Got my 3/8 flying V set

[hickory n Steel]

Condition is decent overall, the extension is a little beat up but everything else isn't real heavily used.
3 of the sockets are single line, does that mean they aren't original ?

The spring is a strong one meaning the ratchet is a little stiff but not overly so.

[bonneyman]

Nice!

If the ratchet is stiff that would probably corroborate the premise that the set isn't heavily used. Those old V-rats were a bit stiff till you lubed them and broke them in a little.
-V- instead of =V= probably means something but I'm not well-versed enough in classic Craftsman to help you out. So long as you didn't spens an arm and a leg you did just fine.

[bmwrd0]

On the =V= vs. -V- hopefully Lauver will chime in, he's the expert.

Nice working set anyway.

[hickory n Steel]

Nice!

If the ratchet is stiff that would probably corroborate the premise that the set isn't heavily used. Those old V-rats were a bit stiff till you lubed them and broke them in a little.
-V- instead of =V= probably means something but I'm not well-versed enough in classic Craftsman to help you out. So long as you didn't spens an arm and a leg you did just fine.

$47 and change shipped which I was perfectly happy with.

Overall It doesn't seem heavily used, theres hardly any black worn off the teeth.

This should definitely be a great user set for me, and best of all the cool looks of it being a smile to my face.

[J.A.F.E.]

-V- and =V= are I believe different manufactures but Lauver is the expert.

[bonneyman]

What does the pawl look like? Is it a batman shape? Or a round plug with two gouges in it? The older "D" slot pawls were very finicky until broken in. The batman pawls ran pretty well even if they were almost dry.

[hickory n Steel]

What does the pawl look like? Is it a batman shape? Or a round plug with two gouges in it? The older "D" slot pawls were very finicky until broken in. The batman pawls ran pretty well even if they were almost dry.

It's got the batwing pawl.

It just feels like it takes a decent amount of force to overcome each tooth in the gear, a little more than I'm used to but not enough to make using it a problem.

[hickory n Steel]

I just realized that the two 8pt sockets and the 5/8 sparkplug socket with the single line logo have barn roof a in the stamp vs all the others which are 2 liners with the pointed A.

Those barn roof A's are obviously later, but I've never actually seen a Single line tool before.

[J.A.F.E.]

It just feels like it takes a decent amount of force to overcome each tooth in the gear, a little more than I'm used to but not enough to make using it a problem.

You could cut a coil or two out of the spring. If you do keep the cut end in the blind hole and the ball against the uncut end.

[hickory n Steel]

It just feels like it takes a decent amount of force to overcome each tooth in the gear, a little more than I'm used to but not enough to make using it a problem.

You could cut a coil or two out of the spring. If you do keep the cut end in the blind hole and the ball against the uncut end.

That could work, and I'll take measurements of the stock spring in case I need to replace it for some reason.
I don't know didly squat though so I'm going to try it out as is for a while before I go changing anything.

[hickory n Steel]

I asked Her Wolf from " The Craftsman ratchet history project " on YouTube ( does post here and the GJ ) and the earliest he could find Permanex in a catalog was '69 so this case is definitely later than the ratchet.

Oh well, I'm not all that in love with it and would rather have the steel box anyhow.

[pep]

The best design for a ratchet, can or could change the direction using your thumb. Real handy when working in a tight area. With just enough room for your hand and tool. Then realize the ratchet is set wrong.



Pep

[hickory n Steel]

The best design for a ratchet, can or could change the direction using your thumb. Real handy when working in a tight area. With just enough room for your hand and tool. Then realize the ratchet is set wrong.



Pep

I'm definitely used to the reverse of this, with the lever pointing down.
But man it looks cool so I'm forcing myself to get used to it 

[bonneyman]

The best design for a ratchet, can or could change the direction using your thumb. Real handy when working in a tight area. With just enough room for your hand and tool. Then realize the ratchet is set wrong.



Pep

I'm definitely used to the reverse of this, with the lever pointing down.
But man it looks cool so I'm forcing myself to get used to it 

Oh yeah, what I call the "baby rattle" style. You can probably swap out the baby rattle rebuild kit into this body and have it work fine (if you ever need to), so long as you swap out EVERY piece. Typically the older knobs are D-hole, and the later ones are hyphen slot. And sometimes the ball and springs are slightly different. But if you pull out all the flying V parts and install the complete baby rattle kit it should work fine. Plus you can get quick release with the newer kit!

[pep]

Both are good up or down the point being the thumb control, have had both.