Very interesting.

To me the difference in tools as long as they are made from decent forgings is the shape and finish.

About 32 years ago after getting out of the Army, I bought a roll away full of tools from a truck mechanic who was going back in the Navy. That box had a good bit of Snap On tools in it, but there was at least one example of every American tool brand at the time.

The Snap Ons and some of the MACs are IMHO clearly superior, only because of shape and finish. The Snap On ratchets have a feel that is definitely unique, at least it seems so to me. When I am helping someone and pick up a non Snap On ratchet, I turn it a few times and then look at it to see what brand it is. To me NOTHING matches a Snap On Ratchet.

Used to I felt the same way about the Snap On combination wrenches. They are really nice. They're thin so they fit in tight places. They're slick so they wipe off easy. And they fit into your hand well. I've heard several people say that they are too thin so they cut into your inner knuckles. I've never felt that way about them. I think that if you are worried about them cutting your knuckles you probably have lace on your underwear.

Now there are some good, less expensive alternatives to Snap On end wrenches. I bought a set of the Craftsman polished combination wrenches in Metric because I still had a mish mash of metric wrenches. I like them almost as much as my Snap On English combinations. They are polished and almost as thin as the Snap Ons.

After well over 30 years of gathering up tools, I have a collection that I'm reasonably proud of. The only thing bad about my tools now is that I'm sure that my toolbox would win the "Ugliest Tool Box Contest" in most any shop.

Have a great day,