matco/gearwench

[comedyman809]

can someone explain why when i search for a ratcheting wrench set on matcos website, that they show a picture of the gearwrench set, im sure they are the same tools and rebadged, but why dont they show a matco set, or do they not have them marked as match, and just want to charge a rediculous matco price for a gearench set.


are they made in usa or not???

 

[kiatech]

Nope.

 

[CWP1616L]

If I'm not mistaken, Matco is owned by Danaher and GearWrench is owned by Bain Capital.

 

[Skin]

can someone explain why when i search for a ratcheting wrench set on matcos website, that they show a picture of the gearwrench set, im sure they are the same tools and rebadged, but why dont they show a matco set, or do they not have them marked as match, and just want to charge a rediculous matco price for a gearench set.


are they made in usa or not???

Matco and Gearwrench were under the same umbrella until a couple years ago so Matco was an obvious choice to sell Gearwrench products as well. What you're seeing is most likely the remnants of that partnership and they are indeed the same Gearwrench products sold elsewhere. Most of the new sets branded Matco are made by Kabo, not GW, so given some time you'll probably see GW brand products eliminated as they sell through stock.

All Matco ratcheting wrenches are now made in Taiwan. You have to hunt for old stock if you want the older Armstrong USA versions. In my opinion the Taiwan versions are actually better. Out of the box the ratcheting action just feels smoother. I prefer the USA wrench beams though.

 

[CWP1616L]

Skin,

Who's gonna be making Matco's hard line tools like non-ratcheting wrenches, sockets, extensions, and ratchets?

 

[Skin]

All of that still seems to be handled by American based Apex facilities for the time being. There are some small signs that things are changing though like the removal of USA off all 1/4" drive chrome sockets that started a couple years ago and the High Performance wrenches are made in Taiwan, although I don't think there was ever a USA version of those.

A lot of the basic 6pt and 12pt chrome sockets were actually made by a third party company outside of the Danaher family (hence why Matco sockets never looked like Cman/Armstrong) so that may remain unchanged.

 

[comedyman809]

If I'm not mistaken, Matco is owned by Danaher and GearWrench is owned by Bain Capital.

actually, danaher and cooper just sold apex to bain. so gearwrench and matco are no longer part of the same parent.

i remember just seeing those wrenches on the matco sight, even a few years ago, i wondered if you ordered them, would they be actually gear wrench branded or matco and just using a gearwrench stock photo. but thanx for the info!!!

 

[tbaggz]

My Matco truck has several,even 1-1/16 and up to 1-1/2.They are just regular Gearwrench sets for 300+ dollars.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

My Matco truck will also warranty them