Blackhawk / Proto Locking Ratcheting Wrenches. Input needed.

[Invisible Hand]

I'd like a set of locking ratcheting wrenches, and am trying to decide between the Blackhawk and Gearwrench XL sets. The Blackhawk sets look much nicer but I'm unable to see them in person. There is a lot of positive feedback on the Gearwrench sets but very little on the Blackhawk (probably due to the GW being locally available). Price is roughly the same for both.

Does anyone have experience with the Blackhawk wrenches and how they'd stack up to the popular Gear wrench XL series?

Thanks for the input.

-Jared

 

[dede2897234]

Invisible Hand,

If it was my money, I would purchase the Gearwrench XL set. The reason is that the locking switch is locating on the wrench body (LINK) versus on the side of the wrench like on the Blackhawk sets (LINK).

I own a mixed set of the Craftsman and Gearwrench XL locking flex ratcheting wrenches. They both have the locking switch on the wrench body. The switch takes decent effort with a finger to push (which I like). This way there is no accidental unlocking of the wrench during use. In addition, once locked at a certain detent position, there is very little up and down movement.


Dave

 

[Invisible Hand]

Invisible Hand,

If it was my money, I would purchase the Gearwrench XL set. The reason is that the locking switch is locating on the wrench body (LINK) versus on the side of the wrench like on the Blackhawk sets (LINK).

I own a mixed set of the Craftsman and Gearwrench XL locking flex ratcheting wrenches. They both have the locking switch on the wrench body. The switch takes decent effort with a finger to push (which I like). This way there is no accidental unlocking of the wrench during use. In addition, once locked at a certain detent position, there is very little up and down movement.


Dave

Thanks for the input Dave. You make a good point about the switch. I was more concerned with the added thickness but keeping it locked is equally important.