Blackhawk 6 pc. DBE set

[lardy1]

Does anyone have firsthand experience with these wrenches? They keep working their way upward in my list of choices but I don't know anyone that uses them. I'm starting to feel like a Tekton brand ***** since I retired and seeing a possible alternative. Similar price point with these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIEGR0G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

I remember Blackhawk being made by New Britain Hand Tools in New Britain, CT years ago (I used to work next door in the Machine Tool Division). They were a great product then. Now, I believe that Stanley / Black & Decker owns the brand and they are made in the same plant as PROTO / MAC which are also owned by the same people. I don't see you making a mistake in purchasing them. I've had my Blackhawks for years and never had an issue with them. YMMV.

 

[Fedwrench]

The linked picture appears to be new old stock.

If you visit the Proto industrial tools website, Blackhawk only lists one boxed end wrench set, and it's fully polished with 15 degree offset boxed ends and doesn't say where it's made.

Today's Blackhawk tools are vastly different than the Blackhawk tools from years gone by. They're still good tools but, they're more likely to hail from Taiwan than the USA.

See if you can find a current set with more information on ebay.

 

[lardy1]

I drew the same conclusion. NOS. Nothing in any current Proto or Blackhawk catalog like them. A few years ago I bought a set of combination wrenches to carry on my Harley. After I posted this I remembered that they are Blackhawk (They've never been used. Gasp, all you Harley bashers). I got them out and I believe they are the same series as the DBE's in question. After looking over the combo's I already have I went ahead and ordered them. I am a strong believer in buying domestic and I don't think I'll be unhappy with them.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The box ends are not surface drive, so these are most likely NOS New Britain Blackhawk from the 80s or earlier. Another less likely possibility is that these were made during the transition period during which Stanley took over Blackhawk.

 

[mfewtrail]

Those are a few bucks cheaper on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-PIECE-BO...032765?hash=item540b5f11fd:g:WzUAAOSwpHFZaPCY


Everyone generally has good things to say about their Blackhawk wrenches here whether they're old or new from what I've seen. I'm thinking about buying a set of those DBE's myself even though I don't use SAE all that often anymore...

 

[bigjeff94]

Looks very similar to a set of used protos I picked up from ebay a while back which have been great. I work industrial maintenance and have and do use quite a bit of blackhawk stuff. Their usa made tools which I have have been great, especially combination wrenches.

 

[sberry]

There are several styles of these, I have sears, a couple 3 sets of them. That is priced well, these are great additions to professional wrench sets especially guys that work on equipment and older engines. I don't buy every type of every set they ever invented but these are well proven and been around a long time. I find myself looking for them on occasion as just the right thing too.
A professional or busy type could earn their keep. Not the tough decision they would be from the truck at 250 or so, maybe more.

 

[lardy1]

I grew up on DBE's and DOE's. Combination wrenches weren't the norm they are now. I miss that generous offset and the way a DBE feels in the hand. I'm not a professional and I know these aren't the latest and the greatest. But I wanted new ones and at a Taiwan price point I'm getting domestic.

 

[sberry]

Each one is worth 2. I have a couple Sears slight angle, I think 15 degrees. I valve big and little and they are different with 1/2x9/16 and another set 9/16x5/8. When stuff is really tight the extra long matters quite a bit. My collection of offset like the ones in this thread is hodge podge but I got what I need and it works.
I am a combo guy, I rarely use a doe, I toss a common one in on occasion for a backup but I took a pail and stripped them out of the wrench drawers. We were simply shuffling them a lot to get to ones we needed. I got them but so rarely used took most of them out of circulation.

 

[The Fall]

I have the combo version of these wrenches. NOS. Work exactly how they should. Price-point is right and I put a premium on USA-made tools, even NOS and defunct lines like Armstrong, Bonney, etc. I'd get these over Tekton all day long, and I like some of Tekton's offerings. They carry some USA-made tools I've purchased.

 

[lardy1]

These came today. I couldn't be happier. Quite a bit longer than I anticipated. I know I won't get that kind of deal on metric but I'm in no hurry. I'll wait and watch.