Blackhawk hand tools

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Blackhawk tools were available through a number of industrial and automotive distributors, and the catalogs from these distributors often provide a valuable supplement to the company's own catalogs. Marshall Auto Supply The Marshall Auto Supply Company was an automotive distributor in Marshalltown, Iowa, and their catalog "A" from about lists 18 pages of Blackhawk tools.

The catalog appears to provide complete coverage for Blackhawk's products at that time, and this reference is especially valuable as currently our earliest catalog resource for Blackhawk. The listings include the Nos. Ducommun "F" The catalog "F" from the Ducommun Hardware Company, a west-coast industrial supplier, shows eight pages of listings for Blackhawk tools, including socket wrench sets, fixed socket wrenches, and specialty tools.

The catalog No. Included are illustrations of display boards, socket sets, and listings of many rarely-seen tools. Ducommun "G" The catalog "G" from the Ducommun Corporation shows thirteen pages of listings for Blackhawk tools, including socket wrench sets, fixed socket wrenches, and specialty tools.

Channon Channon Company lists six pages of Blackhawk tools, including sockets sets, sockets and drive tools, single-offset box wrenches, and fixed socket wrenches. The sockets sets listed include the No. Samuel Harris Ducommun "H" The catalog "H" from the Ducommun Corporation lists Blackhawk tools on pages through Also included are listings of individual tools and sockets, plus a small selection of fixed socket wrenches. Neill-LaVielle Period advertisements also provided valuable information.

A magazine advertisement shows the Blackhawk No. Socket wrench sets with interchangeable sockets and drive tools were among the first products offered by Blackhawk. The scan in Fig. The early Blackhawk socket sets were sold in wooden boxes with finger-jointed corners, similar to the boxes used by Mossberg and Walden for their sets.

Larger drive sizes were offered at a later date, and eventually smaller drive tools became available as well. As far as is known, Blackhawk never produced hex-drive sockets or tools. Blackhawk's early socket tools display a variety of different marking styles, with some using the Blackhawk name and others with the Arrowhead logo, some with "U.

When we first started examining these early tools, we tried to attribute the marking differences to different production periods. However, after looking at a greater number of examples, it now appears that except for the case of socket markings, the marking differences were simply due to the type of tool and the production equipment used to mark it.

Blackhawk's sockets did appear to go through several generations of minor marking changes, and these changes may prove helpful in estimating the production date more finely. The list below summarizes the observed markings on the different types of tools. These marking differences persisted only until around or so.

By the time Blackhawk's tools had matured into the "Quick-Disconnect" or Q. We'll look at the Q. Tools in the next section. In the following figures, we'll first look at Blackhawk's early sockets and tools individually, and then provide examples of the various socket sets. The earliest Blackhawk sockets were marked with an Arrowhead design enclosing an Indian's head in profile, as shown in the Fig. This design was filed as a trademark in In addition, the early sockets were generally stamped "U.

Slightly later production was stamped with "U. The earliest production had a flat top on the service end, but later production added a dished top and tapered service ends for larger sizes.

In machined and broached sockets were relatively new for interchangeable socket sets, as previously only a few small companies such as Will B. Lane had used machined sockets, and only in a hex-drive configuration. However, we should note that machined and broached sockets had been used by Walden for its fixed socket wrenches since around , and since Blackhawk was also making fixed socket wrenches, it would have provided production efficiences to use the same technique for both fixed and interchangeable sockets.

These sockets were acquired with a partially complete Blackhawk No. The socket construction is cold-broached by the typical first-generation method, with a machined recess below the broached area to allow for chip removal. Note also the presence of a flat machined top on these sockets, a characteristic of Blackhawk's early production.

The knurled band in the center was probably intended to provide a better grip for hand turning. The flat top on the sockets and the use of the Arrowhead logo with "U.

Later but still early socket production provided a machined indentation on the service end, and changed the "U. See the Large Arrowhead Sockets for comparison. Later makers of machined sockets in the s such as Snap-On Wrench, Hinsdale, and Indestro used similar construction techniques for their sockets.

The interested reader may want to examine the Snap-On , Hinsdale , or Indestro figures for further information. The lefthand socket is marked with "U. The righthand socket is of somewhat later production than the lefthand one, since the marking has become the full "Made in U. Note also that the hex opening of the earlier lefthand socket is machined flush, but the righthand socket provides a hollowed indentation to help guide the socket onto its nut.

This ratchet was originally acquired with a Blackhawk No. This ratchet is also included in the photograph of the Blackhawk No. The original reversing lever for the ratchet has broken off, but the mechanism can be reversed by using a screwdriver to turn the shifter. This ratchet was acquired as part of the Blackhawk No.

Readers familiar with the well-known Mossberg Ratchet will recognize the strong similarities between that tool and the Blackhawk ratchet. This suggests that American Grinder must have carefully studied the Mossberg line of socket tools, as well as the Walden line, when designing the tools for their new socket sets. However, Blackhawk didn't fully capture the engineering of the Mossberg ratchet, as the pressed-steel body of the model was built with sheet metal too thin for the job.

In addition, the shift mechanism appears to have been rather fragile. As a result, these ratchets are often found in poor condition, when they can be found at all -- the ratchets are much less common than the socket sets themselves, suggesting that many ratchets have been discarded over the years.

By Blackhawk had replaced the model with the X ratchet, using thicker steel for the body and a push-through drive plug instead of a reversing switch. Blackhawk appears to have learned well from this lesson, as their subsequent tools tended to be engineered for extremely rugged use. This tool was acquired as part of the Early Blackhawk No. The bar uses pinched tabs at each end to retain the slider, a construction technique used by Blackhawk for most of the s.

Later sliding Tee handles used fixed stop-balls at the ends. The slider itself is made of hexagonal bar stock, an indication of early construction, as this is the way that the first Blackhawk sliding Tee handles were made.

If you look carefully at the Early Advertisement for a No. On later sliding Tee handles the sliders were milled from round stock, as can be seen on the T4 Sliding Tee Handle in a later section.

A Blackhawk magazine ad shows a breaker bar with a round slider, indicating that the change to round stock had occurred by that time. Although the universal is unmarked, it closely resembles the catalog illustration and is likely the original tool from the set. This universal is very well made with tight-fitting parts, as can be seen from the careful machining in the photograph.

Early socket sets often included forged universals of this type; for example, the Mossberg sockets sets offered in included a double-male universal. This particular extension was acquired as part of a No.

The T6 extension was supplied with the No. This tool shows the typical construction used for early extensions, with a square shaft and a separate drive socket, and with pinched tabs as stops on the drive end. By the mid s Blackhawk extensions were being made as a one-piece forging or turning, and the pinched tabs had been replaced by a milled shoulder. A later example of this model can be seen as the Blackhawk Q. T6 Extension. The overall length is 7. This particular tool was acquired separately from the sets shown here, but is substantially identical to the extension in the Blackhawk No.

This tool exhibits the typical construction used for early extensions, with a square shaft and a separate drive socket, and with pinched tabs as stops on the drive end. A later example of the T8 extension can be seen as the Blackhawk Q. T8 Extension. The model T10 extension was supplied as part of the No. Later examples of the T10 extension can be seen as the Blackhawk Q.

T10 Extensions. Although not a "drive tool", this next figure shows one of the accessory tools included in the larger Blackhawk socket sets. The Blackhawk No. The inclusion of open-end wrenches can be seen as a holdover from the earlier Mossberg and Walden pressed-steel sets. At the low end, the No. At the opposite end, the No. The full contents of each set are summarized in the table below.

The set also included a forged universal joint, but unfortunately the other drive tools a ratchet and an extension were missing when the set was acquired. Although the box no longer retained the original label, the set was identified by an illustration in the catalog No.

The catalog shows this as a Blackhawk No. Some of the sockets in this set are shown in greater detail in as the Arrowhead Sockets above. One detail to note is that the tops of the sockets are turned flat, without the indentation provided in later sockets. This indicates an early production date for this set, probably from The set consists of a reversible ratchet, a T8 extension, a universal, seven hex sockets, and one square socket.

The inside of the cover still has the original label although in rather tattered condition identifying this as a "No. All of the sockets are stamped "U. According to the catalog listing, the No. The original set would have included a T4 sliding Tee handle and a universal joint as well.

The set is marked with a paper sticker on the inside of the lid, printed with the text "Blackhawk" and "Rust-Proof Socket-Wrenches" between two Arrowhead logos, and with "No.

All of the sockets are stamped with the fractional size and the Arrowhead logo, with "U. The sockets have a band of cross-hatched knurling around the center, with a very fine-pitched knurling on most of the sockets, but coarser knurling on some.

The finish is black oxide. The ratchet in the set can be seen in greater detail as the Blackhawk Reversible Ratchet. Note also the words "Service", "Quality", and "Finish" on the top of the Arrowhead logo. This label is basically identical to the tattered label for the No. The next several figures will show the Blackhawk No. We'll begin by showing an early advertisement from , published only a few months after the sets were first offered.

As can be seen from the illustration, the set included a generous number of sockets, together with a square-drive ratchet, sliding Tee handle, extensions, universal, extensions, and other tools. The timing of this advertisement is significant, as it shows that Blackhawk was already selling heavy-duty square drive socket sets well before the founding of the Snap-On Wrench Company, their neighbor and later rival in Milwaukee.

An early example of the No. Some additional pieces are missing, as noted below. The set is marked with a paper sticker on the inside of the lid, printed with the text "Blackhawk" and "Rust-Proof Socket-Wrenches" between two Arrowhead logos, and with "Combination Set No.

The tools in the set have various marking conventions, with some showing the Blackhawk name, others using the Arrowhead logo, and with one piece the universal unmarked. The set as acquired had most of its sockets, but only two of the original tools remained, the T4 sliding Tee handle and the universal joint. The other tools in the photograph been borrowed from similar early sets.

A few pieces are missing, as the specifications for the set included five stamped-steel open-end wrenches and a hooked bar for the spark plug socket. The wooden box is very well made with finger-jointed corners.

The dimensions are Since the set is rather large for one photograph, we've included a separate view to show the tools in greater detail. The sockets have a band of fine cross-hatched knurling around the center, and the finish is black oxide. The lower bay on the left holds a spark plug socket and an unmarked universal joint. The catalog specifications for the No. This was the standard label used for the early Blackhawk sets, with the model number changed to indicate the specific set.

Several production and marking details indicate that this set was made at an early date. The sliding Tee handle has a hex slider, instead of the round slider used later. The sockets in the set are marked with "U. In addition, the tops of the sockets are machined flat, instead of the slight depression used for later production. One further detail may indicate very early production.

Other early sets have been observed with tapered walls on two or three of the smaller sockets, suggesting that Blackhawk progressively added tapered walls. The later Q. Under this hypothesis, the single tapered wall socket in this set would indicate a very early production date. The largest of the early Blackhawk sets was the No.

We have an example of the No. Fixed socket wrenches for automobile service were among the first products offered by Blackhawk. Based on a catalog from Marshall Auto Supply, Blackhawk was offering a broad line of such tools in just its first year of operation. Not surprisingly, the Blackhawk fixed socket wrenches were very similar to those offered by Walden-Worcester, the leading maker of fixed socket wrenches at that time.

The sockets of the earliest Blackhawk wrenches were attached by crimping the rod, so that the socket was directly butted against the end. By late Blackhawk had developed a technique for welding a socket to a wrench shank, and the smooth welded joint gave these later tools a distinctive appearance.

This production change is documented in the notice in Fig. The date for this change is earlier than we had originally estimated, and some of Blackhawk's own advertisements may have continued to show the older style of socket attachment well after this date. Since the change was made late in , we'll use as the approximate inception date for welded wrenches. This use of welded construction is believed to be unique to Blackhawk, as most other producers of socket wrenches used some sort of crimping technique to attach the sockets.

The use of welded sockets was also a highly touted feature in Blackhawk's advertising, and it remains a useful feature for us, as a guide to the approximate manufacturing date of the tools. We'll use a manufacturing date of or later for the tools with welded sockets.

In this section we'll look at fixed socket wrenches with standard handles in Ell, Tee, and speeder configurations. These represent the "general service" part of the category, tools that could be used for a wide variety of service jobs on any make of automobile. More specialized tools including specialty fixed socket wrenches will be covered in the next section.

This page shows the 31xx series long Tee, 21xx series short Tee, and 11xx series Ell socket wrenches. This wrench has a crimped rather than welded socket, indicating early production from to Note here that the socket has been welded to the handle rod, a technique developed by Blackhawk in late This construction set Blackhawk apart from most of their competitors, who typically used some sort of crimping technique to attach the sockets.

Blackhawk's short Tee-handle wrenches had been discontinued by , but some models in the long Tee-handle 31xx series were still in production. As with the previous figure, the socket here has been welded to the handle rod, the construction technique used by Blackhawk from about onward.

The socket on this wrench is crimped to the shaft rather than welded, as can be seen in the lower inset, indicating an earlier production date. This type of wrench possibly even this particular example was among the first tools made by Blackhawk Manufacturing in The socket on this wrench is crimped to the shaft rather than welded, indicating an earlier production date.

Satin finish is nothing fancy, but great performers nonetheless. As you can see, Blackhawk offers some pretty nice stuff. They boast a lifetime warranty as well. Good little write up Conductor on what Blackhawk offers and extreme value you get for your hard earned dollars.

It shows that Blackhawk offers comparable quality to the tool truck brands at a much lower cost. Plus we get to see Conductors sweet set of hand tools he keeps in his shop, and all of the knowledge he has about a Brand I never heard of till I went on the TIA forums. I recall tool boards at the better Auto parts places being a bit competitive — in the sense that one store might carry Blackhawk, another store S-K Wayne and yet another Bonney Forge.

Proto was a bit harder to find. The lower end stores seemed to carry Thorsen. We had a local hardware store that carried J. Williams, another that featured Wright and yet another that had Armstrong. Once Home depot showed up — most of the local hardware stores folded their tents. Blackhawk also had a good reputation for lifting equipment and jacks — competing with Hein Werner and Walker. Another aspect worth mentioning is that in the days before widespread nationwide distribution, availability of certain brands was dependent upon where you lived.

I have a socket set from the early 90s, the ratchet has long since broken. How is their warranty process? I have the Black Hawk line from the Mac era and they are fantastic.

As a mechanic I have had at least two complete boxes of Craftsman until the sale, One box of Mac which is my best set, but also have one complete box of Snap-On. Black hawk has been the one set that has had fewer failures than all of the other big three combined IMHO. As an aside, I just rebuilt a Proto ratchet that needed a spring, and for a 40 year old tool it is still going strong.

Great article and keep them coming. I amassed a nice collection of vintage Blackhawk tools which I still have today.