goofy handtool drive system

[supersteve]

IIRC, a few years ago someone (Matco?) was pushing a line of ratchets and sockets that had some sort of (proprietary?) "spline" attaching/drive setup. I don't mean the "spline" drive where the "spline" part of the socket contacts the fastener and can fit multiple types of fastener heads (6 point/12 point/ spline/etc.). I'm talking about the interface between the ratchet handle and the socket, where a conventional tool would use 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 square drive. Or maybe it was some sort of wrench with interchangeable "sockets"? All I can remember was the promotional material showing the tool being used to run a nut down a length of all-thread or something, as in "Wow! This thing can run this nut down farther than a deep socket ever could!" as if you couldn't do that with a ratchet wrench.
I've been searching but come up with zip.

Have I just lost my mind?

 

[reptilezs]

gearwrench vortex pass thru, armstrong eliminator, matco special forces

 

[vintagefan]

...........

 

[Robbie Tussin]

Like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARMSTRONG-E...TRIC-SOCKET-SET-3612-/120891148570#vi-content

 

[Tunger]

Matco Special Forces Socket set, I stupidly bought one when I was young and dumb. It works pretty well for a few applications, but never recouped the investment. And it is now obsolete and they do not have any support for the set any longer. I wish I could find someone to take it off my hands, but no one wants it.

 

[supersteve]

Matco Special Forces Socket set, I stupidly bought one when I was young and dumb. It works pretty well for a few applications, but never recouped the investment. And it is now obsolete and they do not have any support for the set any longer. I wish I could find someone to take it off my hands, but no one wants it.

Hmmmmmm, I'm a sucker for weird ****, what kind of shape is your setup in?

 

[supersteve]

Also, thanks for the input guys.

 

[Tunger]

It's in good shape, missing one socket.

 

[supersteve]

gearwrench vortex pass thru, armstrong eliminator, matco special forces

To the best of your knowledge, are all these tools interchangeable between brands? Possibly made by same vendor?
Thanks




Also, Tunger check yer PMs, mah bruthah.

 

[Buckgnarly]

To the best of your knowledge, are all these tools interchangeable between brands? Possibly made by same vendor?
Thanks




Also, Tunger check yer PMs, mah bruthah.

The Kobalt, Cman, and Gearwrench pass through stuff are all interchangeable.

That Armstring listed is not the same spline setup though....

 

[supersteve]

Interesting.
Do you know if the Matco stuff is the Armstrong stuff or the Gearwrench/Cman/Kobalt stuff?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Interesting.
Do you know if the Matco stuff is the Armstrong stuff or the Gearwrench/Cman/Kobalt stuff?

I know the Matco Special Forces stuff had the finer splines like the Armstrong, so I am guessing those two work together but not the GW/Cman/Kobalt.

 

[Robbie UK]

Vortex are available in the UK under the Draper brand and the Halfords Pro brand. The Halfords version of the Gearwrench has the benefit of a lifetime warranty and a 30pc set for less than £60 before any of their frequent sale events. However, the warranty does not cover the ratchet internals and they feel less than robust, albeit with a better arc than I imagined.

Can you torque down on these like a regular ratchet or are they more akin to the Gearwrench ratchet spanners in strength?

If they are reasonably strong I may get a set for when regular tools don't fit the job at hand.