Stamps and carving tools

[cowboywc]

With all the tools I have, my basic set of tools is still mostly Craftools. I have replaced my beveler with a Bob Beard.
Granted my Craftool stamps are old, most are 1st production tools. These can still be found on ebay and most times cheaper than new poorer quality stamps.
WC

[JD Alan]

WC is there a sure way (or ways) to know for sure that a Craftool really is an old one? I see adds for so called old or vintage tools, but I don't have any way of knowing for sure. I know some are out of production now, but that doesn't mean they are quality tools, in fact it may be just the opposite! 

[Dalton Masterson]

I think if they are marked Craftool USA they are the older ones, but there may be other markings that predate that. Are there gents?
DM

[Marshal Will Wingam]

My oldest ones from the 50's or early 60's are stamped "CRAFTOOL CO" and have a number with no letter preceeding it. The ones I have that are a little newer have "CRAFTOOL CO USA" on them and also have a letter before the number. I don't know when those would be, but I do know that the earliest ones didn't have a letter designation in the number.

[Dalton Masterson]

WC, can you confirm this?? The ones that have Z in the number, ie. Z-1234 are of lower quality, and are the ones sold in the sets? My Tandy guy told me this one day, as we were discussing stamps.
DM

[cowboywc]

WC, can you confirm this?? The ones that have Z in the number, ie. Z-1234 are of lower quality, and are the ones sold in the sets? My Tandy guy told me this one day, as we were discussing stamps.
DM

Howdy
Yes that is right and they are even poorer quality than the rest of their stamps.

JD
If the tool has no letter in front of the Number it is first production. I don't know when they started putting the letter on them.
If the tool has no chrome it was made during the Koren War.
Crafttool stopped having them made in the USA in the mid 80's. I am told that a few were still marked Craftool USA after they went Japan because Craftool was a USA Company. I can not say for sure.
WC

[JD Alan]

Thanks Dalton and WC for that education!