King **** Tools

[MJB24]

What does anyone know or opinions on King **** combination wrenches. I have a way to get free freight on some stuff from the UK. At my work we bring in full size shipping containers. I am thinking about shipping some tools to the vendor in the UK and they will throw them on with our product.

I have been looking at www.primetools.co.uk

Looks like I can get free freight to the address they will be going to. Does anyone have a better place in the UK to buy?

I also see they have some 150 year anniversary combination wrench sets (KDK09.TKAC8M) with a certificate of authenticity. Would these be worth bringing in a set as a possible investement?

 

[CanUK]

Older King **** next to a Gedore:

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Brand new King **** T-handle nut spinners:

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Prime Tools is an excellent shop and very well regarded in the UK. They do occasionally post here.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Are you getting Whitworth/BS stuff? If not, I wouldn't say King **** is worth the price. If so, there's a guy "Woodward Fab" on Ebay, his prices might be better than buying from UK (not sure but likely.) Not the kindest currency exchange.

 

[Monte]

Looks good

 

[STANIMAL]

The name alone is worth it.

 

[fatfillup]

I have 2 king **** tools and have a blast with them. The ratchet I have is 3/8, aluminum body and is a POS, but everybody gets a smile when I hand it to them.

 

[lbgradwell]

Apart from having the greatest name ever, King **** tools have always been well-regarded and are one of the few companies who still produce in England.

I'm not sure an Anniversary Set is "investment grade", but who knows?

 

[vssjim]

I have some King **** 150th wrenches, they are very well made and I use them every day. I also have a 3/8 plastic handled ratchet and inch series 12 point sockets. I would get some stuff if you are not paying freight on a load. Do make sure that you get English made stuff as I think the have some fine tooth ratchets that I don't think are English made.

 

[dmeadow]

You find a lot of King **** tools in the tool rolls supplied with vintage British sports cars. The guys that work on those cars know them, but otherwise there would be a limited market here if you're planning to sell them. They are probably worth more in the UK.

On the other hand, as stated above, if they are Whitworth/BS the old British car and bike crowd will snap them up.

 

[vssjim]

I do also use the 6 in 1 phillips style screw drivers the fit PH 1,2 ,3 and pozi drive 1,2 and 3 all on the same tip.

 

[Lippyp]

I remember sniggering as a kid at the massive illuminated King **** sign in the window of a local hardware store. Their older tools were good solid industrial grade stuff, not sure about their current tools as no one around me really stocks them anymore. I remember their being quite a few King **** spanners in my dads toolbox.

 

[cryan]

King **** spanners are up there with any other top brand in the world. certainly a rival in quality for Snap-On and Mac. No bling but will outlive any of us. Their sockets are good too but the ratchets, whilst well made and decent to use, have quite down market looking plastic handles. however the internals are good. The spanners are still made in the West Midlands in England and are made in small batches in the traditional manner. I had a set of KD spanners on a tugboat that I was Chief Engineer on about three years ago. It was an old navy tug from the 1960's and in the stores paperwork I found a transfer docket stating that the King **** tools had come from a much older vessel and were purchased in the late 1940's. They had been abused all their life with being hammered and having cheater pipes on the so I put a dial caliper on a couple of the open end spanners which were Whitworth and they were still spot on 60+ years from manufacture. There still made in the same way in the same place. They are also the standard use factory spanners of Aston Martin cars which should be proof enough of the quality.

I think there is a video on youtube of the factory.

 

[billymade]

Since 1856; impressive, not many companies here... can say that!

 

[harrybbaudinet]

Apart from having the greatest name ever, King **** tools have always been well-regarded and are one of the few companies who still produce in England.

I'm not sure an Anniversary Set is "investment grade", but who knows?

LOL. It's name can really sting in a person's mind. I've been using it for months now and so far I have no complaints on it.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

The older King **** tools are fine tools. The newer stuff, not so, wouldn't waste my money.

 

[billymade]

Motor-Mechanic, can you be more specific? Most of us "across the pond"; will never see a king **** tool but we all would appreciate your experience, knowledge of what the brand is currently shipping. If anyone has more pics of their tools and what you like or don't like about their tool line, that would be enlightening.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

billymade, the quality and finish of the newer spanners is very poor, the size of the broaching on ring spanners is quite large indicating the use of poor quality steel.

CanUk (who posted further up the page) and myself compared pics in another thread of some newer King **** spanners that he'd bought, and some older ones that i own. I think we both agreed that quality has taken a fall.

 

[bimmer630]

I want a king **** t shirt

 

[gigamel]

Here you go:

http://www.abbotstools.co.uk/tee-shirts-xlarge-grey-3712-p.asp

Not sure if German tool and knife maker F. **** makes T-shirts ;-)

http://www.****.de/de/index.php

 

[Altec]

Need some of these for my boss...

 

[PrimeTools]

We have been asking King **** for some T Shirts for a while and will speak to their MD again next week.
You guys are the experts as you use and compare the various brands of tools out there, but from a sellers point of view, they are a super company to deal with and we get very very few returns.
Their finish/appearance is not always the best, but as mentioned up the page, they are standard issue for Aston Martin and used extensively throughout industry in the UK.
They import some items, but are increasing production within the UK and last year started making Tool Boxes and Roll Cabs, which can be coloured to any RAL colour. They also have bespoke foam cutting facilities and can produce any tool kit to order.
They are also the only brand (I think), to offer Whitworth Ratcheting Combination Spanners worldwide.
As with any of our other brands, we are always delighted to try to offer impartial advice, prices etc. if required and also take on board the comments expressed here.

 

[Exceller8]

I just purchased a King **** wrench from eBay. I'm curious to see what the quality is like and I had to have at least one tool from that company.

 

[scottdc]

Been using their Whitworth offerings for years on my older Triumph and no complaints or issues at all. Good stuff that I expect to outlast me.