Koken Tools

[HobieMarty]

Anyone ever use these tools? I found this tool at work one day, it is a 10mm socket with a magnet inside it, made in Japan by a company called Koken. I have used it several times and it seems to be of pretty good quality. When I googled it, I saw that it is kinda pricey.

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[A930Rocket]

I want to say the name sounds familiar. The tools look decent as well as the price.

[billybek]

My experience is that if I found one tool, I would lose two of my own...

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by billybek

My experience is that if I found one tool, I would lose two of my own...

Haha, I have found a couple of these, both 10mm, one that I found has an extension that is nearly a foot long. I used to find tools in cars all the time, found a really nice 12mm ratchet wrench once and have found numerous panel removal tools. I even found a Makita hand held work light that someone had lost under the driver's seat of a car, gave that one back. The small stuff goes in my pocket,

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[pwd72s]

Koken...think Japanese Snap-on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ah4FRGpVE&ab_channel=KoonTrucking

[RNajarian]

I wonder if there is a connection to Koken Barber Chairs.

https://www.patentearth.com/blog/post/the-history-of-koken-barber-chairs.html

[HobieMarty]

Not sure. The name of the tool company is actually Ko-Ken.

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[maxnine11]

A short thread from the past:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1065416-koken-tools.html

[Dan J]

I have some. Excellent quality

[pwd72s]

Here's their USA home page for us tool junkies..

https://kokenusa.com/

[GH85Carrera]

Back in the 50s Japanese stuff was much like the Chinese products of today, poor quality junk. The Japan finally clawed it's way out of the war time restrictions and got back to making top quality stuff.

My main ratchet and socket set is a Japanese set with the Fuller brand. I bought is when I was 16 and got my 1960 VW bug. The ratchet has never failed, and never needed a rebuild. The chrome on the ratchet head is worm off from being set down on concrete a few zillion times. I did break the chrome 14 mm socket with my impact, but that was just abuse from the idiot behind the impact wrench that was too lazy to go to the tool box and get the impact socket.

I have a couple of Koken tools. Good product.

[pwd72s]

Just my opinion, but by the 60's and 70's, although considered cheap at the time, many Japanese tools weren't bad at all. Good fit and metallurgy. By then, the Japanese had learned that quality sold. I have a stubby flex head round head 3/8" drive "Truecraft" #30136 ratchet "Chrome Vanadium-Japan". Holding it now..just counted 40 teeth, smooth as silk, and I like the thumbwheel on top. Still works great after having rattled around in my pickup carry tools box for decades. My fading memory says I bought it sometime in the early 70's.

[Bill Douglas]

If I break/lose a socket I replace it with a Koken.

I find they are strong. But also a good tight fit on the bolt. Also thin so they fit into tight spaces.