These days it is really hard for me to afford quality tools anymore, but back when I could, I managed to snag two of them that I will never part with, even if they only get used once or twice every 10 years or so.

This post was inspired by the fact that I received a new set of Trijicon night sights for my SP2022 40cal a few days ago and decided to sit down and install them. I went into the "hobby room" and grabbed my still-like-new Wheeler Precision universal sight pusher that I bought ages ago to install sights on another SigPro, and on 1 or 2 HK USPs that I had at the time.

Man, what a nice piece of gear!!! I don't remember what I paid for it back then, but the quality that is evident in its manufacture says it could not have been cheap. It is even nicer made than the MGW sight pusher for my classic P-series SIGs!

Now if I can only remember how to use it. It isn't intuitive like the MGW, but then the Wheeler is "universal" and not limited to one platform!

What quality tools do you own that you're stilled thrilled with?

A saddle, custom made for me. Boots, both riding boots and packers (riding, but ok on the ground), custom made. Horse gear: bridle with very mild mouth of sweet iron, a hackamore with mane hair mccarty, an Eduardo Grijalva silver bit, on a bridle with silver conchos and braided reins made by a friend. Other horse gear, all collected, traded for, and bought over a lifetime.

Some good hand tools from an earlier life: Snap-On wrenches, both SAE and metric, Cornwell rachet set, Metric sockets are Snap-On. Lotta good hand tools.

TMats: For those of us city boys with no horse sense, what is a hackamore?

Wiha hand tools
Festool power tools

quote:

Originally posted by jgerge222:
TMats: For those of us city boys with no horse sense, what is a hackamore?

Something for a horse that's expensive.
That's all I know about Horses- They, and everything that goes with them are expensive.

Chapman Mfg mini ratchet set. When you need to get at a small fastener in a tight space, this is a great solution. Note they have other sets available depending on your needs.

quote:

Originally posted by jgerge222:
TMats: For those of us city boys with no horse sense, what is a hackamore?

Here's my hackamore, in the foreground. The entire thing is called a "hackamore." The braided rawhide is called a "bosal," it sits on the horse's nose. The mecate (anglicised, mccarty) forms the reins and lead. This one is braided mane hair; softer to the touch than tail hair (and more expensive). Still, the horse can easily feel your hands being raised, and a new command is coming. The hackamore allows the trainer to direct rein a horse, while staying out of his mouth, improving his handle.

Thanks TMats for your info.
Apologies to the OP for a thread drift.

A Shooboy Gunsmithing Hammer set - it's a treasure!

^^^

Yes!

I have three purchased over the years.

Two like this, and one in the "Mini Me" version.

quote:

Originally posted by jgerge222:
Thanks TMats for your info.
Apologies to the OP for a thread drift.

No worries. I'd heard the term before since I used to own a quarter horse, but did not know specifically what it was myself, so we all learned something new!

I won a karma for a shooboy hammer and it goes to the range with me every time. AND I’ve used it several times there when another shooter had an issue that required a hammer, I’ve used it to drift sights and even unstuck squibs.

Always buy the best tool you can afford. I have a set of craftsman screwdrivers I’ve had since 1990 I bought after joining the CG. They are still working.

Brownells hollow ground screwdriver set for guns.

I’ve got to replace the handles on my wheelbarrow I bought from Lowe’s a decade ago and the steel handles have rusted thru. I’ll be replacing them with wooden ones-I shouldn’t have cheaped out on it when I bought it

I still use my grandfathers old mic and calipers my grandma gave me after he died. Calipers way more than the mic for sure but he bought those right after he got out of the Navy, around Vietnam time frame or so. I’ll double check the brand and edit this post.

Maybe not considered tools my most, but my everyday use makes them tools of a sort in my mind.

Kifaru packs and duffels. My Navy issued backpack lasted less than a year. Oakley and north face bags lasted maybe 2 years. I’ve got 10 year old kifaru packs that look brand new. My duffel has been used daily for 2 years and it doesn’t have a loose stitch.

I buy Milwaukee cordless tools. They’ve gotten quite a bit of use. Driver and drill, blower, air compressor, skillsaw. They work extremely well and most likely will last me years. I actually just bought a bit set to replace my Wheeler armorers set. Craftsman star bits are essentially disposable! No better then the one you get in a box of deck screws. With all that said, for the non-professional, Dewalt will last a lifetime. We burned them up after about a year on the job but they were cheap enough at the time over Makita or Milwaukee to justify it. Nowadays Dealt is just as expensive as Milwaukee. But I do believe quality has improved as well.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:

Brownells hollow ground screwdriver set for guns.

I have a set of these and they are indispensable! I use them regularly when working on firearms.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:

Brownells hollow ground screwdriver set for guns.

Do yall prefer a screwdriver set over a singular handle and bit set?

quote:

Originally posted by jgerge222:
TMats: For those of us city boys with no horse sense, what is a hackamore?

Wait till you hear about Eggbutt Snaffles.

I have a set of Knipex pliers. And my Fix-it Sticks have been great!

I frequently use small size drivers (mostly Phillips, Allen, Torx) for guns, bicycles, & electronics. In my experience, I find the smaller the size, the more important it is to use a high quality driver. The smaller the size, the more likely you are to damage the screw or driver.

My preferred brands are Wiha, Wera, and PB Swiss. Lesser brands have more slop & play in them and/or wear out faster.

quote:

Originally posted by iron chef:
I frequently use small size drivers (mostly Phillips, Allen, Torx) for guns, bicycles, & electronics. In my experience, I find the smaller the size, the more important it is to use a high quality driver. The smaller the size, the more likely you are to damage the screw or driver.

My preferred brands are Wiha, Wera, and PB Swiss. Lesser brands have more slop & play in them and/or wear out faster.

Absolutely, less surface area for contact, the less you can hide poor quality. You’re right on. Same way an 8-point vs 16-point socket. More surface area works better.

I have the Magna-Tip set like this one. Handles and bits. It cost a lot less when I bought mine, but it’s a great set.

https://www.brownells.com/tool...ter-screwdriver-set/