Snap on handle colour rarity

[scooby074]

Is there some master list somewhere that shows production of the various colours for SO hard handle tools? I know that Pearl White is supposed to be quite rare, but Im looking for a comparison.

Things like the hard handled ratchets or screwdrivers. How does tan compare to olive drab, compare to orange, compare to hi viz etc. Pretty sure that black is probably the most popular by far.

I have some old tools that were grand-dads, going back to the 70's. They are translucent yellow. I dont think they are particularly rare.

Just a curiosity more than anything.

 

[canuckian]

Snap on did a lot of one-off special colors (dark green ducks unlimited, burgundy corvette set, etc) so they'd probably be the rarest. For their mainline tools, probably brown. I've only ever seen a few in my lifetime.

 

[scooby074]

Im seeing ones like this all over ebay for big bucks. Im assuming theyre made by dealers or resellers, not official colours. Other than the Dale Jr and Sr and the Red, White and Blue, I dont think there were many other official multicolours?

This one made me throw up a bit

 

[cgrutt]

I have a set of nut drivers that I purchased in 1980s that had the translucent yellow handles but I don't think that was a special color back then probably just the material that whoever made the drivers for Snap on came in at the time would be my guess. Nearly all of my other Snap on handles from that time were black IIRC. They may of had some Red or Green handles but they were not that common. I seem to recall a friend who bought a set of tools with different colors and thinking that was weird lol...

 

[Meursault74]

Im seeing ones like this all over ebay for big bucks. Im assuming theyre made by dealers or resellers, not official colours. Other than the Dale Jr and Sr and the Red, White and Blue, I dont think there were many other official multicolours?

This one made me throw up a bit

I bet that color scheme is a big seller in Seattle Washington.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Hell, I didn't even think of the 'Hawks... My paint "marking" on my tools is that same lime green, so I probably would have gotten it for that alone. (Besides, silver and black is already a "normal" SO tool color... --lol--)

That it's so garish it makes people puke - well, to me that's a plus, as who would steal my tools then?

Someone once asked me why not pink? 2 reasons - one, a former co-worker (to keep people from stealing HIS tools) did pink stripes, and two, I'm just not a fan of pink stuff.

 

[scooby074]

I bet that color scheme is a big seller in Seattle Washington.

I bet it is! I didn't even think Seahawks.

 

[Meursault74]

Hell, I didn't even think of the 'Hawks...

I bet it is! I didn't even think Seahawks.

I'm not even a current football fan. It turns out that's their older helmet, but that's the one I remembered from way back.

 

[AEAdam]

Rarity changes. I have all yellow, which used to be rare, but is kinda no longer.

 

[Snapped-off]

I have a set of nut drivers that I purchased in 1980s that had the translucent yellow handles but I don't think that was a special color back then probably just the material that whoever made the drivers for Snap on came in at the time would be my guess. Nearly all of my other Snap on handles from that time were black IIRC. They may of had some Red or Green handles but they were not that common. I seem to recall a friend who bought a set of tools with different colors and thinking that was weird lol...

These are my favorite nut drivers. Probably the ones you're talking about.

 

[cgrutt]

These are my favorite nut drivers. Probably the ones you're talking about.

Yes, those and some others.

 

[ianguilly]

Here's the screwdriver page from the 1995 catalog. There's been several new colors added since then.

 

[scooby074]

Here's the screwdriver page from the 1995 catalog. There's been several new colors added since then.

Thats cool. I didnt think pink and purple went back that far.

 

[ecotec]

Canuckian pretty much nailed it. The rarest ones are where they only ever used the color for a “licensed merchandise” edition with a special color for a team or a brand.

There were some one-off terminating/pocket screwdrivers, from the 50th anniversary, with the gold glitter. I have not seen that color scheme on anything else. I think that it was a mistake, to not at least try to have some manufactured for the 100th anniversary.

Most common is definitely black.

 

[jsaw]

u

 

[fabiannz]

I'm not really sure what color you would call this but ive never seen another set like it

 

[Earp69]

There's a dude on here with a collection of almost every color, I never knew there was so many. I bet he has over a couple hundred differant colors,im sure if he's still on here he would chime in.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm not really sure what color you would call this but ive never seen another set like it

Pearl

 

[Schurkey]

Sometime last century--1990-ish, The Snap-On Man showed up at the shop with three "promo" screwdriver sets. Orange, Pearl, and...something else.

The Pearl was so gorgeous I knew I'd be heartbroken when the thing got used 'n' abused. I've been "orange" ever since.

Except for some 75th Anniversary Green...




and special-promo red.

 

[89MustangGX]

Im seeing ones like this all over ebay for big bucks. Im assuming theyre made by dealers or resellers, not official colours. Other than the Dale Jr and Sr and the Red, White and Blue, I dont think there were many other official multicolours?

This one made me throw up a bit

Seen those on eBay for quite a while- one seller in particular. Everything like this he sells is SUPER RARE! And he will have pearl white body with pink end cap and selector. And his next post is also another SUPER RARE! Pink body with pearl white end cap and selector. Not hard to figure out what's going on! It actually annoys me a little that he sells them that way and some poor collector is out there eating it up.

 

[89MustangGX]

I collect hard handle ratcheting screwdrivers. Seems pretty well known the rarest of the rare is the clear. Not sure about hard handles on the other tools. Did they ever make clear for anything else?

 

[cgrutt]

I collect hard handle ratcheting screwdrivers. Seems pretty well known the rarest of the rare is the clear. Not sure about hard handles on the other tools. Did they ever make clear for anything else?

Does a test light count?

 

[d.mcfarland]

Who else collects Snap on ratcheting screwdrivers?

I've gathered a pretty nice collection of these and I'm always looking for one's I don't have. Anyone else collect them? Anyone have any they want to sell?

www.garagejournal.com

@wyattrose69

 

[Earp69]

Who else collects Snap on ratcheting screwdrivers?

I've gathered a pretty nice collection of these and I'm always looking for one's I don't have. Anyone else collect them? Anyone have any they want to sell?

www.garagejournal.com

@wyattrose69

Yep, that's the guy

 

[senlow]

I collect hard handle ratcheting screwdrivers. Seems pretty well known the rarest of the rare is the clear. Not sure about hard handles on the other tools. Did they ever make clear for anything else?

Mini screwdrivers.