Who makes wrenches for Matco?

[bimmer630]

Anyone know where matco wrenches come from? I was looking at a set of double box wrenches, offset fixed box on one side, ratcheting on the other. The wrenches say "Made in USA" on them, and Ive never seen another ratcheting wrench that was made in the USA. (Besides the newest snap on ones).

I know in the 90s Bonney was making their wrenches.. And Ive seen some KD branded wrenches that resemble a Matco wrench I have.. (I know KD and Matco were both Danaher for a time)

 

[bimmer630]

Answered my own question... http://www.armstrongtools.com/wrenc...nt-full-polish-ratcheting-box-wrench-set.html

 

[kythri]

They don't come from that source any longer.

 

[bimmer630]

They don't come from that source any longer.

Bummer. The original is a nice wrench. I have a co-worker with a set of them, and I was admiring them. After you said they arent made by Armstrong any more, I checked the Matco page, and sure enough you are correct. Heres a review on the new, non-US made replacement

https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/...-RATCHETING-DOUBLE-BOX-METRIC-SET/#to-details

 

[anndel]

Armstrong was shut down last year. Curious to see who makes them now for Matco. From the photo in the link above, they look like Gearwrench.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Back in the day it probably came from one of Apex's or Danaher/Cooper 's US plants. Nowadays it's probably froma source in Taiwan.

 

[bimmer630]

Armstrong was shut down last year. Curious to see who makes them now for Matco. From the photo in the link above, they look like Gearwrench.

Is the website still alive, just to get rid of remaining stock? It says "Discount pricing on all available items"

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Anyone know where matco wrenches come from?

Well the daddy wrench and the mommy wrench...

 

[Skin]

Armstrong was shut down last year. Curious to see who makes them now for Matco. From the photo in the link above, they look like Gearwrench.

Kabo took over ratcheting wrench production years ago. Only thing Armstrong made still was some basic combos which appear to now also be Kabo or some other Taiwan manufacture.

 

[Fedwrench]

Armstrong was shut down last year. Curious to see who makes them now for Matco. From the photo in the link above, they look like Gearwrench.

The current Proswing wrenches are made by Kabo in Taiwan. The current ones have spline type boxed ends and the ratcheting boxed end is now 90 tooth. you know they're Kabo made because the ratcheting boxed end has the telltale sealed brass screw.
These are the standard length versions. I believe Matco at one time sold rebadged Gearwrench Gearbox wrenches but, those are extra long. However, i believe Matco has greatly reduced using anything from Gearwrench over the demise of armstrong.
The Armstrong made proswing ratcheting wrench remains my favorite ratcheting wrench of all time.

 

[Wamsutta]

I know where my Snap-on wrenches are made.

2195 State Line Rd, Elizabethton, TN 37643

 

[bonneyman]

Anyone know where matco wrenches come from? I was looking at a set of double box wrenches, offset fixed box on one side, ratcheting on the other. The wrenches say "Made in USA" on them, and Ive never seen another ratcheting wrench that was made in the USA. (Besides the newest snap on ones).

I know in the 90s Bonney was making their wrenches.. And Ive seen some KD branded wrenches that resemble a Matco wrench I have.. (I know KD and Matco were both Danaher for a time)

Do you know the years for that? Any documentation?

I've heard about Bonney-made Matcos but don't know the years.

 

[Wamsutta]

Do you know the years for that? Any documentation?

I've heard about Bonney-made Matcos but don't know the years.

The Bonney made Matco combination wrenches will have a WCL at the beginning of the part number. Made sometime during the 1990s.

 

[plinker]

From the mixed long combo set set I have, I have a couple of older catalogs from the late 90's early '00's and they showed the RCL wrenches. No other specific dates.

WCL series were Bonney.
RCL series, not sure on those. V- jaw with different beam profile then the Bonney's.
MCL series were Armstrong/Danaher.

It appears that the newer Taiwan/Kabo combo wrenches will keep the MCL part no. https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/MCL142K/7-16-LG-MOD-COMB-WRENCH-12PT/

 

[Wamsutta]

I had always assumed the RCL were Danaher; could be wrong though.

 

[davethorik]

From the mixed long combo set set I have, I have a couple of older catalogs from the late 90's early '00's and they showed the RCL wrenches. No other specific dates.

WCL series were Bonney.
RCL series, not sure on those. V- jaw with different beam profile then the Bonney's.
MCL series were Armstrong/Danaher.

I know Wright made Matco ratchets for a period of time, did they make wrenches too? Older Wright wrenches had v-jaws.

 

[sk farmer]

The Bonney made Matco combination wrenches will have a WCL at the beginning of the part number. Made sometime during the 1990s.

oh man more internet expert stuff.....

i wasn't going to comment when you posted the ******* snap-on picture and comment but when you leave out or don't know the correct answer i have no choice.

the wc prefix is a bonney made sae short/standard combo

the wcl prefix is a bonney made sae long combo wrench.

the wcxl prefix is bonney made sae extra long wrench.

bonney made matco angle wrenches, box wrenches, open end wrenches and similar metric have all sorts of different prefixes.

so yes. a wcl wrench will be a matco made long sae wrench but it by no means is the only prefix that would show that it was bonney made.

your talent at cut and pasting pictures and catalog pages are second to none. sadly, it really benefits noone. if you would spend more time learning and listening rather than trying to act like an expert you would be far better off

 

[sk farmer]

I know Wright made Matco ratchets for a period of time, did they make wrenches too? Older Wright wrenches had v-jaws.

no, wright did not make wrenches for matco. they did make them for international harvester and a few others though.

time for me to rebuild the v-cut wrench thread i guess.

 

[Tallpilot]

no, wright did not make wrenches for matco. they did make them for international harvester and a few others though.

time for me to rebuild the v-cut wrench thread i guess.

Please do, sir. I know it’s exhausting repeating information you’ve already disseminated but if you don’t it could be lost.

 

[Wamsutta]

oh man more internet expert stuff.....

i wasn't going to comment when you posted the ******* snap-on picture and comment but when you leave out or don't know the correct answer i have no choice.

the wc prefix is a bonney made sae short/standard combo

the wcl prefix is a bonney made sae long combo wrench.

the wcxl prefix is bonney made sae extra long wrench.

bonney made matco angle wrenches, box wrenches, open end wrenches and similar metric have all sorts of different prefixes.

so yes. a wcl wrench will be a matco made long sae wrench but it by no means is the only prefix that would show that it was bonney made.

your talent at cut and pasting pictures and catalog pages are second to none. sadly, it really benefits noone. if you would spend more time learning and listening rather than trying to act like an expert you would be far better off

I knew all that, but didn't want to make the post too complicated. I thought one prefix was enough.

You don't have to compliment me on my posting skills; I already know I'm the best.

 

[sk farmer]

well you **** at sarcasm and accuracy.

see, i don't think you knew that. if you did and had even the slightest care of adding something of value you could have made this statement.


"bonney made matco sae combination wrenches start with the wc prefix and may be followed by l or xl for longer versions."

nothing hard or complicated about that and no longer than your original statement. it is very sad that you are so proud of your abilities that anyone can do and could care less about accurate and helpful info. things that could actually help the op and others.

 

[lincwelder225]

I know where my Snap-on wrenches are made.

2195 State Line Rd, Elizabethton, TN 37643

It's a great feeling, isn't it?

 

[anndel]

It's a great feeling, isn't it?

Love my Snap-ons

 

[Tallpilot]

Matco no longer has a US source for any of their wrenches? Same with sockets?

 

[Wamsutta]

It's a great feeling, isn't it?

Yes sir, it sure is.