"Forged Steel" DBE Wrenches

[DadsTools]

I ended up buying another set of these wrenches a week later, and also saw a Tru-Fit brand wrench that looked like the same casting. On Friday, I picked up another set sold under "Sears" that appear to be the same casting design.

You're hooked now. Welcome to the club. Remember, with the SEARS marked ones, they're only Lectrolite (has the little LC) up until around 1962, after which they switch to a virtually identical counterfeit wrench marked BF JAPAN, which were obviously copied exactly from the TruFit design.

There's tons of this stuff out there, and cheap too because everyone thinks they're drek. Happy Hunting!

 

[LNKMK8]

Haven't had a chance to look that closely at the Sears yet; I'll have to take a look for the "LC" marking. I was in the basement and came across some Dunlap that looked very similar as well. Maybe I'll get all three versions lined up for a photo together.

 

[Youngguns]

Better late than never. I hope these pictures are good enough to identify these tools. The ratchet doesn't seem like the highest quality item, but its leverage and comfort grip are pretty nice.

 

[Youngguns]

Any updates regarding these "chrome vanadium" tools? (bump)

 

[d42jeep]

I found this image on Alloy Artifacts of a Duro wrench with "Chrome Vanadium Steel" markings in similar font but I'm not sure that it is significant to your search. Since there are no manufacturer's markings on your wrenches they were probably a lower price contract wrench.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

I found this image on Alloy Artifacts of a Duro wrench with "Chrome Vanadium Steel" markings in similar font but I'm not sure that it is significant to your search. Since there are no manufacturer's markings on your wrenches they were probably a lower price contract wrench.
-Don

At one time or another, the following (at least) marked their wrenches with the term "Chrome Vanadium Steel":

Barcalo (which is what yours are I believe)
Hinsdale
Indestro
Duro
S-K

 

[d42jeep]

Todd,
I checked all the wrench pictures from the Barcalo shrine and these were the only ones marked "Chrome Vanadium Steel" so I think somebody else may have made them. They look a little like some Thorsen wrenches but I have never seen Thorsen marked exactly like those.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Todd,
I checked all the wrench pictures from the Barcalo shrine and these were the only ones marked "Chrome Vanadium Steel" so I think somebody else may have made them. They look a little like some Thorsen wrenches but I have never seen Thorsen marked exactly like those.
-Don

You're certainly more Barcalo - knowledgeable than I Don, and I couldn't find a similar one in my "Don-depleted pile." So perhaps you're right. I am distracted a bit this morning though because I'm on a mission to find a non Crafty wrench with an N4 forged on it......

 

[DadsTools]

Haven't had a chance to look that closely at the Sears yet; I'll have to take a look for the "LC" marking. I was in the basement and came across some Dunlap that looked very similar as well. Maybe I'll get all three versions lined up for a photo together.

Yes, Lectrolite made Dunlap wrenches for Sears in the 1950s in the TruFit design. The wrenches will be identical to those when the Dunlap name was dropped from them and switched to just plain SEARS. The Lectrolites with have "USA" on them (all the Dunlaps will), and many will have the small LC. The Sears imported will look identical but have "BF JAPAN".

 

[DadsTools]

Better late than never. I hope these pictures are good enough to identify these tools. The ratchet doesn't seem like the highest quality item, but its leverage and comfort grip are pretty nice.

Looks like the ratchet is not marked "USA"--i wonder if this is a later import unrelated to the DBEs?

 

[DadsTools]

At one time or another, the following (at least) marked their wrenches with the term "Chrome Vanadium Steel":

Barcalo (which is what yours are I believe)
Hinsdale
Indestro
Duro
S-K

The other factor to keep in mind is that post-war, as the US mfrs dropped the CV marking from their tools, a ton of imported Japan-Taiwan-China-India etc began to use that same"Chrome Vanadium" device, or CV, or Cr-V, etc. Many of the later ones have no COO mark. If it has some form of the CV marking but no "USA" it's almost certainly a 1950s or later import.

 

[3baygarage]

Looks like the ratchet is not marked "USA"--i wonder if this is a later import unrelated to the DBEs?

The ratchet certainly is an import and not related.

 

[Youngguns]

The ratchet certainly is an import and not related.

I'm not arguing, like I said, it doesn't seem of the highest quality, but I have to admit it's much better than the ratchets you find in the old 40pc Taiwanese sets. I could believe it were a low-end USA product; relate-able to to a coarse tooth Craftsman. Anyways, it was included because it came from the same source (yard sale at a graveyard - caretaker passed away and the wife was selling off some tools) and, of course, said "Chrome Vanadium." Not to say that he didn't acquire them separately...

 

[3baygarage]

Probably just coincidental they were together. Dads summed it up pretty well.

I don't want anybody to think I'm ever knocking their stuff by calling it what it is as far as COO. I'm just sharing what I know from years of studying tools. Don't want to see anybody led to believing something is what it isn't. Especially when it comes to ratchets, something I know a good bit about. Or vises, which are questioned almost daily around here.

 

[d42jeep]

Found a like new Dunlap (Lectrolite) DOE in Nevada today
-Don

 

[Fred Knox]

I thought I’d bump this thread and ask a question - any ideas on the manufacturer of this “Forged Steel” USA DBE?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That looks BHM to me.

 

[d42jeep]

The top one is prewar, the lower probably wartime. You can still see traces of the earlier markings next to the Forged Steel. Definitely Bridgeport.
-Don

 

[Fred Knox]

That looks BHM to me.

Thanks Lugz. I had not considered BHM, but it certainly has the same font and sizing as Don's recent example too.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My pleasure. Nice find. They're cool wrenches. I'm working on a partial Nickel-Moly set.