Blackhawk Screwdrivers

[gdocktor3]

Does anyone know if there is an OEM company for the Blackhawk screwdrivers made in Taiwan? I have a few of them and really like them. Actually, I like them better than my Snap On instinct's. The grips are comfortable and fit my hand nicely. The tips are durable and show little sign of wear after a few years of use. I will admit the stubby screwdriver handles are a bit awkward, but the larger handles feel good in my hand. Just curious as to whether or not they are available anywhere else? Wiha seem to be the most similar, but not exact. My newer Crescent (Taiwan or China?) screwdrivers are also similar in design and have the hole through the handle, but not exact and the Blackhawks have much better tips.

 

[neophyte]

Those screwdrivers used to be made in France, by one if the Facom factories which Stanley aquired sfter purchasing Facom. I used to really like the tips, which had microserrations on the slotted screwdrivers. I didn't kniw production had been moved. The ergonomics was very similar to the basic Wiha screwdrivers.

 

[gdocktor3]

Yea I searched Facom, but couldn't find any, new or old, like the current design.

Don't the new Proto Duratek screwdrivers have that "microserration" design on the tips or is that another brand? If they do, that same factory is probably making the new Duratek screwdrivers with that design which used to be on the Blackhawks. Oh and remember, only the handles are made in USA on those new Duratek screwdrivers, so it's not impossible.

 

[neophyte]

Yea I searched Facom, but couldn't find any, new or old, like the current design.

Don't the new Proto Duratek screwdrivers have that "microserration" design on the tips or is that another brand? If they do, that same factory is probably making the new Duratek screwdrivers with that design which used to be on the Blackhawks. Oh and remember, only the handles are made in USA on those new Duratek screwdrivers, so it's not impossible.

I haven't seen any of the Proto Duratek screwdrivers. The french made screwdrivers I have, have very fine, even, parallel, serrations that I think may have been done with something like a fine checkering file. The serrations I've seen on other screwdrivers have usually been much coarser, or uneven like the roughness was made with a very coarse abrasive belt.

Older SK screwdrivers were also made in the same French factory as the French Blackhawk screwdrivers, and should be pretty much the same.

 

[Fedwrench]

Yea I searched Facom, but couldn't find any, new or old, like the current design.

Don't the new Proto Duratek screwdrivers have that "microserration" design on the tips or is that another brand? If they do, that same factory is probably making the new Duratek screwdrivers with that design which used to be on the Blackhawks. Oh and remember, only the handles are made in USA on those new Duratek screwdrivers, so it's not impossible.

The entire Duratek screwdriver is made in South Carolina. Where are you getting this **** that the blades are made somewhere else? There's even a YOU TUBE video showing their manufacture.

They have nothing in common with the BlackHawk/SK/Facom screwdrivers.

 

[ryan20021982]

Here is a couple on ebay for ya

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291434843237

 

[Derek420]

They look like facom or felo to me more so fill, but Stanley only owns facom. Hmm no clue really look at the fell ergos and others.

 

[gdocktor3]

The entire Duratek screwdriver is made in South Carolina. Where are you getting this **** that the blades are made somewhere else? There's even a YOU TUBE video showing their manufacture.

They have nothing in common with the BlackHawk/SK/Facom screwdrivers.

Sorry that was a poke at another member who said that when they first came out.

 

[willhollin]

http://www.bost-tools.com/

 

[wvrailroader]

Harry J. Epstein still has some of the Facom made SK drivers in their closeout section for a pretty good price.

 

[gdocktor3]

I just realized the Stanley Fatmax screwdrivers are also the Bost/Blackhawk design

 

[gdocktor3]

Harry J. Epstein still has some of the Facom made SK drivers in their closeout section for a pretty good price.

Yea Epstein has good prices, but the shipping charges kill it for me. Just for fun I picked out 3 of those screwdrivers. They want $12 to ship them.

 

[gdocktor3]

It appears BOST is the European equivalent of Expert tools here in the States. All of which are owned by Stanley/Proto/Mac. Which means BriTool and Draper probably also share the design. Now the question is, are they all made in the same exact place from same exact material? Expert tools are generally all Taiwan made. The Stanley Fatmax screwdrivers do read "Made in France" on the package.

 

[californiaHank]

Bost used to be an independent French manufacturer of good quality tools - mainly screwdrivers and pliers. I guess they're now owned by Stanley/Black and Decker ...

Most of their screwdrivers are still made in France. Their screwdrivers are called 'Bost Expert', and they're pretty good. As you guys have pointed out, they're often rebranded. But, I don't think there's any connection between 'Expert' brand tools, which seem to be mainly Asian made and 'Bost Expert ' screwdrivers, which are (mostly?) made in Europe.

 

[Alistair M]

In England I have seen these badged Stanley fatmax, bost, usag, britool and (britool) Expert all made in the facom/bost tools screwdriver factory in france.

 

[gdocktor3]

Am I the only one who likes them?

 

[superautobacs]

My first Bost tools have been an awl and a DOE wrench that I purchased in Paris back in 2009 (no pictures of them).

I've had these Bost screwdrivers for 7 years now. I got the FatMax set from Home Depot on clearance for like 15 dollars.

I also added the KTC branded versions several years ago. Just like this one pictured, all the other ones I've seen say "France".

 

[mikebaker1129]

Nope, you are not alone.
I like them also. My experience is with the French made SK units from HJE,but they are very good screwdrivers.

 

[gdocktor3]

BOST is Bostich, owned by Stanley of course.

 

[californiaHank]

BOST is Bostich, owned by Stanley of course.

You're right about the ownership, but the names aren't really connected.
Bostitch got its name from 'Boston', which is where they started,
Bost got its name from 'Bost Brothers', which is the name of the company's original founders.

 

[M6erfan]

Those Blackhawks look a lot like these from KTC Japan...

https://www.amazon.co.jp/KTC-ケーテーシー-パームドライバーセット-8本組-PMDEA8/dp/B001EQFDME

 

[californiaHank]

I got a bit dizzy trying to figure out why so many brands of screwdriver say 'Made in France' on them. Here's my version of the story -

Stanley bought Proto and Blackhawk and Mac and a bunch of other USA companies.
Facom (France) bought Bost (France) and Brittool (UK) and USAG (Italy) and some others.
Then, Stanley bought Facom.
Black and Decker bought DeWalt and others.
Finally, Stanley merged with Black and Decker and became 'Stanley Black and Decker'.

You can buy a screwdriver with any one of those names on it. Since all of the brands are owned by Stanley Black and Decker, I guess it's not surprising that often they look a lot alike, because many of them are made in the old Bost factory in France. I'm not sure about Facom-branded screwdrivers - they're made in France, too, and look a lot like the Bost ones, but I think they might be made in a different factory.

 

[gdocktor3]

You can buy a screwdriver with any one of those names on it. Since all of the brands are owned by Stanley Black and Decker, I guess it's not surprising that often they look a lot alike, because many of them are made in the old Bost factory in France. I'm not sure about Facom-branded screwdrivers - they're made in France, too, and look a lot like the Bost ones, but I think they might be made in a different factory.

I wonder if there is any difference between the factories, other than location. Quality wise.

 

[californiaHank]

Facom has a huge variety of screwdrivers in their catalog - If you want a screwdriver for plain old slotted screws, you can order milled blades, forged blades, round blades, hex shaped blades, stainless steel blades, sandblasted tips, black oxide tips, etc ... A lot of the high-end and heavy duty combinations don't have Bost equivalents, so I'm guessing that the blades, at least, aren't from the Bost plant. The high-end Facom models are really really good, and seem much better than anything I've seen with the Bost or Stanley name on them.