Need info on a 5/16" hex driver

[orca8589]

Here are pics of a 5/16" hex driver that I bought at a flea market in North Carolina back in 1998. The seller had five of them, and I wish I'd bought them all. He said that he though they were made for a large vehicle manufacturer - I think he mentioned McDonnell-Douglas - but he wasn't sure. They were part of a large auction lot he had bought a while before. It came with three bits, one I've shown here with the comparison pics.

Over the years I've tried to find any details on it, and the only info I've found is on the ratchet & socket type tools that Easco made, oftentimes for other tool brands; kind of like Camillus making knives for so many brand names over the years. (The "knifemakers' knifemaker.")

Easco (blue handle on top) with a Vermont American 1/4" hex driver:

Bit sleeve comparison, with Phillips bits (VA #2 Phillips; Easco #4 Phillips:

Any insight you folks may have would be welcome. Have any of you ever seen a 5/16" hex bit driver, and if so, what brand was it? I've found a few 5/16" bits over the years, but they were for ratchet sets. I also found a GearWrench-brand offset ratchet set a few years ago, with bits that fit this driver perfectly, but I've never seen another handle like this one.

A friend here has (or had) a 3/8" hex bit driver, that could take 3/8" impact driver bits, but it looked kind of clunky & homemade.

The Easco is in my permanent collection, so I'd like to have something I can tell people about it.

~Chris

 

[plumberroy]

I have a driver that takes the 5/16th bits in security bits/tamperproof set that looks alot like that . I look when I get back to work monday

 

[coniferwoodsman]

Easco, is(was) a Tool Brand, not manufacturer, but were made by Danahr, which is the same manufacturer that produces some of the Craftsman line. How's that for a run on sentence. I have set of combo wrenches from the late 60's branded Easco and they are my go to at work. Nice find.
All The Best

 

[middleagedmutan]

Try a Klein 11 in one screwdriver they are very handy carry one in my tool bag and truck kinda everything in one screw driver.

 

[white avenger]

I have several drivers that handle 5/16 bits in various brands. Craftsman, Klein, Snap-On, and several others make them, including some really cheap, low quality tools. Check Sears, KMart, Home Depot, Ace, just about anywhere where tools are sold. They're available for 1/4 1nd 5/16 bits, so make sure that you get the one that you want. You might also be able to use a plain 5/16 nut driver, though keeping the bit in the driver would require a piece of tape to hold it. I was industrial electrician for 35 years, and we used this size driver just about every day, both with bits and as a common nut driver. I've probably got at least one or two of them in every tool bag in every automobile we have here.

 

[orca8589]

I finally located the other two bits. All three bits are marked as follows:

#4 Phillips marked with USA on one flat, and 312PB4 opposite.
#4 Pozidrive marked only with 312 PZ4, no USA mark.
Slotted bit is marked 312S86, no USA mark.

I've searched the bit handle many times before, but not the bits themselves. So in doing a search for the 312 PZ4 mark, I found a Supplier called Strobel's Supply that has a 5/16" hex bit driver handle. (So at least I know they're out there.) The bits apparently were made by Qualtool.

I'm still looking for info on the Easco I have, though.

~Chris