahco items I own have been from Sweden and….Argentina. Including a socket set.
I have never seen Chinese Bahco items.
The socket set from Argentina was finished very nicely.
I have never seen Chinese Bahco items.
The socket set from Argentina was finished very nicely.
Had a pair of PWZ pliers awhile back... They were stamped Bahco and made in Argentina.
The only swedish made Bahco tools today (That they make themselves) are saws, wood saws, hacksaw blades and some garden/tree saw blades. I used to work at the SNA saw factory. They make mostly rebrands.
New sockets and wrenches are mostly made in Taiwan, some are made in Spain.
New sockets and wrenches are mostly made in Taiwan, some are made in Spain.
Not only Taiwan, I am 100% certain the sockets they sell in the local hardware store say "MADE IN PRC" on the back, and they are regular sockets. Did find a photo of one Bahco that has "made in china" printed on.
CGarage
Well-known member
What about Argentina?
Bahco had Argentinian made tools back in the 70/80's.
F22: Can it be because they are special stainless tools? It might also differ on markets Europe vs USA?
CGarage
Well-known member
I think I found out why that Bahco knife was discounted to 8€. Yesterday I saw the "new version" in a shop.Bahco is definitely not the absolute top of the line, but at the same time it is really decent and better than what many professional mechanics use. Depends on what you look at.
The USA socket I posted is probably same quality as Williams, which is kind of the same quality as Snap On (or nearly there, depending who you ask). That's basically as good of a socket as they can be. The 80 tooth ratchets are using the same mechanism as snap on dual 80, which is again about the best on the market as far as ratchets go. Their adjustable wrench is also the same as sold by Snap On, and also Bahco is the inventor of the original monkey spanner way back, and it's one of the best ones you can buy today.
The screwdrivers are also pretty beefy, I held some of their "demolition" grade screwdrivers and they're really solid. Not sure who makes them but I was impressed (maybe made in Portugal or Spain? Not sure).
I'm sure the regular wrenches are at the very least quite decent too.
The knives are still made in Sweden, and seem to be really nice (awesome considering it's
Now made in China and sold for 15€.
They still have the USA sockets. They're sold for the same price, alongside the China sockets.
The China versions feel notably lighter and have a satin finish. All very expensive... And they have the same product number, so you can't know what you'll get in your order.
Some other tools were also made in Taiwan. Lots of stuff in Spain. The regular wrenches are also Spanish and they have an interesting design (box end rounded all the way).
Though bizarrely the American-made 19 mm is (a) a useful size, and (b) cheaper than the extraordinarily expensive Chinese ones.
I’ve found you have to look pretty closely for Bahco tools worth buying nowadays. A lot of them are expensive rebrands from China or Taiwan. Even if those tools are sometimes good, they’re not remotely worth Bahco prices.
Maybe these American sockets are a sign of better things to come.
Sadly I'm more inclined to believe the USA ones are old stock and the new ones are from China.
I'm in Europe, the 19mm is the standard size for M12 screws by the DIN standard so I assume that's why it's cheaper (most common, and it makes it seem like a better deal besides the expensive 18 and 21mm). But there were a few USA sockets on the 18 and 21mm and most other sizes too, mostly towards the back of the rack.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
That knife is disappointing. Quite a downgrade from the Mora sourced swedish steel ones.I think I found out why that Bahco knife was discounted to 8€. Yesterday I saw the "new version" in a shop.
Now made in China and sold for 15€.
They still have the USA sockets. They're sold for the same price, alongside the China sockets.
The China versions feel notably lighter and have a satin finish. All very expensive... And they have the same product number, so you can't know what you'll get in your order.
Some other tools were also made in Taiwan. Lots of stuff in Spain. The regular wrenches are also Spanish and they have an interesting design (box end rounded all the way).
Yes, they do make *some* of them in Argentina, but it'll vary a lot even within the same series. The most common are Taiwan, Argentina, and Germany. Your 8 mm might be made in Taiwan while your 13 mm may be made in Argentina. Deep sockets will add Germany to the mix.