Doing just a little reading on the Perfect Handle Screwdrivers, it appears they were created for US tanks during WWII, or at least they were issued as standard equipment on the tanks perhaps. What an interesting history!

H.D. Smith also made among many other tools, the Perfect Handle Hatchet, I really like the way this hatchet looks.

 

 

I've had quite a few of these tools stored in a box for years under my old bench, wrenches, drivers, I just never knew they were called Perfect Handle.

 

It would sure be fun to go to swap meets or, the like, and try to find some tools in need of new wood handles and, then make the scales. Cheap entertainment. 

Interesting history for something most would never give the first thought to.

4 hours ago, schnewj said:

You may have to search for a rivet source,

sex screws/bolts aka binding posts or Chicago Screws would be a lot easier...

classier too...

 

 

 

 

or a double cap rivet...

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 20187 yr by Stick486

49 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

sex screws/bolts aka binding posts or Chicago Screws wold be a lot easier...

classier too..

Thanks for the tips, gives me somewhere to start.  Best I get into the shop now.  So many projects, so little time off.  I really need to get a job that is 2 days a week, for 5 days pay.

13 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

I really need to get a job that is 2 days a week, for 5 days pay.

you got that almost right...

it needs to be ''paid to stay home 7 days a week''...

1 hour ago, Stick486 said:

sex screws/bolts aka binding posts or Chicago Screws would be a lot easier...

classier too...

 

 

 

 

or a double cap rivet...

 

 

 

Sex bolts are NOT what you want to use.

 

They need to lock in permanently, have enough of a head to still hold when hafted to the contour. Double caps are the needed ones; steel or Brass, possibly Copper will work equally well.

 

This is an example of what you want.

 

 

You need a

4 hours ago, John Morris said:

Doing just a little reading on the Perfect Handle Screwdrivers, it appears they were created for US tanks during WWII, or at least they were issued as standard equipment on the tanks perhaps. What an interesting history!

H.D. Smith also made among many other tools, the Perfect Handle Hatchet, I really like the way this hatchet looks.

 

 

I've had quite a few of these tools stored in a box for years under my old bench, wrenches, drivers, I just never knew they were called Perfect Handle.

 

Thanks, John.  I had forgotten that they were, also, supplied in the tank tool boxes.

 

I just wish I had a full set (whatever a set consist of). I really like using the couple that I have...they are tough little buggers...not your typical Craftsman screw driver.

 

3 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

It would sure be fun to go to swap meets or, the like, and try to find some tools in need of new wood handles and, then make the scales. Cheap entertainment. 

Just think how you could dress them up...rosewood, cocobolo, birdseye maple...

2 minutes ago, schnewj said:

Sex bolts are NOT what you want to use.

SAY WHAT!!!

all the better commercial door hardware and closures use them...

they come in brass, bronze, steel, titanium, aluminum, copper, stainless (any grade) and coming loose is rarely an issue..

the heads can be had in trusshead dimensions, which are way larger than than any double capped rivet and are malleable..

when you haft them to the contour of the handle, they ain't gonna turn..

push come to shove... Locktite blue...

 

Just now, Stick486 said:

SAY WHAT!!!

all the better commercial door hardware and closures use them...

they come in brass, bronze, steel, titanium, aluminum, copper, stainless (any grade) and coming loose is rarely an issue..

the heads can be had in trusshead dimensions, which are way larger than than any double capped rivet and are malleable..

when you haft them to the contour of the handle, they ain't gonna turn..

push come to shove... Locktite blue...

 

Sorry, I have to disagree that Sex bolts are the way to go. Just my actual experience with making knives and how scales are attached commercially.

1 hour ago, schnewj said:

Sorry, I have to disagree that Sex bolts are the way to go. Just my actual experience with making knives and how scales are attached commercially.

Sorry, I have to disagree that Sex bolts aren't the way to go.

Just my actual experience with installing exceptionally large quantities of hardware commercially for decades. 

Edited December 9, 20187 yr by Stick486

7 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

Sorry, I have to disagree that Sex bolts aren't the way to go.

Just my actual experience with installing exceptionally large quantities of harware commercially. 

OK, I'll agree to disagree. Your experiences are in one direction and mine are in an other direction.

1 hour ago, schnewj said:

Your experiences are in one direction and mine are in an other direction.

@schnewj, so let's figure out why the different results...

 

binding posts are:

cheap..

generally have sockets on the male portion only... that's generally now, but not always...

are machine screw threaded..

have a lower than normal thread cut percentage..

hate torque.. you can get them only so tight before they go fatal...

they are designed to be hand operated w/o tools.. (office worker operated)...

they were designed to hold stacks of paper together..

 

sex screws/bolts are:

not cheap..

have sockets on the male and female portion and/or the female barrel is knurled, set like a carriage bolt on the shank near the head...

the underside of the head of the male thread is faceted or toothed...

are machine screw and bolt threaded..

have a higher than normal thread cut percentage..

the male and female threads are slightly misaligned so when they are tightened they are self locking...

love torque..

often used as ''one way anti-tamper fasteners''...

they are designed to be operated w/ tools..

missing any of the features and you have 2nd, 3rd rate not up to par or less than still yet, chinese...

any failures are found to be that the sex bolts are not the real deal...

 

 

Edited December 9, 20187 yr by Stick486

2 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

I really need to get a job that is 2 days a week, for 5 days pay.

Hey, when you find it, I'm willing to be an assistant.

20 hours ago, schnewj said:

mine are in an other direction.

much to the fault of the bean counters...

10 hours ago, Stick486 said:

much to the fault of the bean counters..

Same bean counters that probably decided 4 fire trucks was enough to put out a fire in the Fuel Depot.  You know the fuel depot with 15.4 million of gallons of JP8, gasoline, diesel  etc etc.  Here ya go Cedar II's entire fire department December 2008.

What I have been using with the Stanley 45..

Handy little tool..

I seen some of them screw drivers at the junkyard .

They did not look so Perfect to me so I left them there.

Now I sure wish I could find one of them hatchets. 

I recently restored a four-size German set (eBay find) and documented the identification and finishing process in detail: https://thetoddmark.com/restoration-german-perfect-handle. The CA-glue-and-sawdust void fill for checking wood was the most useful step I hadn't seen written up elsewhere... that being said, turned out I was kind of sloppy with my application - still learning!

I'm kind of addicted to these perfect handle screw drivers now and have acquired several more... their handles are ROUGH (probably un-savable) so, I think I'll replace them with rosewood or black walnut - totally open to and welcome other suggestions though - I picked those simply because I like the look. Also bought a 3/8" Socket Driver - DIY Kit from https://www.handtoolrescue.com/collections/shop/products/hand-tool-rescue-3-8-socket-driver-diy-kit so that I can use it as a daily-driver (so to speak) and add whatever attachment the current project calls for... like I said, slightly addicted to these "perfect handle" tools.