S-K 7/16" drive

[bitbuster]

Upcoming auction with full set of S-K 7/16" sockets and ratchets in OD green case marked S-K. Inside lid it's marked 'very rare'. Are they that rare?

 

[bitbuster]

7/16" drive

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Are they vintage? As far as I know, the only mfgr that made 7/16-inch drive tools is Blackhawk, from the 40s (except WWII) through the 50s or so. They marketed them as an economical alternative to owning 3/8- and 1/2-inch drive. Branded as Nuggets. Not rare. Not growing on trees, but not rare, either. The concept did not last and did not, as far as I know, spread to S-K or any other mfgr. I could be wrong. I don't know much about modern tools, if you're talking about some modern retro trend. But if you're talking vintage, maybe they're Blackhawk in an S-K box?

 

[Kscardsfan]

I always thought 7/16 drive was exclusively a Blackhawk thing that never really caught on.

 

[Xcursion88]

I've only ever come across this once.
A socket/ratchet extension of a great relative of mine had one.
It was a conversation piece for sure but nobody knew anything further about it

 

[Mgdoug3]

I read on GJ before that 7/16" drive came about because the manufacturer wanted to make something that could replace both 3/8 and 1/2 drive. The idea never caught on.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I read on GJ before that 7/16" drive came about because the manufacturer wanted to make something that could replace both 3/8 and 1/2 drive. The idea never caught on.

The print literature that Blackhawk put out for their 7/16 drive tools made some good bullet points, but the market was already firmly entrenched with the existing drive sizes. That said the ratchets were absolutely gorgeous, just beautiful lines and aesthetic design.