Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Collector's Resource). This thread is read-only.
Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1946, some exceptions):
BC = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. ? – ?
BE = New Britain and some Hinsdale, ca. 1931 – 1947
BT = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. 1936 – 1938
Cxx = New Britain and probably Hinsdale and Fulton, ca. 1930 – 1936
CI = probably Fulton, ca. 1930 – 1945
CF = Herbrand, ca. 1930 – 1936
C8 = JP Danielson, ca. 1930 -1936
F-circle = possibly Lectrolite, Miller Falls, or KD, ca. 1949 – 1964
G-circle = possibly Lectrolite, ca. 1949 – 1959 perhaps as late as 1964
H-circle = New Britain and some Hinsdale, ca. 1931 – 1947
K-circle = SK, ca. 1935 – 1949 perhaps as late as 1984
N-square = unknown U.S. manu., ca ? – ?
P-circle = Wilde, ca. 1945 – 1960
S-circle = Kastar, ca. 1960 – 2008, perhaps earlier
V-circle = unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? – 1985
U-circle = Plomb, ca. 1944-1948
The following section details what we currently know about the modern series codes. Much of the information for this section was taken from the personal tool inventory of Mr. Gary Lauver, consisting of approximately 450 Craftsman tools which were purchased between 1960 and 2008. As you can see, there is still much that we do not currently know.
Modern Craftsman Series (generally 1946 and later, some exceptions):
BF = probably Daido, possibly Hozan, Japanese made, ca 1969 – 1987
C = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 1991
D = unknown Chinese manu., ca. 2002-2008
DJ = Mitutoyo, Japanese made, ca. 1968
E & EE = Stanley Works, some U.S. made, some Taiwanese made, ca. 1982 – 1991
F = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
G = Danaher, ca. 1990 – 2008
G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000
G2 = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
GD2 = Danaher, ca. 2008 – ?
GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2003 – 2008
GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 1999 – 2003
GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 – 2008
GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 – 2008
GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. ? – 2008
H = Danaher/Holo-Krome Division, ca. 1994 – 2008
HZ = likely Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
I-circle = Parker Mfg Co, ca. 1985 – 1986
K = SK division of Facom, ca. 1985 – 2004, could still be NOS on the shelves
K1W = Danaher, ca. 2007
K3V = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
K3X = Danaher, ca. 2007 -2008
KR = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
KU = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
KV = Danaher, ca. ? – 2008
KW = Danaher, ca. 2002 – 2008, probably earlier
KX = Danaher, ca. 2002 – 2008, probably earlier
L1X = Danaher, ca. 2008 – ?
M6W = Dahaher, ca. 2007 – 2008
P = Wilde, ca. ? – 2008
PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 – 2008
Q PR = Pratt Read, ca. ?
S PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 – 2008
T PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 – 2008
U PR1-3 = Pratt Read, ca. 2008
V PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 – 2008
W PR = Pratt Read, ca 2007 – 2008
T1V = Danaher, ca. 2006 – 2007
T2W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T3W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T5V = Danaher, ca. 2008
T5W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T5X = Danaher, ca. 2008
V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1945 – 1968 perhaps earlier
V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1969 – 1989, perhaps as late as 1991
VA = Armstrong division of Danaher, ca. 2002 – 2008, perhaps earlier
VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990’s
VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 – 1995
VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 – 1997
VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 – 2008
VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 – ?
VL = Danaher, ca. ? – ?
VM = Danaher, ca. ? – ?
VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 – 2001
VP = Danaher, ca. ? – ?
VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 – 2004
VR = Danaher, ca. 2002
VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 – 2003
VT = Danaher, ca. 2006
VU = Danaher, ca. 2005
VV = Danaher, ca. 1990 – 2007, perhaps later
VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 – 2008
V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 1992 – 2008
VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005
VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003
VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 – 2005
VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 – 2008, possibly earlier
W = probably SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 – 2008
WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 – 2008
WF ll = Western Forge, ca. 1969
WF K = Western Forge, ca. ?
WF L = Western Forge, ca. ?
WF R = Western Forge, ca. ?
WF U = Western Forge, ca. 2008
WF V = Western Forge, ca. 2008
WF W = Western Forge, ca. 2002 – 2008
B WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
C WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
D WF = Western Forge, ca. 1993 – 2000
E WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
F WF = Western Forge, ca. 2003
J WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995
K WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995
L WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
M WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
N WF = Western Forge, ca. ?
Q WF = Western Forge, ca. 1990 – 1995
T WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 – 2008
V WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 – 2008
W WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 – 2008
X WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 – 2008
+ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 – ?
* WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 – ?
∆ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1966 – ?
□ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 – ?
X = probably SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 – ?
Z = Mayhew, ca. 1966 – 2008
3 = Kastar, ca. 1991
4 = Kastar, ca. 1992
[ = Kastar, ca. 2002 – 2008 possibly earlier
.(Dot) = SK, ca. 2008
” ” (Tools with no series code) = multiple U.S. manufacturer’s including Allied Tool, American Tool, Danaher, Greenfield, Jore Corp, JS Technology, Kastar, KD, Lisle, Mayhew Steel, Midwest Snips, Milbar, Stanley Works, Stride Tool, Sturtevant Richmond, Ullman Devices, Vermont American, Western Forge, and Facom and other unknown foreign manufacturer’s, ca. 1986 – 2008
Feel free to review, comment, and provide evidence of series codes, manufacturers, and/or dates not shown above. Post away!
* Note– items in red are recent updates.
□
∆
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Compiled by Gary Lauver
Over at www.owwm.com / www.vintagemachinery.org they have an extensive list of manufacturers for Craftsman relating to the model numbers. It’s an excellent site to determine what the age of your older tool is.
Thanks Toolman2. I’ll check it out. I need to get some more info in this section, just haven’t time.
I’ve also downloaded several manuals at www.owwm.com and over at www.hammerwall.com as I tend to buy older, all metal tools and manuals are scarce.
Good info TC. Thanks for sharing.
This is a very interesting info. I think the bc code was Before Christ. Lol, sorry could not resist. I have a very old looking craftsman hammer drill. I’ll have to check out the code.
Gary has an updated version of this that I need to put up.
I have a big Craftsman tool set from 1992. Most of the sockets have a G stamped on them. A few have a upside down G. What does the upside down G stand for?? Thanks
Hi folks,
I’m assuming that this conversation is about Craftsman date codes. I’ve been all over the net just looking at these forums. I believe that some are correct and some are wrong when they date their machines. My Craftsman table saw is a 113.298761, so it’s made by Emerson. The date code is 92211.0470. I have 5 numbers in front as opposed to only having 4. The number 9 is not for “89” or “99” as some would believe. The first 2 digits ate for the year “1992”. The next three digits are probably for “Feb. 11”. How did I deduce this? Because I bought the saw brand new in October of 1992 and I still have the original owner’s manual with the original receipt stapled inside. Also, the date on the owner’s manual (part no. SP5396) is 01/91. The date on the manual is the date the manual was printed not necessarily the model year of the saw. Think like it’s a car. They start putting out model 2020 cars in 2019. Probably the same for tools.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401007
the link above is to a thread I started over at the GJ identifying the maker of the Craftsman circle-Y manufacturer, which looks to be McKaig-Hatch, hope this helps 👍
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
good work
What does the B stand for…? This is a first for me.
Does anyone have info on the Z-AL code seen on new Craftsman sockets from a couple of ebay sellers?
image: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wVEAAOSwBIJh~uDs/s-l1600.jpg