Most of my tools have been sourced from Sears and I'm reasonably happy with them but I'm getting sick of buying stuff (not just tools) that is made in China. I'd rather buy something of equivalent quality made by a company here in the US that gives my fellow Americans a job.
What tool companies are out there that still makes stuff here in the US?
Wright Tools
http://www.wrighttool.com/
I think Sears is sourcing most their tools from overseas snow. The quality is way down in my opinion.
In reply to EvanB:
Thanks that was the only company I could think of off the top of my head and you beat me to it 
.
I think most of the Cornwell line is still probably USA made.
Other than that... Wright is probably the best bet.
Many of the industrial brands are still mainly US. Cornwell, Williams(snap on), etc, I think SK might be.
Much SnapOn is made in Taiwan now, don't know how that translates to the Williams line.
Alot of my snap on (or bluepoint) is from france or portugal and various parts around the world.
I noticed recently that a lot of the Masterforce tools at Menards say made in the USA on them. Supposedly they are made by Western Forge.
SK is probably the most affordable US tool brand. I do have a Wright ratchet that I adore. The action in so smooth and tight it makes me smile every time I use it.
Swank Force One wrote: Much SnapOn is made in Taiwan now
I haven't seen this. Their "BluePoint" line, yes - but not Snap-On proper.
Cornwell hardline is not only made in the USA but also used ONLY American steel. Hence the $1k+ price on some of our ginormous wrench sets. I don't sell a ton of those 
Our sockets/ratchets/wrenches are well above most overseas stuff and I'd put our stuff against and of the other big four any day of the week. We also make all of our own hardline. Matco makes NOTHING except boxes. All else is bought in from all corners of the globe. Mac is mostly Chinese and has been for years. Snap-On is tough to pin down as they source from everywhere. More and more comes from overseas but they own so many sub-brands you never really know which plant is making which tool any given week.
Wright is good stuff. I sell some through Cornwell to some cheaper customers. Again MOST of it is USA. Don't care for the ratchets myself but can't say they're bad. As with most things, you get what you pay for.
*Full disclosure: In case you haven't figured it out yet I'm a Cornwell dealer. Most of my info comes from talking to other dealers and Wikipedia, which has soem decent profiles of the tool companies.
Guess it's been covered to death but yeah Cornwell is the name that came to mind for me too.
For hardware store tools, Channellock is made in Meadville, PA.
Anybody know anything about Armstrong? Woot is selling some sets, they say "Made in the USA" and look to be pretty well priced if they're any good. http://tools.woot.com/plus/crescent-armstrong-hand-tools-oh-my
Proto for wrenches, Bondhus & Eklind for hex tools and small bits
Look forEstwing. All made in the USA.
Max_Archer wrote: Anybody know anything about Armstrong? Woot is selling some sets, they say "Made in the USA" and look to be pretty well priced if they're any good. http://tools.woot.com/plus/crescent-armstrong-hand-tools-oh-my
I highly doubt the socket/ratchet sets are made in the USA, but either way, those are pretty decent deals. 
Might grab a set of vice grips, myself!
Granted we're talking hand tools here, but has anyone tried to purchase a USA-made power tool like a drill or recip saw? I'm pretty sure even Milwaukee is made in China.
There was a thread about this topic in the not too distant past (last year, maybe 2?), more about powered hand tools (I think angle grinders sparked the topic). There were about a dozen good made in the USA links posted, and I bookmarked several...but alas, that old computer is now gone.
If anyone could find that thread (my google fu is weak), it would yield a lot of good info on this subject...
Swank Force One wrote:Max_Archer wrote: Anybody know anything about Armstrong? Woot is selling some sets, they say "Made in the USA" and look to be pretty well priced if they're any good. http://tools.woot.com/plus/crescent-armstrong-hand-tools-oh-myI highly doubt the socket/ratchet sets are made in the USA, but either way, those are pretty decent deals.
From what I could find online, it seems that the socket/ rachet sets are made in the US. I order the 3/8" set and the locking pliers (not sure those are made in the USA).
You're right... took me a minute to place what they are. The sockets are the Craftsman high-visibility sockets. So yeah, they're made in the USA.
You'll also probably have to exchange a couple of them right off the bat. The quality control on those things are exceptionally bad. I've gotten numerous ones that were round on the socket end. Like... no hex pattern.
Swank Force One wrote: I've gotten numerous ones that were round on the socket end. Like... no hex pattern.
Those are for removing rounded off fasteners.
Swank Force One wrote: You're right... took me a minute to place what they are. The sockets are the Craftsman high-visibility sockets. So yeah, they're made in the USA. You'll also probably have to exchange a couple of them right off the bat. The quality control on those things are exceptionally bad. I've gotten numerous ones that were round on the socket end. Like... no hex pattern.
From what I can tell, Armstrong is to Matco as what Williams is to Snap-on. But some of Armstrong's sockets are made by Apex tool who also makes Craftsmen sockets so I guess I will find out when they come in. Also from what I read Armstrong has two styles of rachets, one of which is really good, the other of which isn't as good.
Good
Not as good.
Anyway for that price might as well give them a try.
If you aren't hung up on COO, the Gearwrench sets of the same size often go for the same price as the Woot deal, or cheaper, and you don't get berkeleyed up sockets.
Armstrong probably has more in common with Craftsman at this point than Matco. (Though if those are the right ratchets, you can drop Matco rebuild kits in them, but you can also do that with Gearwrenches as well.)
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