rust in the eye
Well-known member
The Proto and Challenger I already own look same to me.
Is this just a different name used for different marketing schemes?
Is this just a different name used for different marketing schemes?
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Proto, Proto Professional, Blackhawk, Challenger; What are the differences?
- Thread starter rust in the eye
- Start date
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Back in the day, Blackhawk was the entry level above Stanley.
Challenger was slightly better than Blackhawk.
Proto was the baddest kid on the block.
Challenger was slightly better than Blackhawk.
Proto was the baddest kid on the block.
oldschoolcraft
Well-known member
Wasn't Blackhawk a US-made brand, and then now I see "Blackhawk By Proto" to mean like imported tools, kind of like Snap On's Blue Point? I assume they were a separate company that Stanley Black and Decker bought at some point for the name?Back in the day, Blackhawk was the entry level above Stanley.
Challenger was slightly better than Blackhawk.
Proto was the baddest kid on the block.
Quite a few of the Blackhawk by Proto tools were made in USA. All of my chrome sockets and combo wrenches are MiUSA Blackhawk by Proto.Wasn't Blackhawk a US-made brand, and then now I see "Blackhawk By Proto" to mean like imported tools, kind of like Snap On's Blue Point? I assume they were a separate company that Stanley Black and Decker bought at some point for the name?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Blackhawk use to be all USA before management decided to move some or the part numbers off-shore.Wasn't Blackhawk a US-made brand, and then now I see "Blackhawk By Proto" to mean like imported tools, kind of like Snap On's Blue Point? I assume they were a separate company that Stanley Black and Decker bought at some point for the name?
Yes, Blackhawk used to be a stand alone company before Stanley Black and Decker scooped them up.
woody 73
Well-known member
challenger goes back through the years; I think 1951 or 52 up to the early part of the 1960; s, you can think of it as their lower cost line of tools. Interestingly enough I was told if someone sent in a broken challenger tool you will get a Blackhawk in its place, not sure about this; as that was what I was told by someone else.
Proto bought up many other tool companies so they had other different names through the years.
It must be fate that this topic came up today because I just picked up about 10 challenger sockers and one wrench it the last two days. The font does appear different then the regular proto font in my old eyes.
Proto bought up many other tool companies so they had other different names through the years.
It must be fate that this topic came up today because I just picked up about 10 challenger sockers and one wrench it the last two days. The font does appear different then the regular proto font in my old eyes.