Black Hawk free wheel ratchets

[mtgrizzlymn69]

Ive came across the 1/2 and 3/8 version of this ratchet. Both work very well. Are they worth keeping and using? Seem to be very smooth. Or are they better off going to a collector? Any idea what the pair is worth? Seem to be extremely rare for what i can find.


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[rusty65]

Era matters big time. They are date coded on the handle. The 1/2 ratchet can only have certain sockets on it or you risk making it permanently stuck on there.


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[thehorse13]

Pictures will get you the answers that you're after.

Blackhawk is highly collectable but as pointed out already, era matters. Anything post 1955 will be significantly less valuable.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They work great!

 

[JjKk40]

Pics?

 

[mtgrizzlymn69]

Hope these help. 1/2 drive sockets work well on larger one. So smooth i love them.


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[rusty65]

1/2 drive looks ww2 period and I’d say 1946 for the 3/8ths. Maybe your 1/2 was modified but from factory Blackhawk made the 1/2 drive with a angled plunger to lock sockets on and were taken off with a push button on the side of the socket.


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[mtgrizzlymn69]

Yes it has the push button to hold socket on. I used a punch to depress it for removing socket. Should i be using these? I like them but if they are collectible i can just put them up to.


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[mtgrizzlymn69]

Missread your reply sorry! Socket does lock on though very good


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[mtgrizzlymn69]

1/2 drive looks ww2 period and I’d say 1946 for the 3/8ths. Maybe your 1/2 was modified but from factory Blackhawk made the 1/2 drive with a angled plunger to lock sockets on and were taken off with a push button on the side of the socket.


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I got lucky when i put socket on . There was a hole where ball was on ratchet.


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[thehorse13]

Those free wheelers are typically sold anywhere from 25-60 bucks on Ebay in the condition of those in the pictures.

There is actually a Blackhawk tool (9004) used to remove the lock-on sockets that don't have the buttons. A punch will not hurt anything.

Yours both have vertical grip lines, which appeared around 1938. It's possible that yours date from that period. There may be numbers stamped on your ratchets. Those will tell you for sure.

I use all of my free wheel Blackhawk tools. They were made to use. I'd hold on to them.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

If you like using them I would keep them. They are worth 20 to 80$ typically depending on condition.

 

[rusty65]

I’d say use a breaker bar on the tighter bolts and keep them well oiled. My suggestion as far as age was based on the finish. Ive found that black hawk used the straight line grip on there tools till 1947 and those from that period tend to have a luster that is more pronounced then the pre ww2 tools. You may find a - number by the part number that’s the date code.


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[mtgrizzlymn69]

Thanks guys. I’ll keep them and use them. So smooth. Might have to shine them up a bit.


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[mtgrizzlymn69]

Put them in heated ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes then dried polished a little and oiled. These things work flawless. Im going to put them in the use box for sure.


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[Oldtuleguy]

Those look great!

 

[mtgrizzlymn69]

Those look great!

[emoji106]


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