Craftsman Clear Handles

[dkroth]

I have a soft spot for Craftsman clear handles.

Sears used to source a lot of fools from Western Forge and they all came with clear handles. As we all know, over the past few years Sears has moved almost all their tools to China. Many of the clear handles have been replaced with China parts and it's probably only a matter of time before they're all gone.

I've been trying to fill out my collection of clear handles while they're still available.

Are you aware of any remaining clear handles not listed here?


The basic slotted and Philips screwdrivers (representative sample):

Jewelers screwdrivers:

Torx. Note: T27 is sold separately:

Mini Torx:

Nut drivers. Note: Metric are grey handles:

Update 6/15/2017: Nut drivers are now from China. No longer WF.

6-in-1 screwdriver:

Robertson, available in #1 and #2:

Tack puller:

Punch and chisel holder:

Bottle opener. Note: Not warrantied for life.

Big stubby (3baygarage, kball):

Grill set (3baygarage):

Awl (Vvmvbb):

Hook and pick set (rt_dak):

Are there any currently available clear handles I'm missing?


.

 

[dkroth]

[Grabbing post #2 in case there's a second tier to this thread.]

 

[3baygarage]

The stubby 5/16 flat blade comes to mind. Ratcheting screwdriver. The extra longs. Cabinet screwdrivers. Grilling tool set, lol. Magnetic bit screwdriver.

 

[kball]

Don't forget the stubby

 

[jakemac]

You forgot about the keychain.

 

[Jaysreal]

I was always under the impression that Pratt-read makes these, either way, SK, Pratt-read, and Western Forge are all owned by Ideal anyways. I was recently(week ago) in a Sears and It looks as though they are bringing USA offerings back. There were plenty of Screwdrivers to choose from, clear handle, clear/black rubber handle, and rubber/plastic handle.

They also had a full wall of hammers, something like 20-30 different hammers ALL USA made. Oddly enough they also had Knipex and Wiha in store.
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[Vvmvbb]

Scratch awl, cotter pin puller, screw holding screwdrivers

 

[dkroth]

You forgot about the keychain.

Scratch awl, cotter pin puller, screw holding screwdrivers

Got links?

I found the scratch awl and added it above.

Cotter pin puller has moved to the Grip series from China.

 

[rt dak]

I don't know if they're still available but they had a clear handle hook & pick set.

 

[Jim C.]

Don't forget about the clutch head drivers......

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

dkroth,

In your initial post, you mentioned that metric nut drivers have grey handles. If you go back far enough, you can find Craftsman branded metric nut drivers with clear handles. I think they were manufactured during the -V- era.

Jim C.

 

[wmm2]

I checked the set I have. The Phillips l have look the same as yours. The slotted ones I have contain 11 different ones; some I have that you seem to be missing, including 2 with round shaft instead of square. Here's the model numbers from them:
41541 - Clear
4151 - Stubby
41589 1/8
41581 3/16 short
41583 1/4
41577 3/16 medium
41584 1/4 medium
41578 1/4 long
41587 5/16 long

41247 3/16 short round shaft
41248 3/16 long round shaft

 

[mcmlvif100]

You forgot about the keychain.

Jakemac

Is that Craftsman production or a custom, one off? When I zoomed in on the picture, it almost looked like a cotter pin had been substituted for the original blade. Regardless, I want one.

 

[COL911]

My local Sears Outlet had a box of the bottle openers, probably 50 or more, selling for $2.99 ea. last week.

 

[Al Borland]

Aren't these the stinky handles?

 

[KnurledNut]

Reed Prince #2 driver (far left below the insert bit sets; note: clear and black instead of blue)

Speed driver (far right)

(Both originally part of set #92167)

12 Pc Powerhouse set #41619 (big sizes like #3 and #4 ph and 3/8 slotted, etc)

 

[rlitman]

Reed Prince #2 driver (far left below the insert bit sets; note: clear and black instead of blue)...

Mine is clear and red, but yeah, that's a weird one that only came in a large set.

 

[jeffyhog]

Aren't these the stinky handles?

I love that smell!

The nutdrivers are all made in China now. I believe the tack puller is as well.

 

[jakemac]

Jakemac

Is that Craftsman production or a custom, one off? When I zoomed in on the picture, it almost looked like a cotter pin had been substituted for the original blade. Regardless, I want one.

Yes it's genuine. They used to sell them from a bucket at the counter as an impulse item. And yes, it think they just shoved a cotter pin into the handle to hold the ring.

 

[jimreed2160]

Don't forget the big daddy.

 

[dwasifar]

Are you collecting these because you prefer them in use, or is it more of a nostalgia thing?

 

[brad4444]

Most of the part numbers:

41542 - #0 x 1 1/2"
41293 - #0 x 2 1/2"
41855 - #1 x 1 1/2"
41294 - #1 x 3"
4118 - #2 x 1 1/2"
41295 - #2 x 4"
41853 - #2 x 6"
41296 - #2 x 8"
41297 - #3 x 6"
41298 - #4 x 8"
41541 - 3/32" x 1 1/2"
41421 - 1/8" x 2"
41589 - 1/8" x 4"
4151 - 1/4" x 1 1/2"
41583 - 1/4" x 4"
41584 - 1/4" x 6"
41578 - 1/4" x 8"
41586 - 5/16" x 1-3/4"
41579 - 5/16" x 6"
41587 - 5/16" x 8"
41852 - 3/8" x 8"
41854 - 3/16" x 1 1/2"
41247 - 3/16" x 4"
41581 - 3/16" x 4"
41577 - 3/16" x 6"
41248 - 3/16" x 8"
41582 - 3/16" x 9"
41473 - T10 x 3"
41474 - T15 x 3"
41475 - T20 x 3"
41476 - T25 x 4"
41479 - T27 x 4"
41477 - T30 x 4"
41141 - ROBERTSON NO. 1
41142 - ROBERTSON NO. 2

 

[EOC_Jason]

I bought that clear hook & pick set around Christmas... They only say Craftsman on them, no USA or WF or even a part #... As soft as the metal is I'm almost sure they are China... If you find some USA ones I would grab them now!

I'm assuming you are only interested in current production, not all the variations of old?

Did not know about the Punch and chisel holder, that's something to add to my want list now.

 

[speed bump]

There is/was a cotter pin puller.

 

[bfm336]

That must be one stinky screwdriver collection!


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[LB-1911]

I have a soft spot for Craftsman clear handles.

Are there any currently available clear handles I'm missing?

HJE can fill a hole for you.

4 PC CRAFTSMAN STUBBY TORX SCREWDRIVER SET
4 pc Craftsman Stubby Torx Screwdriver Set. T10, T15, T20, T25.
Blade is 1 1/2 long. Black oxide coating.
AVAILABILITY: 21 IN STOCK.


https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/4-pc-craftsman-stubby-torx-screwdriver-set.html

 

[mcmlvif100]

You forgot about the keychain.

Jakemac

Is that Craftsman production or a custom, one off? When I zoomed in on the picture, it almost looked like a cotter pin had been substituted for the original blade. Regardless, I want one.

Yes it's genuine. They used to sell them from a bucket at the counter as an impulse item. And yes, it think they just shoved a cotter pin into the handle to hold the ring.

Thanks for the reply. Not likely to find one these days (at least in our Sears store), so will have to make one.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Don't forget these ball-end allen's on HJE... Ooooo....

 

[EOC_Jason]

HJE can fill a hole for you.

4 PC CRAFTSMAN STUBBY TORX SCREWDRIVER SET
4 pc Craftsman Stubby Torx Screwdriver Set. T10, T15, T20, T25.
Blade is 1 1/2 long. Black oxide coating.
AVAILABILITY: 21 IN STOCK.


https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/4-pc-craftsman-stubby-torx-screwdriver-set.html

.25 cents more you can get them in the package!

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/craftsman-4-piece-stubby-torx-screwdriver-set.html

 

[LB-1911]

.25 cents more you can get them in the package!

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/craftsman-4-piece-stubby-torx-screwdriver-set.html

^

 

[SRSemenza]

I didn't see this one posted in the thread yet.

Magnetic bit holding................ This one has about a 4" length. I know there is also one like this that has blue in place of the black in about a 5" - 6" length. Bits can be stored in the handle. Cap screws on/off.


Seth

 

[SRSemenza]

I couldn't resist a set of these after they were posted up above. Should be very handy and can't beat the price!



Seth

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I didn't see this one posted in the thread yet.

Magnetic bit holding................ This one has about a 4" length. I know there is also one like this that has blue in place of the black in about a 5" - 6" length. Bits can be stored in the handle. Cap screws on/off.


Seth

There was also a ratcheting version of that driver, I have one somewhere. The action is coarse but it gets the job done.

 

[matsurocka]

I'm the same way about the old school snap on orange handle screwdrivers. I don't care how much they cost. If they are in good shape I buy them.
I like how you can use a wrench on the craftmans


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[1saxman]

Yep, here's the 'Big Daddy'. Almost ruined it jumping the starter on a 1978 Pontiac Sunbird Formula. Had to carefully re-shape the bit after a little impromptu arc welding. Most of these are the Craftsman 'clear' with some mutts and Stanleys mixed in and one Kobalt dual-action. The long skinny one was great for setting idle mixture on carbs in big cars where you couldn't reach. I don't have any of the later Craftsmans without the clear handle. One of my Craftsman very small drivers is perfect for turning the lock on a 1911 magazine release. Many of these go back to the early 1970s.

 

[ryan20021982]

FYI not all the metric nutdrivers have solid gray handles, I have 2 sets of clear handles 1 set is V Series the other is H.

View media item 71289View media item 71290View media item 71291

 

[Wamsutta]

What was the reason for Sears to drop Western Forge as a supplier of Craftsman screwdrivers and nut drivers?

 

[LB-1911]

What was the reason for Sears to drop Western Forge as a supplier of Craftsman screwdrivers and nut drivers?

Give this a read -

June 7 2017
For more than 50 years, Western Forge supplied Craftsman tools for Sears to sell in its bricks-and-mortar stores and online. In 2010, Western Forge was acquired by Sycamore-based Ideal Industries, and since July 2011, the relationship continued — until now, according to the new lawsuit Sears filed Monday in Cook County.

Up until the end of April — when the agreement was set to expire — Ideal and Sears discussed extending the deal, the lawsuit says.

But "after several weeks of assurances by Ideal intended to lull Sears into the belief that Ideal would agree to extend the agreement, Ideal abruptly informed Sears that it will not agree to extend the contract beyond its term," according to the lawsuit.

Full text @
Sears sues second Craftsman vendor to maintain tool supply
http://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...man-vendor-ideal-0608-biz-20170606-story.html

 

[Wamsutta]

Ideal bought Western Forge? That's news to me. I had no idea.

 

[KnurledNut]

Ideal bought Western Forge? That's news to me. I had no idea.

They acquired SK, PR and WF the same year.