Blackhawk Tools: Any Respect?

[Bull]

I am talking about USA made Blackhawk tools from years ago, before Stanley sent most (all?) of their line overseas.

Did any/many of you prefer or greatly respect this brand?

I have yet to find one Blackhawk tool at the flea market this season, and eBay doesn't have all that much, either.

I've got SEVEN tool boards to start collecting items for, people! Where is this stuff?

 

[nate379]

Decent stuff. From the Matco or Mac truck, I can't remember which now.

 

[Bull]

Decent stuff. From the Matco or Mac truck, I can't remember which now.

Really, is that where some of it was sold? Didn't know that.

Didn't NAPA used to be a big Blackhawk dealer, or am I making that up?

 

[brian90505]

I've got Blackhawk 1/4 & 3/8 ratchets and sockets. I like em as backups to my Snapon and Mac stuff. The extensions are a little too fat for my preference.

 

[Bull]

I've got Blackhawk 1/4 & 3/8 ratchets and sockets. I like em as backups to my Snapon and Mac stuff. The extensions are a little too fat for my preference.

Old USA Blackhawk?

 

[caper]

Many of the ratchets were New Britain made.Good quality tools from what I've seen and used.I have a 1/2"dr short flexhead Blackhawk ratchet that's in my daily use box.One of the few 1/2" flexheads I've seen in the 12" long range.Most 1/2" flex ratchets seem to be 15" long or longer.

 

[Packard V8]

Bull,

I'll go through my misc-for-sale-box. There was some Blackhawk in there at one time.

FWIW, I consider it to be very good stuff. Since it was mainly sold at auto parts stores, much of it went into professional service and got used up.

jack vines

 

[Elroy]

Elroy has several different varieties of recently produced USA Blackhawks. They're fine.

Recent examples:

 

[Even 11]

Really, is that where some of it was sold? Didn't know that.

Didn't NAPA used to be a big Blackhawk dealer, or am I making that up?

Carquest was the big Blackhawk dealer actually... I think they are great tools, I have most of a set that serves as my gf's tools, mainly because I don't want to get rid of it!

-Dane

 

[Griff93]

I have an almost full set of standard and metric wrenches from blackhawk that are US made. They have been very good. I have been using them as my home set for about two years now. I'm not easy on them either. I'd gladly buy them again. I also have a full 1/2 drive set that is US made. I actually have yet to break one of their sockets. I have a set of 3/8 standard swivels as well. I also have some of their punches and chisels. Extensions are a bit thick but no worse than craftsman ones. I've got a quite a few of their impact sockets as well. I wish they were still around US made as I'd probably buy some stuff from them. To me they are mid level between US made craftsman and snap on. They are a bit more expensive than craftsman but considerably nicer fit and finish.

 

[nate379]

I know for sure one of the tool trucks had them. They were treated kind of like how Blue Point is with Snap On.

Possible it was just a local thing, I don't know. One of the Cornwell guys that stopped by the shop my brother was working at even had Harbor Freight stuff on his truck.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Blackhawk used to be sold on MAC trucks back in the day. I personally really like their old US made tools.

 

[foolishpride]

I have a Blackhawk, USA made, socket set that I bought over 20 years ago that I still use. It includes 1/4" and 3/8", standard and metric, shallow and deep sockets. Also included a magnetic screwdriver with the different changeable tips. It came in a black, hardshell case. I bought it from Grainger on closeout. Paid about $20 for it if I remember correctly. The ratchet isn't real smooth, but the sockets are good quality.

 

[Griff93]

My Mac truck still sells Blackhawk but it's all made in Taiwan.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I got a USA made Stanley professional 3/8" ratchet exchanged and they sent me back a Blackhawk 3/8" ratchet that said "made in USA from global components".

 

[woody 73]

I can remember blackhawk from many years ago,they were indeed very nice tools.

 

[Fedwrench]

Didn't NAPA used to be a big Blackhawk dealer, or am I making that up?

Actually NAPA sold New Britain tools which looked a lot like Blackhawk.

Blackhawk used to be sold on MAC trucks back in the day.

Mac trucks still sell Blackhawk and Stanley products but, it's not the same as the old stuff.
When I was younger in Noth Carolina, auto parts store either sold Blackhawk or Easco. Blackhawk were great mid price tools. Even today's Blackhawk is still decent but, it's not as good as the older US made tools were.

 

[Bull]

Is ANY of the Blackhawk line currently US made? I thought that is what Elroy was suggesting in his post. I have heard different things about this.

I am surprised that Blackhawk tools were used in pro shop settings. That seems to give them an added level of legitimacy in my eyes.

 

[dieseldodge01]

Blackhawk, up until the last decade, kept most of the same designs that were used by New Britain. Of all the sockets I have, I only have three vintage Blackhawks. I have hundreds of new ones. The older sockets can be hard to spot, one tip off though, older sockets don't have rounded edges for the 6pt sockets. The ones Elroy has are of the newer style.

 

[Fedwrench]

Is ANY of the Blackhawk line currently US made? I thought that is what Elroy was suggesting in his post. I have heard different things about this.

I am surprised that Blackhawk tools were used in pro shop settings. That seems to give them an added level of legitimacy in my eyes.

To my knowlege nothing branded Blackhawk is currently made in the USA. Where it gets blurry is that there is so much leftover Blackhawk from Carquest and other stores out there that you may see some older US made stock floating around.

 

[dieseldodge01]

I ordered sockets from Grainger about 4 months ago and they were USA sockets.

 

[Griff93]

My 1/2 twelve point metric socket set at work is US blackhawk. They sit in my top drawer right next to my SO 1/2 6 point set. My 3/8 standard 6 point shallow set at work is also blackhawk. They are definitely good enough to be used in a professional shop environment. There's another guy I work with that has some US blackhawk stuff as well.

 

[Bull]

To my knowlege nothing branded Blackhawk is currently made in the USA. Where it gets blurry is that there is so much leftover Blackhawk from Carquest and other stores out there that you may see some older US made stock floating around.

That explains a lot for me, thanks.

Since the consensus seems to be that these are good tools, even for shop use, I am surprised that they are rarely spoken of, even on this site full of tool addicts.

 

[dieseldodge01]

HEY don't be spread'n the word on these tools, I would like to keep it on the down low. It keeps my purchase prices low.

 

[mtkst19]

all of the mac dealers i have dealt with in my area have carried blackhawk on truck. I have a few of their items and no complaints. The mac truck sold them as a cheaper alternative to their hard line. In many respects i felt they were comparable and no where near a downgrade to mac. when i do my used tool hunts they are a brand i pick up when it is advantageous.

 

[cortez]

I have yet to have any Blackhawk tools fail- so yes I respect the brand (old stuff only in my possession).

Here in Chicago there are still many Blackhawk tools for sale at the largest flea market in Chicago-- at 43rd and Ashland (might be the largest flea market in the Midwest??).

 

[Bull]

HEY don't be spread'n the word on these tools, I would like to keep it on the down low. It keeps my purchase prices low.

You know what, you are totally correct, and as you know I already keep my mouth shut about certain things because I know blabbing here increases prices out there. It happened to my tool boards!

Damn me and my big mouth!

 

[dieseldodge01]

We don't want to raise awareness to high quality tool brands that seem to go cheap on Ebay. I like my cheap tools

 

[a390st]

Blackhawk used to be a more or less professional grade of tool. 50+ years ago it was a pretty big deal. My grandfather used a lot of BH in his shop, and so did a lot of other old mechanics decades ago. BH made a lot of specialty tools back then, and a lot of folks learned how to work on engines and the like with BH tools.

 

[Bull]

Blackhawk used to be a more or less professional grade of tool. 50+ years ago it was a pretty big deal. My grandfather used a lot of BH in his shop, and so did a lot of other old mechanics decades ago. BH made a lot of specialty tools back then, and a lot of folks learned how to work on engines and the like with BH tools.

In addition, let's face the facts here. "Blackhawk" is just a damn cool name for tools. It just sounds good.

In fact, of all the tool brands I can think of off the top of my head, with the possible exception of Indestro, I'd say it is the coolest sounding name.

 

[old salvage]

I have respect for them. Especially for the pre New Britain stuff. Before they were transformed into an economy line.
Here's an early 30's "Free Wheeling" gearless ratchet....

 

[TheGrooveking]

For some reason I see a parallel between the Blackhawk USA stuff and the older Proto Challenger series.

TheGrooveking

 

[Bull]

I have respect for them. Especially for the pre New Britain stuff. Before they were transformed into an economy line.
Here's an early 30's "Free Wheeling" gearless ratchet....

I have my eye out for one of those.

Have you had it apart? I am very curious about what is going on in there. Seems like a revolutionary design for the '30s, no?

 

[Bolster]

HEY don't be spread'n the word on these tools, I would like to keep it on the down low. It keeps my purchase prices low.

OH, Diesel likes these, eh? I will have to start searching them out and amassing a huge collection for myself. Gearing up for heated eBay bidding wars, I am...

 

[dieseldodge01]

I would like to have the older free wheeling ratchets. Blackhawk had a history of innovation. They even made 7/16 drive sockets. The coolest tool box by far has to be the box for the 7/16 sockets nugget sets.

 

[old salvage]

I have my eye out for one of those.

Have you had it apart? I am very curious about what is going on in there. Seems like a revolutionary design for the '30s, no?

There are no screws that I can see (screw like thing on head is actually the shift button), only 4 pins that I'm afraid to drive out because they look peened.
I've seen patent drawings and it looks really complicated. With my luck I'd wreck it or not be able to re-assemble.
I will say its really smooth and locks tight as heck with no backdrag though!

 

[dieseldodge01]

OH, Diesel likes these, eh? I will have to start searching them out and amassing a huge collection for myself. Gearing up for heated eBay bidding wars, I am...

Don't be amassing huge amounts of them, I need the vintage ones for MY collection

 

[mtkst19]

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/blackhawk-innovation.html

decent read on history of bh.

also, older traditional ratchet was on ebay the other day when i was looking.

 

[old salvage]

I would like to have the older free wheeling ratchets. Blackhawk had a history of innovation. They even made 7/16 drive sockets. The coolest tool box by far has to be the box for the 7/16 sockets nugget sets.

They made them (gearless rats) for a while too. I wonder why they stopped.

 

[dieseldodge01]

They made them (gearless rats) for a while too. I wonder why they stopped.

You know they even made the lock on socket and then discontinued them. Some of it may have been cost. I don't have a price list but I can bet the gearless ratchets got to be expensive. Also maybe they didn't hold up as well as the standard ratchets. I always ask myself why New Britain went from a 60 tooth mechanism to a 45 tooth mechanism. I always wonder what the logic was on that one.