Craftsman Socket eBay Purchase - Question

[BRWEIDEM]

Twice now I have purchased socket sets on eBay, specifically searching for V and G date codes to ensure I buy those made in the USA. After receiving them I’m left wondering if these are newly made knock offs. Maybe I’m being too critical but surely there can’t be that many NOS sets still out there, can there? Here are some pics, let me know what you guys think. I’m concerned about the rough cast finish on the inside of the socket, which may be hard to notice in the picture. My other =V= sockets, although used and not new, don’t look like this. Also, the chrome finish near the socket opening seems off to me.

Hopefully they’re the real deal and not some sort of fakes.

 

[woody 73]

I am a little forgetful tonight but I thought the VV series started in 1978 and up to 1989,(Easco) if that is the case your sockets are not vintage at all.

 

[d42jeep]

At the price those sell for, there would be no money in making counterfeit sockets. I average paying $1.00 per socket at estate sales or the flea.
-Don

 

[BRWEIDEM]

Woody, they were listed as New Old Stock, so they do look brand new. I’ve always had old US made craftsman sockets laying around but never any in this new of condition. So I don’t know if that is throwing me off.

Jeep, thanks for the input. Makes sense.

 

[d42jeep]

The sockets made by Moore Drop Forge and their immediate successors (=v=) are considered the best of the postwar chrome products. The earlier sockets made be New Britain (BE and Circle H) as well as the Plomb and S-K made are very high quality, in my opinion. Here is a well used =v= 1/2” drive set along with a set of DOE wrenches.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

Woody, they were listed as New Old Stock, so they do look brand new. I’ve always had old US made craftsman sockets laying around but never any in this new of condition. So I don’t know if that is throwing me off.

Jeep, thanks for the input. Makes sense.

I find NOS sockets quite often. The -vv- and G series date from a time when socket sets and/or larger tools sets were sealed in heavy duty plastic bags and tossed into a box, along with whatever else was supposed to go in those sets.

Boxed sets were especially popular during holidays when Sears would offer special tool sets that could have easily ended up in the hands of someone who was not all that interested or inclined. Thus adding to the glut of Craftsman socket sets in circulation.

I wish I knew just how many sockets Sears sold per year. I bet the numbers would blow us away!

Brian

 

[four.cycle]

^ this.

There is no shortage, and there will not be any shortage for some time, of Craftsman -V-, =V=, VV, VΛ, or G sockets. There are millions and millions of them out there.
I've purchased all of the above five flavors over the last few years, both on Ebay and Craigslist, and I've gotten quite a few that appeared to be unused.

Not only sockets, but wrenches as well - I paid a total of about $30 bucks for a full set of metric VΛ combination wrenches - brand new - and that included the two sizes that I had to buy from Sears that were missing from the set I got from the guy on Craigslist.

There's a glut of the stuff in the second-hand market.

 

[four.cycle]

coincidentally, while looking for something completely different, Ebay directed me HERE:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-BOX-Vi...Socket-Set-1-4-Drive-6-pt-USA-V-/143039527909

New NOS -V- 10-pc 1/4" drive SAE deep-well set w/tray - in the original box.

As noted above: there is no shortage of older Craftsman out there.
The asking prices on Ebay might lead you to believe otherwise, but it just ain't so.

Note comment from Ebay seller: "I picked up another load of new old stock Craftsman..."

 

[thehorse13]

You should have been around my neighborhood during Christmas. Every kid got new Sears tool sets every season. I find NOS sets from the 70s and 80s regularly. I'm sure they will dry up one day when a reality show called, "Tool Pickers" comes along.

Your sockets are not knock offs.

 

[Jim C.]

Just looking at the photos, your socket looks totally authentic. I don’t think it’s a knockoff or faked in any way. The only thing fake about it is referring to it as a NOS tool. It looks like its been used more than a time or two.

Jim C.

 

[BRWEIDEM]

Thank you for the education here. I still can’t get over the spotty chrome job around the opening of the socket which you can see in the third pic. I think I’ll stick to looking for =V= only because they always seem to be well made.

 

[406Rich]

That is all I collect is Craftsman v or vv, mainly v series its been fun, have a set of circle H series and some BE, all locally at garage sales, though ones are the deep well sockets not many out there..!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

The sockets made by Moore Drop Forge and their immediate successors (=v=) are considered the best of the postwar chrome products. The earlier sockets made be New Britain (BE and Circle H) as well as the Plomb and S-K made are very high quality, in my opinion. Here is a well used =v= 1/2” drive set along with a set of DOE wrenches.
-Don

Don,
I'm interested in seeing the outside of that red toolbox. Is that a Craftsman box? I thought you didn't collect Craftsman. ??? ;-)

Mike

 

[d42jeep]

Don,
I'm interested in seeing the outside of that red toolbox. Is that a Craftsman box? I thought you didn't collect Craftsman. ??? ;-)

Mike

Mike,
I don't collect it to keep, but if a mostly complete =v= set is staring me in the face at an estate sale, it's pretty much impossible not to pick it up. I had a lot of the missing pieces to complete it in my =v= stuff. I think the set should stay together.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

Thank you for the education here. I still can’t get over the spotty chrome job around the opening of the socket which you can see in the third pic. I think I’ll stick to looking for =V= only because they always seem to be well made.

Your observation about the chrome is spot on. It was a problem with Craftsman sockets for decades! I used to return those sockets under warranty but eventually got tired of it and switched to another brand for my daily users.

Brian

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Mike,
I don't collect it to keep, but if a mostly complete =v= set is staring me in the face at an estate sale, it's pretty much impossible not to pick it up. I had a lot of the missing pieces to complete it in my =v= stuff. I think the set should stay together.
-Don

Don,
I hear you on not being able to pass up a nearly complete set of Craftsman that is giving you the come-on look. These tools and their siren songs.

Love that little toolbox. Waiting for one to cross my path. One of these days...

 

[DFB]

I have full set of VV from my early 80's some "V"and then some later G sockets. I agree they are real

Side by side quite a contrast in the chroming, in both photo's "V" on the left and the "G" on the right, metric 3/8" pic #1 and 1/4" SAE pic #2

Some of the later acquired combinations wrenches I have are the same way too with a darker hue.

 

[DFB]

Just thought I add "V" to "VV" comparision once again "V" on left

Very similar and hard to tell in by the photo but up close the finish on the V looks slightly better