Tools with engravings?

[Bailey28]

Over the years I have gathered many tools of all different brands. Mostly Wright, SK, old Craftsman, old Armstrong and a few Snap On. I have bought about half of these tools used at flea markets, yard sales, and estate sales.

Some of these tools have engravings on them that appear to have been applied by hand. I have bought tools with initials on them, even some that have '592nd' engraved on them.

There seems to be a disapproval or faux pas by some about buying or possessing tools with engravings. I would imagine in a multi mechanic shop engravings can help you identify YOUR specific tool, but after they are sold who cares?

I personally don't engrave my tools, then again I don't work in a shop. What side do you fall on, buy them or pass?

 

[shortyb]

If they work, who cares whats engraved on them or not? Thats where I fall, especially if I can get good ones at a decent price buying used. Who knows, maybe someday I'll get mine engraved with "Mom" and a heart .

 

[Urshurak776]

A lot of used tools on market have engravings on them. A lot come from techncians whre they put their names/initials on their tools.

I got a call form my wife one time who was at a garage sale a few neighborhoods over. The womans husband had passed a year before and she was selling everything. Got a ton of Craftsman tools (the good Ole Made in USA ones) for a great price. His initials were on most of them.

 

[FowVay]

I made my living in the aviation industry and my company required that my employee number be on every hand tool that I owned. Every tool that got checked out from the tool room was serialized and the person who possessed it was known at all times. When you leave a big brass hammer in the S-duct of a L-1011 and it's found during start-up then somebody is going to be called up on the carpet and they'll have some explaining to do. Don't ask me how I know this... I don't want to talk about it.

 

[ecotourist]

I like buying old tools with initials engraved on them, especially when they don't correspond to the name of the deceased.

Makes you wonder how many hands a tool has passed through. And also reminds us that our time on earth is limited and we can only hope that our tools carry on in new hands.

 

[RooflessVW]

Over the years I have gathered many tools of all different brands. Mostly Wright, SK, old Craftsman, old Armstrong and a few Snap On. I have bought about half of these tools used at flea markets, yard sales, and estate sales.

Some of these tools have engravings on them that appear to have been applied by hand. I have bought tools with initials on them, even some that have '592nd' engraved on them.

There seems to be a disapproval or faux pas by some about buying or possessing tools with engravings. I would imagine in a multi mechanic shop engravings can help you identify YOUR specific tool, but after they are sold who cares?

I personally don't engrave my tools, then again I don't work in a shop. What side do you fall on, buy them or pass?

Doesn't bother me. Just grind them off and put my own PID on.

 

[D60]

Doesn't bother me. Just grind them off and put my own PID on.

I often suffer from a P0300 myself.

Anyway I engrave all my tools. I don't want a thief to be able to claim everything in his trunk belongs to him if he stole it from me. I realize there's a .01% chance this would ever work out, ie catching a thief red-handed.

 

[Oliveoil2]

I like buying old tools with initials engraved on them, especially when they don't correspond to the name of the deceased.

Makes you wonder how many hands a tool has passed through. And also reminds us that our time on earth is limited and we can only hope that our tools carry on in new hands.

I couldn’t agree more. I have lots of used tools, especially wrenches, sockets and ratchets that have the previous owner’s marking. I think it’s kind of cool, the history and such. My early tools (late 70s-90s) all have my name or my initials engraved on each.

 

[Opelman]

I have a few items around here with my dad's drivers license number.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I've seen in the past some big company's that sold surplus tools, with their mark engraved on them.
Engraved marks pretty much mean nothing, because so many yard sale tools with them, and at the various swap meets etc.

 

[Bailey28]

There may be a hope of finding some good tools at the local flea markets around here but most of the tool supply dried up years ago. I used to cruise in and find tables of made in USA tools for next to nothing. Engravings or not I left with bags of tools. One of the best scores was a Wright 4490 1/2" drive ratchet for $5. The seller said it is the first ratchet he couldn't break. I guess he really needed that $5...lol.

 

[nomas]

Absolutely zero concern about engravings . Non issue .

 

[Opelman]

Serialized and engraved Snap On scaffolding ratchet S717. SONGS is San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station.

 

[nomas]

View attachment 275672
Serialized and engraved Snap On scaffolding ratchet S717. SONGS is San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station.

As long as it didn't come from the Hot Tool Room .

 

[Opelman]

As long as it didn't come from the Hot Tool Room .

It's probably hot in more ways than one. All kidding aside it was one of those stray tool finds. It may have been a roadside pickup even. That plant was shut down years ago.

 

[Bailey28]

LOL. Roadside tool pickups are great. My latest find was a nearly new Klein #2 phillips screwdriver.