Etched tools with name & SS #

[Borrego]

Picked up an older Craftsman 16" adjustable wrench at a pawn shop today and noted a previous owner's first initial and last name, along with a social security number, etched into one of the jaws. Back in the day, it may have been common practice for tool identification, but nowadays, it might be an open invitation for identity theft.
Anyone still doing it today?

 

[Toolhorder]

I got some used wrenches with SS on them. I grinded them off. They still have bare steel marks on them but I didn't want the PO's SS on them. I used my driver's license in the past and I remember my Dad doing the same.

 

[Zrexxer]

They used to tell you to engrave your SSN. My grandfather's tools all have his social on them. These days it's practically useless - not to mention ill-advised - since no one can access that information.

 

[american lockpicker]

I seen a wrench with a SSN at the flea market last weekend.

 

[84bimmer]

My grandpa did this with a lot of his tools. I have some of those tools now. And let me tell ya, in this case it's pretty friggin' sweet man. He put initials, DL#, and sometimes SS#.

 

[Big Vic]

I try to engrave all my tools with (V.R 1697) V.R are my initials, 1697 is my employee number.

 

[demographic]

Usually name and postcode here.

 

[DanCo]

No engrave/etch, I know my tools. He who borrows will bring them back. If not,I'll leave my name on their ***.I've have some used sockets with a name. Not a biggie.

 

[demographic]

No engrave/etch, I know my tools. He who borrows will bring them back. If not,I'll leave my name on their ***.

Which is all very well till someone steals a load of your tools and the police try to identify who they belong to.

 

[honcho]

I buy/sell camera gear. I have lots of cameras with owners SSN engraved on the camera / lenses. Unfortunately, on cameras it really hits resale value hard unless the camera is extremely rare.

As for tools, back in the 80s when I first started getting some nice tools, I engraved mine with my last initial and last four of my SSN. I still have, most, if not all of those tools. Now I don't bother marking them.

 

[chewy7]

No engrave/etch, I know my tools. He who borrows will bring them back. If not,I'll leave my name on their ***. Not a biggie.

same here

 

[Buckgnarly]

I buy/sell camera gear. I have lots of cameras with owners SSN engraved on the camera / lenses.

I'd imagine it really affects the value of lenses also.....

I've always wondered my the Army put my SS on my duffel bag, ***** using it in airports and traveling in general.

 

[treasureseeker]

I won a Ruger Mini 14 wood stock and forearm off of EBay years ago with the original gun box. Absent in the photo was a large section colored in which I found out he colored in to hide a SSN before shipping. Ad said the stock was new and taken off when the gun was purchased new and exchanged with a synthetic. Sadly the clip and rivet that holds the forearm on was removed and both forearm and stock were quite dinged up.

 

[mrholeshot]

Using your social use to be how things were done. I still have things with my social engraved on them but I put it in a spot where it can't be seen. I have several rifles that are quite valueable (to me) and are handbuilt customs. They are engraved on the underside of the barrel and a few pistols with hidden SSN in them. Back when stereo equiptment was super expensive ssn on them were common.

 

[creativecars]

My brother put a notch on his tools, my tools now have two notches to tell them apart. LOL

 

[poprockcrusher]

identity thieves you know

 

[spongerich]

identity thieves you know

Anyone who's doing identity theft is going to find your SSN in about 5 minutes.

 

[Greatbear]

Since a good majority of my tools and machinery are 20+ years old, I used to engrave my name and SSN on them. No more. It's recommended to use your driver's license number as a unique identifier, but I doubt that is a good idea these days.