Craftsman tools

[Ultradog MN]

I like Craftsman hand tools.
Never was much of a fan of their power tools nor their shop machines but I do know there was a lot of nice things done on farms and in garages with those machines.
I'm somewhere in the middle between the tool snobs and the harbor freight/Amazon gang and mostly, for my budget look for used.
So I was delighted to get these at an estate sale today.
They look brand new except for a bit of paint splatter on the large one.
No price on them (grrr) so I offered $30 for the three.
He said $35.
I said okay if you can break a Fifty.
He couldn't make the change so let me have them for $30 which he could change.
I went from the sale straight up to our property - thus the sleeping bag under the photos. Am a happy camper tonight in more ways than one.

 

[Jtels85]

He said $35.
I said okay if you can break a Fifty.
He couldn't make the change so let me have them for $30 which he could change.
I went from the sale straight up to our property - thus the sleeping bag under the photos. Am a happy camper tonight in more ways than one.

You did well for $30! Nice score!!

 

[BTL-A4]

I have the big one. It has served me well.

I too like Craftsman tools, but I wish they were made in the USA still. I've moved on to other brands that offer more bang for the buck, but my first tools were from Sears.

 

[shoggoth80]

Ten bucks a pop for some decent pry bars is pretty sweet!

 

[Sumboodie]

I've been using a set of 2 for about 20 years.

 

[gungatim]

Those used to be $19.99 for the 3-piece set. I used to buy them and give as Christmas gifts. Still have two left.

I'd say the seller made out pretty good.

 

[rust in the eye]

Those used to be $19.99 for the 3-piece set. I used to buy them and give as Christmas gifts. Still have two left.

I'd say the seller made out pretty good.

Nixon "used to be" president.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Those used to be $19.99 for the 3-piece set. I used to buy them and give as Christmas gifts. Still have two left.

I'd say the seller made out pretty good.

I looked up pry bar set at harbor freight.
More bang for your buck there than I got.
But I would twice rather have these than the China Maids.

https://www.harborfreight.com/pry-bar-set-4-piece-58388.html

 

[rust in the eye]

I looked up pry bar set at harbor freight.
More bang for your buck there than I got.
But I would twice rather have these than the China Maids.

https://www.harborfreight.com/pry-bar-set-4-piece-58388.html

I have an earlier version of these(HF)with different handles so not sure if same quality but assuredly very similar. The short ones are fine as the size limits forces applied. The long one is a joke, my grandma could bend it. I'd bet the farm that the vintage Craftsman are world's better.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve had really good luck with Craftsman USA pry bars. I have a few like the ones pictured then I have some with a more rounded handle that are orange and then the ones with the striking caps too.

 

[gungatim]

I looked up pry bar set at harbor freight.
More bang for your buck there than I got.
But I would twice rather have these than the China Maids.

https://www.harborfreight.com/pry-bar-set-4-piece-58388.html

I have an earlier set of the HF as well. No where near as nice as the Craftsman. The handles on the large ones have broken apart. I welded on a piece of pipe so I can still use them.

Hopefully the newer ones use a better quality resin for the handles.

 

[gungatim]

Nixon "used to be" president.

What does that have to do with a depreciating asset?

Also, I don't think political discussions about President's being forced out of office is allowed on here.

 

[Andres26tnt]

What does that have to do with a depreciating asset?

Also, I don't think political discussions about President's being forced out of office is allowed on here.

Some people simply cant separate politics from everyday life and discussions.

 

[rust in the eye]

Help me.

 

[Ultradog MN]

What does that have to do with a depreciating asset?

Also, I don't think political discussions about President's being forced out of office is allowed on here.

I can't speak for @rust in the eye's thinking but I saw his post as humorous, not political.
He could have said John Wayne was a movie star, Snickers candy bars were a dime and kitchen stoves you had to light with a match.
In other words, times and prices have changed.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Snickers were a nickel.
The only candy that cost a dime were Mounds and Almond Joy.

For the "two-for-a-penny" candy we had to go to Kubik's Market - Bud's Food Store only sold packaged stuff - the "two for a penny" stuff was all bulk - usually packed 144 pieces in each little cardboard display box.
Old Man Kubik's cat slept on top of the boxes of candy. We were kids and we didn't care about cat hair.

 

[gungatim]

I can't speak for @rust in the eye's thinking but I saw his post as humorous, not political.
He could have said John Wayne was a movie star, Snickers candy bars were a dime and kitchen stoves you had to light with a match.
In other words, times and prices have changed.

Times and prices have changed. True. But tools generally don't appreciate. Especially generic Sears prybars.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Times and prices have changed. True. But tools generally don't appreciate. Especially generic Sears prybars.

I still don't think the post was political.
And if you want me to feel that I didn't get a great deal on some NOS Craftsman prybars you will have to try much harder.
BTW, I used them today. I split one of my tractors to install a new clutch.

 

[RichRiddle]

Some older Craftsman tools provided a good value depending on who manufactured the tools for Craftsman; the pry bars offer one example. I have several sets of Craftsman pry bars purchased during Black Friday sales and use them regularly, actually more often than the Snap On pry bars located right next to the Craftsman pry bars. Perhaps it's just the fact the Craftsman pry bars have been in the drawer longer, but I also find the lengths a bit more practical than the Snap On pry bars. The Craftsman pry bars certainly outlasted the Craftsman clamps sold on Black Friday sales.

From 2015...

 

[Toold_up]

I think those were made by wilde for Craftsman and Hyper Tough (Wal-Mart). They are good tools, high value for sure.

 

[four.cycle]

Craftsman hand tool manufacturers and date ranges

 

[gungatim]

I still don't think the post was political.
And if you want me to feel that I didn't get a great deal on some NOS Craftsman prybars you will have to try much harder.
BTW, I used them today. I split one of my tractors to install a new clutch.

I didn't say you didn't get a good deal, obviously you can't buy them new for that today. I was saying the seller got a better deal. It's not often you can sell older used tools for more than they cost new. With the exception of firearms. People go nuts overspending on firearms for some reason.

 

[Hakeem]

Nice find OP! Glad you were able to put them to good use already

 

[Ultradog MN]

Craftsman hand tool manufacturers and date ranges

Thank you for this.
They have a W stamped in them.
From your chart -

W
= SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008

 

[rust in the eye]

I still don't think the post was political.

It wasn't but clearly over the heads of some with perhaps a bit too much politics swimming around in their heads. Sad commentary on the times.

 

[neophyte]

Times and prices have changed. True. But tools generally don't appreciate. Especially generic Sears prybars.

It really depends on the tools, whether the value will appreciate.
Most tools don’t.
Some tools, like the older Craftsman tools that were made in the USA, as well as some of the foreign made Craftsman Professional tools, have held their value well, and may even sell for more than the tolls used to cost new,
especially if the tools are still new or in practically new shape.
The older USA made Craftsman pry bars were supposedly made by Wilde, which still manufactures pry bars in the USA, however the newer pry bars have different handles, made from a different material, and with a striking cap.
Some people may prefer the newer pry bars with the striking cap, or not care about the difference.
Other people liked the older smooth square handles. I think there were even requests at one point to see if Epstein’s could get the handles in stock.
There were other brands that used similar pry bars with similar handles, also made by Wilde, but in different colors, however, most of those other brands were significantly more expensive than the Craftsman branded versions.

As for other tools and “holding value”, Festool has a habit of raising prices every year, so many people used to find they could sell used Festool tools (except maybe cordless tools and some older models), for as much as they paid for the tools new.
Now that Festool is getting purchased in larger numbers, prices on used tools are going down, but the tools still hold value better than more common brands.

 

[four.cycle]

Thank you for this.
They have a W stamped in them.
From your chart -

W
= SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008

Just after the part number stamped on the handle is "P" and "S". The shaft of the pry bar is stamped with "W".
It's a bit confusing, to say the least.
The most likely culprit is Wilde, but Wilde's current production of pry bars has a steel "striking cap" at the base of the handle, which yours appears to lack.

The young lady I spoke with on the phone has only been with the company a short time. The "experts" are in the plant conducting a tour. Hopefully they'll be able to confirm my suspicions - that "Wilde red" certainly looks familiar.
The steel "striking cap" on the end of the handle was a recent change - done within the last decade, apparently.

P = Wilde, ca. 1963 - 1988 & 2005 - 2015 (brake pliers, but more recently hooks, picks, scrapers, & prybars)