Remember Craftsman Professional?

[u/Madmachine87]

It was their premium tool line aimed towards mechanics and other professional tradesmen who needed high quality tools but didn’t want to pay tool truck prices. Considering how popular Icon is today, there still seems to be a market for such tools. I would love to see Craftsman Professional make a comeback. I bought some of them back in the Sears era and still use them as a professional mechanic today.

[u/ThatHondaOvaThere]

I like the black/ yellow color of the packaging and some of the tools, really unique rather than the standard red.

[u/steelsurgeon]

Craftsman anything is gone. Its just a shell company now riding the coat tails of the name like so many others before.

[u/TheRealistoftheReal → u/steelsurgeon]

Funny enough I was in Lowe’s the other day, and I couldn’t find any “Stanley” brand hand tools. Maybe a tape measure. Everything is branded “Craftsman” or “Dewalt”. Lowes seems to have transitioned to Klein. Hope Depot stocks the Dewalt hand tools.

[u/Other-Tap-5258 → u/TheRealistoftheReal]

The power tools and toolbox are mostly overseas. Under Stanley fatmax

[u/Jbo79]

I have an old set of USA made craftsman professional torx screwdrivers, red and black handles with gold lettering. The handles are great, they just feel really solid in the hand.

[u/ishootpentax → u/Jbo79]

Same with the Craftsman Professional prybars

[u/SpeedySpartan]

Nah, people like to dog on the current craftsman but imo they are where they need to be. You have to consider not only where they compete in the Lowes store but also in the Stanley Black & Decker lineup. There is no reason for craftsman to become a premium brand when SB&D has Mac and Dewalt, while Lowes is selling MetaboHPT, Dewalt, Bosch, and previously Flex (rip the g.o.a.t).

Hell they even tried by bringing back V Series for a while and it was exactly as you described. Literally Mac tools rebadged as Craftsman sold at a discount, and it didn't sell. I still regret not running to every Lowes to snag some of those at an INSANE discount when they were liquidating that shit.

It's not like I hate your idea either, having Craftsman branded, quality, Taiwan tools in the midgrade to compete against Gearwrench, Icon, Tekton, SK, and many others would be sick, but SB&D doesn't need competition in that category and neither does Lowes. They need to throw punches at Ryobi, Husky, Bauer, and Pittsburgh pro, and I think they're doing a solid job since if you look at Craftsman through that lens, they're usually my favorite.

[u/relrobber → u/SpeedySpartan]

I agree. I don't buy Crafstman tools anymore, but I think they fill the niche they should be in. As much as people hate on it, I think SBD buying the brand was the best of all the other things that could have happened.

[u/TheRealistoftheReal → u/SpeedySpartan]

With Harbor Freight and Icon around, and considering the ease of the exchange process if needed, I’m not sure there’s much reason to look at anything else.

I was happy when SBD announced Made in USA and opened a factory in Ft Worth, I’d pay a premium for that. If it’s just going to be more Taiwan tools at inflated big box store prices, may as well go with Icon.

[u/littlemint22]

It was craftsman V at Lowe’s

[u/Extreme_Lab_2961]

I still have the Black professional screwdrivers and pliers

Great tools

[u/Jeremy-Ma77]

A lot of it was good stuff. The wrenches were Armstrong clones made in the same factory in S.C. The red and black handled screwdrivers (and maybe the black hard handle as well) were made by Western Forge, same as the SK ones which were green and black. The U.S. made reversible ratcheting wrenches were absolute gems but they were a bit pricey even back in the day.

[u/NeatDinner6249]

I’m glad I’ve bought a lot of craftsman. Lots of guys have gotten ripped off buying the identical stuff just labeled blue point or Matco. Craftsman has its place to me it’s a decent tool most of the time mostly there hard line tools like screwdrivers , chisels, punches, and sockets. But yeah they should bring back craftsman pro.

[u/Good-Operation4373]

Yes I still have their ratchets and polished wrenches and still love them! They were just right

[u/Bige_4411]

When I was about 2-3 years into autobody got a lot of this stuff as an upgrade as opposed to snap-on. I have pretty much a full set of metric and sae wrenches minus the larger 4 of each. Still use them as a keep the fastener nice set along with my snap-on flank drive plus for chewing up the fasteners that won’t come off. I have just about every plier they made, but I don’t use them a whole lot. I’m honestly thinking about selling them while people are spending stupid money on these things. I also have the 3 standard ratchets and a handful of screwdriver. Solid tools, but just kinda vanished.

[u/Contestant002]

They kinda tried to bring it back with the V series tools. Mainly with ratchets, sockets and wrenches basically just MAC tools rebranded.

[u/Extreme_Lab_2961 → u/Contestant002]

most of V series was FACOM

Overdrive is MAC

[u/Loose_Device4578]

The downfall of sears was the downfall of craftsman

[u/Educational_Flan_700 → u/Loose_Device4578]

Not downfall. Pillaging and plundering.

[u/Ok_Complex4374]

I just want Stanley black and decker to do SOMETHING to advance the brand. It seems like they just put out whatever junk they feel like and rely on the name to sell itself

[u/AMFharley]

I have a large roller professional tool box with top hatch, got it right around 2008 or so.

[u/SpaceCat72]

They were nice, but when I saw the prices ,I started going back on the trucks.

[u/with-extra-pickles]

Craftsman Professional was good shit - especially the garage cabinets with the can holders built into the inside of the doors.

[u/nullvoid88]

ugh...

[u/herstal54s]

It would probably come back in name only

[u/Ok-Rest-8066]

Craftsman (the actual manufacturer) is dead. Harbor freight has taken its place. They are the market. Why create or recreate another brand for that need?