Blackhawk Tools: Any Respect?
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
Reviving this thread to add my experience with a Blackhawk 1/2" breaker bar - it's their 17" version, part# 49988B. I initially bought it at Spring Carlisle, broke it, got it replaced at the local Carquest parts store, and then by the time I broke it the second time, nobody local to me was carrying Blackhawk tools any more so I still have it. Both times the failure was the same - the pin for the head sheared. Mine does say simply "USA" on the handle (not "Made in USA"), so I wonder if this was made offshore somewhere. I can see their lawyers saying, "We were just promoting "USA", not that the tool was actually made there."
If you look up Blackhawk's history, it's really nothing more than a brand that's been bought and sold a bunch of times over the past half century. It doesn't seem like Stanley even knows what to do with the brand at this point - it seems the products are only sold through industrial distributors who really don't promote the brand at all.
Stanley provides warranty support for Blackhawk tools via an 800 number. I used them once; their service was excellent.
BTW, not to hijack this thread, but I have a lot of NEW Blackhawk tools listed in the GJ Classifieds.
RM209
dirtmister16
Banned
carquest,united auto at one time had blackhawk tools
i have 1/2 and 3/8" ratchets, love em. wish i could source some rebuild kits for time. for when they give up. these things are tough though.
i have 1/2 and 3/8" ratchets, love em. wish i could source some rebuild kits for time. for when they give up. these things are tough though.
Reviving this thread to add my experience with a Blackhawk 1/2" breaker bar - it's their 17" version, part# 49988B. I initially bought it at Spring Carlisle, broke it, got it replaced at the local Carquest parts store, and then by the time I broke it the second time, nobody local to me was carrying Blackhawk tools any more so I still have it. Both times the failure was the same - the pin for the head sheared. Mine does say simply "USA" on the handle (not "Made in USA"), so I wonder if this was made offshore somewhere. I can see their lawyers saying, "We were just promoting "USA", not that the tool was actually made there."
If you look up Blackhawk's history, it's really nothing more than a brand that's been bought and sold a bunch of times over the past half century. It doesn't seem like Stanley even knows what to do with the brand at this point - it seems the products are only sold through industrial distributors who really don't promote the brand at all.
Well, as far as the history of the brand goes, in the early days Blackhawk had some incredibly innovative and stylish tools and tool storage.
DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
Indeed. Probably most notable was their attempt to create a new 7/16" drive standard in sockets. I'll cut and paste a bit from this source below...
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/blackhawk-innovation-p5.html
Blackhawk's line of 7/16-drive tools was one of their more distinctive products, and no other company is known to have produced tools in this drive size. According to the Blackhawk sales literature, the enabling factor for these tools was the extra strength of the Hexite steel alloy developed by Blackhawk.
By the mid 1930s Blackhawk had developed an alloy steel named "Hexite", and claimed it to be 70% stronger than the typical chromium-vanadium alloys in use. As if to back up their claims, Blackhawk designed a new line of sockets and drive tools with 7/16-drive, and extended the claim that these were as strong as conventional 1/2-drive tools but only slighty larger than the corresponding 3/8-drive tools. With these tools (or so the marketing claim went), the mechanic could dispense with the trouble and expense of maintaining both 3/8- and 1/2-drive sets and go entirely 7/16-drive.
Blackhawk produced a full range of 7/16-drive sockets to go with the drive tools, including shallow, deep, and universal sockets. Since this line of tools was supposed to replace both 3/8- and 1/2-drive, the socket sizes ranged from 5/16 up to 1-1/4, in order to cover the normal size ranges of both the larger and smaller drive sizes.
It seemed an interesting and somewhat logical approach, but without broader support by other manufacturers, it was a doomed product line. Given the ongoing acquisitions the company went through, it's surprising that they continued to produce 7/16" product for over 20 years.
DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
I spoke with them previously and they gave me the option to return the failed part to them for "evaluation". Spending $10 to ship a $20 tool that they may replace for me seemed like it wasn't worth the effort. In the mean time I bought the comparable Craftsman tool. In this case I think the Craftsman tool is actually better, but just as important, if it fails, I know where I can find a replacement.
FWIW though, I did just send off an e-mail to Stanley customer support along with a picture of the failed part. I'll update this thread accordingly.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
Reviving this thread to add my experience with a Blackhawk 1/2" breaker bar - it's their 17" version, part# 49988B. I initially bought it at Spring Carlisle, broke it, got it replaced at the local Carquest parts store, and then by the time I broke it the second time, nobody local to me was carrying Blackhawk tools any more so I still have it. Both times the failure was the same - the pin for the head sheared. Mine does say simply "USA" on the handle (not "Made in USA"), so I wonder if this was made offshore somewhere. I can see their lawyers saying, "We were just promoting "USA", not that the tool was actually made there."
If you look up Blackhawk's history, it's really nothing more than a brand that's been bought and sold a bunch of times over the past half century. It doesn't seem like Stanley even knows what to do with the brand at this point - it seems the products are only sold through industrial distributors who really don't promote the brand at all.
The majority of Blackhawk stuff is still USA made, like it always was. Blackhawk is mainly used as a replacement for the Proto Challenger line. The brand isn't marketed to the automotive or homeowner market, but to the industrial and construction markets. There isn't a whole hell of a lot of need for brand promotion in the industrial trades, as a lot of it is built in and/or as simple as a hardhat sticker. A gangbox that looks like it was involved in the D-day invasion (which 99% of them end up looking like) isn't going to make anyone take notice of what tools you have, but a simple sticker on a backwards P2 Fibremetal will draw attention. I've seen a helper drop $300 on a combo wrench set just to get the Proto sticker that they were giving out.
You can call up Stanley/Proto and get a new head kit for your breaker bar, or a replacement. It is pretty quick and painless,
jthandyman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2011
- Messages
- 48
sberry
Banned
If I had it or got it at the right price I couldnt come up with any logical reason not to use it.
humpdawg
Well-known member
I have 2 old USA black hawk tools. One being a pair of locking pliers, push lever-release instead of the more common pinch-release. My favorite locking pliers as of now, very heavy duty.
The other is a double ended flare nut wrench, 3/8 and 7/16 I believe. I use it on my SO screwdrivers.
Best thing about it is that they were FREE. The pliers came with my toolbox, and I found the wrench on the street.
The other is a double ended flare nut wrench, 3/8 and 7/16 I believe. I use it on my SO screwdrivers.
Best thing about it is that they were FREE. The pliers came with my toolbox, and I found the wrench on the street.
sparky7
Well-known member
i thought that blackhawk was sort of like blue point but for proto tools. More recently i think they got roped in to stanley because of proto being bought by stanley. Also i think that Fleet tools was like blue point but for black hawk.
proto-blackhawk-fleet in that order
proto-blackhawk-fleet in that order
mdbeck1
Well-known member
When I graduated high school (almost 40 years ago) my Dad got me tools. It was a fitting gift. Part of the tools were a Blackhawk 1/4" SAE socket set and a set of SAE Blackhawk wrenches.
I've used them for just about everything and they just keep on working.
BTW: Dad worked at an auto parts store and they sold a lot of different types of tools. I know that Blackhawk and SK were just two of them.
I've used them for just about everything and they just keep on working.
BTW: Dad worked at an auto parts store and they sold a lot of different types of tools. I know that Blackhawk and SK were just two of them.
I didn't end up taking part in that sale for reasons of financial asphyxiation. How are they?
