Best Craftsman Series

[GnomeChild]

Not sure if this has already been discussed before but I've been slowly collecting and piecing together vintage Craftsman sets; wrenches, sockets, etc and was obviously primarily interested in the Vintage "Made in USA" stuff. I think it's common knowledge by now how much modern Craftsman has fallen off but old Craftsman tools are still serviceable and stout even by today's standards (albeit maybe not as many modern features)

It got me thinking: what's the "best" Craftsman Series in terms of strength, usability, etc? At least maybe in terms of sockets

I always regarded "V" (80s?) as the "best" and "most" collectible modern-vintage but collecting for V has proven to be interesting considering Craftsman had quite a few skips or omitted sizes compared to modern sets and I'm trying to build sets comparable to size of my new Icon/Snap-On stuff. I know Craftsman has even older series like B, Circle H, Circle C just to name a few but those mainly only came in SAE; I think V was when Craftsman finally started offering more exhaustive Metric sets and I was initially collecting V but then noticed one series later, with G, that Craftsman integrated their own "Flank-Drive" socket technology, so I switched over to collecting G shortly after (G also has less skips when compared to V). G1 added the double-detents and I think after G2 is when Craftsman started production overseas but we don't talk about those

I still regard V as the most collectible or desirable modern-vintage series but it seems G might function as the better tool in practice?

Just wondering what the experience of other collectors have been on this topic

 

[Jim C.]

I like the =V= era tools from about 1954 to 1968.

Jim C.

 

[GnomeChild]

I've got whatever I can feasibly piece together as =V= or "Flying V", as I've come to call it. Don't think =V= sockets came in anything other than SAE or metric sizes are few and far in between; full wrench sets are also hard to find. That being said =V= is probably my favorite series as it has a cool pattern and is very nicely vintage: if it had full socket sets I would have never collected a different series

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I'd say C series probably s the best to have a collection of.

 

[Jim C.]

GnomeChild,

Between about 1960 and 1962, Craftsman offered a set of ten 1/2” drive Whitworth sockets. In the same time period, Craftsman also offered its first metric set of sockets and wrenches.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

When it comes to socket sets, I would rate the New Britain made tools slightly above the early Moore Drop Forge made tools. In my opinion, anything newer is of lesser quality.
-Don
Although my =v= metric tools will never measure up to Jim C’s, here are some I keep in a Crown carry box.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The ones I already own !

 

[humber2]

GnomeChild,

Between about 1960 and 1962, Craftsman offered a set of ten 1/2” drive Whitworth sockets. In the same time period, Craftsman also offered its first metric set of sockets and wrenches.

Jim C.

Do we know the maker for the WW tools?

 

[d42jeep]

Humber,
I had a couple of them and to the best of my recollection, they were made by Moore Drop Forging. Jim C will likely know more.
-Don

 

[Jim C.]

Don,

As I recall, I’ve turned to you more than once to help me complete a Cman set or two. Don’t sandbag us. Your tool collection is one of the best and most extensive on GJ, and when it comes down to general tool knowledge you know your stuff. If I had to name ten people to the “Vintage Tool All Star Team,“ you’d be a no brainer, 1st Team selection.

As for the manufacturer of the Whitworth sockets, I think you got it right. It was MDF. The Whitworth set is sort of difficult to complete and as I discovered while trying to complete the early Cman metric set, the sockets and wrenches are about as hard to find as are the Cman Whitworth tools.

Jim C.

 

[humber2]

Did MDF make similar wrenches using different names for different vendors?

Maybe not as it seems the Craftsman V wrenches were to a pre determined style.

I have only the AA description of V wrenches to guide me.

Looks likely the SAE, Whitworth and Metric wrenches of similar sizes were all broached from the same forging and the size stamped in after and before chrome plating.

 

[Jim C.]

I think MDF made more than just tools, however, I know one of their facilities was primarily used to make tools, probably for Sears/Craftsman. When you consider the amount of hand tools Sears sold every day, I don’t know how MDF could have made tools for anyone else. MDF had the Sears contract from about 1938 well into the 1960s.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Moore was a supplier of 12” Auto Wrenches for Ford Jeeps during WW2. I believe that they made other sizes for earlier Fords as well. Here is the one from my Jeep’s onboard toolset and some others.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Metcoid and international forge were a couple of brands that mdf made tools for

 

[craftsman creep]

The raised panel also any one
That has a extra 9/16 wrench 12 point can I have it

 

[FatMatt🔧]

Pre craftsman fulton -craftsman chrome vanadium- craftsman vanadium steel- craftsman underlined c1 - craftsman Af all pre war the small ones are usely the hardest and most expensive because they are easily misplaced and lost in time I do have sets of circle h in 1/2 and in 3/8 that I carry in my tool bag these tool are extremely well forged and made and were built to last a lifetime they are way more precious than any of my tool truck brand tools and I do use some of my wrenches on my harley-davidson from time to time

 

[craftsman creep]

The shallows are all =v=
This is an older picture I have most of the Deepwells now.
Pretty much the rest of my sockets are all craftsman USA made a couple of them are Crescent.
And I have a pretty much complete set of craftsman raised panel standard need 15/16 and 9/16 and have 8 mm to 19 mm raised panel. Missing 16mm but that’s like really uncommon.
-Preston

 

[FatMatt🔧]

T

The shallows are all =v=
This is an older picture I have most of the Deepwells now.
Pretty much the rest of my sockets are all craftsman USA made a couple of them are Crescent.
And I have a pretty much complete set of craftsman raised panel standard need 15/16 and 9/16 and have 8 mm to 19 mm raised panel. Missing 16mm but that’s like really uncommon.
-Preston

That's amazing set this is my every day carry to work

The shallows are all =v=
This is an older picture I have most of the Deepwells now.
Pretty much the rest of my sockets are all craftsman USA made a couple of them are Crescent.
And I have a pretty much complete set of craftsman raised panel standard need 15/16 and 9/16 and have 8 mm to 19 mm raised panel. Missing 16mm but that’s like really uncommon.
-Preston

Nice set!!! These are in my everyday carry bag to work circle h

 

[Garage Full]

Not sure if this has already been discussed before but I've been slowly collecting and piecing together vintage Craftsman sets; wrenches, sockets, etc and was obviously primarily interested in the Vintage "Made in USA" stuff. I think it's common knowledge by now how much modern Craftsman has fallen off but old Craftsman tools are still serviceable and stout even by today's standards (albeit maybe not as many modern features)

It got me thinking: what's the "best" Craftsman Series in terms of strength, usability, etc? At least maybe in terms of sockets

I always regarded "V" (80s?) as the "best" and "most" collectible modern-vintage but collecting for V has proven to be interesting considering Craftsman had quite a few skips or omitted sizes compared to modern sets and I'm trying to build sets comparable to size of my new Icon/Snap-On stuff. I know Craftsman has even older series like B, Circle H, Circle C just to name a few but those mainly only came in SAE; I think V was when Craftsman finally started offering more exhaustive Metric sets and I was initially collecting V but then noticed one series later, with G, that Craftsman integrated their own "Flank-Drive" socket technology, so I switched over to collecting G shortly after (G also has less skips when compared to V). G1 added the double-detents and I think after G2 is when Craftsman started production overseas but we don't talk about those

I still regard V as the most collectible or desirable modern-vintage series but it seems G might function as the better tool in practice?

Just wondering what the experience of other collectors have been on this topic

I bought an entire tool box of -V- in 1968 at Sears and when I need a good tool on a project today, I always pick up the tool that will never stop, out of the same box. The only tool in the box that was replaced by Sears was the tape measure that broke thanks to my kids playing with it. Best tools I have ever owned. Good choice!

 

[FatMatt🔧]

Oldschool craftsman is pure quality and I use circle h craftsman sockets almost every day and they really were built 2 last a lifetime keep collecting

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some early 8 and 12 point New Britain made BE chrome plated 1/4” drive sockets that have stood the test of time. They arrived today.
I wonder what the box would have looked like that these came in?
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

They'd fit this box nicely. This one is from 1935, I believe.



Or maybe this one? I like the crinkled blue the best.



These boxes make good drawer organizers when they're laid open flat. There are four of them in this drawer. At least two are Craftsman.

 

[d42jeep]

I put them in this box temporarily until I find one that’s more appropriate.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

While I was digging around in the Craftsman sets, I added some recent =v= metric wrench finds and other tools to my metric Crown box.
-Don

 

[FatMatt🔧]

Wow nice collection

 

[xkrfan]

I'm attempting to fill out a 6 pt. metric set of G2's from 2004-2008 that have flank drive. I was wondering if there is any difference between regular G2 or what's called inverted G2 (which is what I have) or are they both the same thing. It seems that the two upper end companies that feature their flank drive technology these days, Snap On and Wright Tools, give the impression that their version is proprietary and superior. The rest of the features of the socket aside (quality of metal, durability, etc, aside) does anyone think their versions actually work better than say, Craftsman's version, which I read somewhere is called HeadLock.

 

[FatMatt🔧]

I don't know much about the g2 but I know wright tool makes the 2.0 set and I had a 3/4 wrench at work that I use and was extremely impressed that I bought a sae set used on ebay and they are extremely well built heavy duty !!!!

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

OK, need a little education guys. I'm restocking this Craftsman 1/4 drive set. I searched through ITCL and found the box in the 1964 catalog (by 1968 they were using the dreaded plastic boxes). Knowing what I think I know, I figured the parts would be =V= series. So I go rummaging through my old toolbox with all the loose sockets and I notice there's three types of V series sockets. One that just has the =V= with Craftsman; and a series that also contains, -V- or a solid long line -------V------ with Made in the U.S.A. underneath the Craftsman. I'm assuming my older looking sockets without the Made in the USA are the appropriate series for a 1964 set?

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

OK, need a little education guys. I'm restocking this Craftsman 1/4 drive set. I searched through ITCL and found the box in the 1964 catalog (by 1968 they were using the dreaded plastic boxes). Knowing what I think I know, I figured the parts would be =V= series. So I go rummaging through my old toolbox with all the loose sockets and I notice there's three types of V series sockets. One that just has the =V= with Craftsman; and a series that also contains, -V- or a solid long line -------V------ with Made in the U.S.A. underneath the Craftsman. I'm assuming my older looking sockets without the Made in the USA are the appropriate series for a 1964 set?

Your =v= are correct

 

[MZC2]

I'm in the process of gathering a complete set of =v= tools.
My 16 y.o. son wants to be a heavy diesel mechanic and will need a good set of tools to start out. (I'm not about to try to buy Snap-on or Mac for an apprentice). He will graduate high school in 2028, so the =v= means that every tool I give him will be at least 60 years old. Like most kids, he wants to have a box full expensive tools (Snap-on, Mac, etc.). I figure as he replaces the =v= tools at work, he can bring them home and have one heck of a good set of home tools.
Right now he doesn't know why I'm collecting the =v= tools, but he is envious.