matador wrenches

[shDK]

I am considering buying a few Matador wrenches, I can buy them at our local Bauhaus store, they are satin finish and in two types, ordinary combination wrenches. And a design I don,t know the name for in English. But in Danish we call it a swan neck wrench.

But does anybody here know the quality of Matador wrenches? Apparently they are still made in Germany, Wich I believe stands for a certain standard. I will be using it semi pro. Not at work but a lot for after works jobs. Will they last? They are very reasonable priced.

Thanks, and have a great Sunday.

Søren

 

[nicksnothereman]

I am considering buying a few Matador wrenches, I can buy them at our local Bauhaus store, they are satin finish and in two types, ordinary combination wrenches. And a design I don,t know the name for in English. But in Danish we call it a swan neck wrench.

But does anybody here know the quality of Matador wrenches? Apparently they are still made in Germany, Wich I believe stands for a certain standard. I will be using it semi pro. Not at work but a lot for after works jobs. Will they last? They are very reasonable priced.

Thanks, and have a great Sunday.

Søren

I believe they made wrenches for mercedes (probably their car kits) so I assume they make decent tools. I don't know about the heavy offset (looking at the offset on some of the wrenches they made) but it's probably okay for your purposes.

If they are cheap it's not that much of a gamble. If they don't last there are plenty of other european manufacturers to choose from none of which will be anywhere close to cheap. I like the facom stuff, not german, but for whatever reason I see it and it looks well made to me.

 

[shDK]

I believe they made wrenches for mercedes (probably their car kits) so I assume they make decent tools. I don't know about the heavy offset (looking at the offset on some of the wrenches they made) but it's probably okay for your purposes.

If they are cheap it's not that much of a gamble. If they don't last there are plenty of other european manufacturers to choose from none of which will be anywhere close to cheap. I like the facom stuff, not german, but for whatever reason I see it and it looks well made to me.

I just Love Facom tools aswell. Have an Old 1/2 Socket set aswell as a few wrenches and a 1/4 socket set in facom. The best tools I ever used. But neither my wallet or wife are into using that kind of money at the moment.

Forgot to mention the matador tools has lifetime guarantee.

 

[Fretters]

The name sounds familiar, but I can't for the life of me think of any in my collection, so I couldn't say in all honesty one way or the other on quality. I seem to think they're decent kit though.

 

[Roverbo]

I am considering buying a few Matador wrenches, I can buy them at our local Bauhaus store, they are satin finish and in two types, ordinary combination wrenches. And a design I don,t know the name for in English. But in Danish we call it a swan neck wrench.

But does anybody here know the quality of Matador wrenches? Apparently they are still made in Germany, Wich I believe stands for a certain standard. I will be using it semi pro. Not at work but a lot for after works jobs. Will they last? They are very reasonable priced.

Thanks, and have a great Sunday.

Søren

Hi Søren, and welcome to GJ from a fellow dane
You can find loads of pictures and information on different german (and other european) brands on the "tools from the old world" thread. So, to keep it short: Matador is a fine German brand. But sadly, more and more Matador tools in Bauhaus are not made in Germany, but Taiwan (Unknown factory) or from India (HR-tools). The foreign made tools are more glossy and smooth, where the german mades are quite rough in the "masculine fruit skin finish" (not my expression...).
Hurry up, if you want german Matadors, since my guess is, that if you can find real "matadors" on the shelves, these will be the last...at least in Bauhaus.

Picture examples:
View media item 29291The top: Double box offset wrench with fruit skin finish: Made in Germany (also forged in the handle). Wrong laser print: Wisent (private label for Bauhaus, but sold in a set with other Matador-labeled wrenches!) Bottom: Newer Taiwan made, combination wrench, more glossy, ISO standard forged.

View media item 29287All these straight pattern double box are made in Germany. Note, though, that the top one has a different beam pattern. That´s why Matador is so interesting... (These were bought same day, from the same shelves in Bauhaus, Glostrup, Denmark).

View media item 25814Two "identical" Matador 30 mm ½" sockets. Same part number. The left one is german, and marked with "germany". The knurled one on the right has no COO (country of origin) marking, and my guess is Taiwan. I have no reason to question the quality or finish though, so Matadors are still good tools for the money.

 

[Dave455]

Well I don't own any Matador wrenches but I do have a couple of Matador sockets around and they seem to be fine! I don't think there's anything wrong with their quality, they're just not as well known as some other firms!

The British Ministry of Defence have bought some over the years as they turn up occasionally as surplus! They don't usually buy rubbish tools!

I think the 'swan neck' wrenches you refer to would be called a 'ring spanner' in English, or a 'box end wrench' in the U.S. In German it would be a 'ringschlussel'!

Edit - my post crossed with Roverbo's! He's obviously much more familiar with these than I am! The only Matador I have seen has been German made, and I'd be less inclined to buy any that wasn't!

 

[haig]

Hi everybody! Same story over here. There are no more Matador-wrenches marked as "Made in Germany" available, just the glossy ones. Just at the moment as i developed a sense for COO, the where gone from the shelves at "Bauhaus". Same for the WGB wrenches at Hornbach, now marked with "Das Werkzeug" ("The Tool") but no "Made in Germany" anymore.
Sad thing: Both Matador and WGB were both less expensive alternatives beside Gedore, Hazet or Stahlwille (as long as COO matters).

 

[shDK]

Hi all.

And thanks for all your answers. I really appreciate it. I find it a bit sad that some of there wrenches should be made in Taiwan. On there web side, they describe in details how there stuff is made in Germany. I will send them an email. I will ask them what is really true. and I will come back with there reply

Thanks
Søren

 

[2oolhound]

I have a few Matador tools and find them good quality. If the price is right I'd go for them as you can see the made in Germany ones are becoming scarce and are nice to have.

The swan style is called "offset" here in north america and I've heard them called "cranked spanners" in the UK and Australia.

 

[Monte]

Sad thing: Both Matador and WGB were both less expensive alternatives beside Gedore, Hazet or Stahlwille (as long as COO matters).

That´s probably the reason why they´re not from germany anymore

If Bauhaus sells Matador for 40% less than MSRP .....than goodbye made in germany

 

[shDK]

I have written them an email asking them. Intill they answer, then you can all read what they write on there website.

http://www.matador.de/index.php?id=produktion&L=2

 

[Roverbo]

I have written them an email asking them. Intill they answer, then you can all read what they write on there website.

http://www.matador.de/index.php?id=produktion&L=2

Hi Søren,
my guess is, that you will not get a precise answer. Monte has tried before (and he is considered "the german minister of tools" ) If you look into their "HIT" cataloque, the only tools marked with the "made in germany" logo, are the new LED-torch and the ½" ratchet (only 36 tooth, but nicely made. A bit heavy in the hand, though). The rest of the tools: Deep silence regarding COO.

Edit: Took a new picture to illustrate the confusion with Matador (here the combination wrenches):

View media item 42031
Top and bottom: New "maybe Taiwan, but who knows" series 190 (DIN 3113B), glossy finish, polished open ends, no COO.
#2 from top: "In-between" series 190, glossy finish (reminds me of Taiwan-made Bahcos), no COO. Different typography and beam profile. Un-polished ends.
#3/4: Older series 185 (DIN 3113, ie less offset in the box-end), matte finish, "made in Germany". "Chrom Vanadium" forged on the flip-side.
Sorry if i get too nerdy here, but it really makes me wonder, it´s not the usual, german "ordnung". All the wrenches are great tools, and feels nice in the hand, far better than many budget-brands.

 

[shDK]

Hi Søren,
my guess is, that you will not get a precise answer. Monte has tried before (and he is considered "the german minister of tools" ) If you look into their "HIT" cataloque, the only tools marked with the "made in germany" logo, are the new LED-torch and the ½" ratchet (only 36 tooth, but nicely made. A bit heavy in the hand, though). The rest of the tools: Deep silence regarding COO.

Edit: Took a new picture to illustrate the confusion with Matador (here the combination wrenches):

View media item 42031
Top and bottom: New "maybe Taiwan, but who knows" series 190 (DIN 3113B), glossy finish, polished open ends, no COO.
#2 from top: "In-between" series 190, glossy finish (reminds me of Taiwan-made Bahcos), no COO. Different typography and beam profile. Un-polished ends.
#3/4: Older series 185 (DIN 3113, ie less offset in the box-end), matte finish, "made in Germany". "Chrom Vanadium" forged on the flip-side.
Sorry if i get too nerdy here, but it really makes me wonder, it´s not the usual, german "ordnung". All the wrenches are great tools, and feels nice in the hand, far better than many budget-brands.

Hi. I really appreciate your pics and posts. And kind of surprising to meet a fellow Dane. don,t apologize for being nerdy. If we can,t be nerdy here, where can we ?

I will buy them no matter what.. use them for a while till I am able to make a judgement. I like the design on them. it seems a lot like the old bacho PU wrenches. They also seems pretty light. For some reason I always felt light steel is hard steel. I will return with matadors reply on my email

Have a nice day.

 

[Blöckw@rt]

An old Matador 190 combination wrench marked with Germany and a "newer one" marked Made in Germany !

The tubular box wrenches actually in the Bauhaus are marked with Made in Germany, a few month ago only Germany.

 

[Monte]

i guess the tubular wrenches are sourced from a specialized manufacturer like Böcker or Framür. Maybe they changed the supplier ?

 

[Sonny2010]

The name sounds familiar, but I can't for the life of me think of any in my collection, so I couldn't say in all honesty one way or the other on quality. I seem to think they're decent kit though.

Agree

 

[Roverbo]

Hi. I really appreciate your pics and posts. And kind of surprising to meet a fellow Dane. don,t apologize for being nerdy. If we can,t be nerdy here, where can we ?

I will buy them no matter what.. use them for a while till I am able to make a judgement. I like the design on them. it seems a lot like the old bacho PU wrenches. They also seems pretty light. For some reason I always felt light steel is hard steel. I will return with matadors reply on my email

Have a nice day.

Hi Søren,
any news from Matador? Or are they just ignorant?

 

[Raad]

Hello Guys
Two days ago i bought some Matador wrenches (I never heard about Matador before that day) just because the seller told me it's an old series of the German manufacturer, its even marked by W. Germany. I guess i got lucky?
I bought for 40$ (11 pieces)
Just wanted to share it with you also would like to know what do the numbers 190 & 185 means? Thanks

 

[ticci]

If Bauhaus sells Matador for 40% less than MSRP .....than goodbye made in germany

Just bought a few Matador tools from Bauhaus. Ratchet, 11mm socket and box end wrench were all "Germany" stamped. The 10mm socket was newer, knurled version.

After that I stumbled to Bauhaus german site, and noted that almost all Matador tools are mentioned to be "made in Germany". Link here: https://www.bauhaus.info/steckschlu...eSize=96&view=Gallery&activeCategory=10000100

Also the knurled sockets and iso marked wrenches. But hey, I have no clue whats the thruth.

 

[dutchgray]

I have a Matador DBE set of Whitworth sizes, they are good but I have only ever used any of them a couple times.