Russian tools / tool brands questions

[MMR]

I don’t know if this is the right place to ask or if this belongs in the “Hand tool” section, just move it if needs be.

I (like most people on here) have an odd (and possibly worrying) high interest in tools, all kinds of tools too.

And like most, I follow a lot of tool / DIY related YouTube channels from all over the world, some where it’s serious reviews / tests, some where it’s neat tips and tricks, some where it’s about restorations etc. ...and then some where it’s mostly “just for fun” stuff.

One channel in particular just uploaded a video where at one point you see a shot of a Russian branded tool set.

(I’ll let you be the judge of my screenshot skills below)





It doesn’t look like a fancy / expensive set, but I am curious to what kind of Russian brands of tools are out there? ...both high end and low end stuff, and also current brands as well as USSR Era brands.

Please share if you know of any, and say a little about them.

I’m really interested....




....I am aware of the Ratnik multitool (aka 6E6 Ratnik) which is claimed to be a Russian standard army issue and seem to get mixed reviews. I was looking into getting one at one point, just to check it out, but at €80, I felt it was a bit steep. I might look into getting one of the price drops in the future.


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[MMR]

Okay, either no one cares or no one had anything to add.

But some one on Redit mentioned this one: http://www.interskol.ru 
Quote "I don't know how about professional use, but for domestic use it's very reliable tools"

As for professional use, "toolguyd.com" made an article about a brand called "bovidix"

https://toolguyd.com/bovidix-a-russian-professional-grade-mechanics-tool-brand/

According to the article "bovidix" is trying to enter the US market (as of 2013 when the article was written), hoping to compete with the big tool brands in the US, like Mac-Tools.

Cool looking modular Multibox System they have, it reminds me of "Teng tools" have a similar system.

[ddogu]

When I read the title I assumed you've been talking about multitools or Russia-made SAKs (RAKs?).

I personally do not have much to say about a tool box (from Russia or any other country) unless there's something interesting or odd about it. And -maybe I missed something but- this set of sockets looked... common and ordinary to me. 

[MMR]

When I read the title I assumed you've been talking about multitools or Russia-made SAKs (RAKs?).

I personally do not have much to say about a tool box (from Russia or any other country) unless there's something interesting or odd about it. And -maybe I missed something but- this set of sockets looked... common and ordinary to me. 

Would be cool to see what they could RAK up!! ....get it? ...RAK ...rack up (phrasal verb)?

...no?


....okay


Anyway, in the end its all the same types of nuts and bolts that the tools have to be used on, so I wouldn't expect any alien-like tools from over there, but out of my own curiosity just to see how they make them and how well they work.

This is properly a bad example but..

- German, Austrian, Swiss made tools are usually beautifully made tools, really sets the mark for top quality and precision
- USA made tools, are usually well build and heavy duty, usually the type of tools you can beat the snot out of every day and they will be ready for another days work 20 years later 
- Chinese made.....well we all know that one...


Just generally speaking, and maybe not the best example, but you get the point.....so I am interested in how "Made in Russia" looks / feels / performs, also if they have any trademarks or innovative ideas...would be cool to see.


Don't know if I am making any sense?

[ddogu]

Yeah, I get your point )


Okay, then. Here's one weird tool (at least to me) I came across a while on on the digital heroin which we call Youtube:


If I'm not mistaken, he obtained a second version of this tool, some time ago and made a video, too.

[MMR]

Yeah, I get your point )


Okay, then. Here's one weird tool (at least to me) I came across a while on on the digital heroin which we call Youtube:


If I'm not mistaken, he obtained a second version of this tool, some time ago and made a video, too.

That thing is freaking cool!

Definitely a way of making the statement that one takes his/her knife sharpening seriously


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[Keyboardinator]

Well, I'm from Russia, and most of the tools I see are certainly Chinese:)
In the Soviet time, there used to be robust, albeit not overly elegant Soviet tools. I guess some manufacturers are still operating. There certainly are knife-makers (both artisans and industry), and some of the products may be pretty good, but I'm not an expert in standalone knives.
As for the RAK (meaning a tool with SAK functionality and universality, not a commando tool), I suspect there is no such thing. At least none existed in the USSR. My father was an officer, and he bought civilian folders for himself:)

[MMR]

Well, I'm from Russia, and most of the tools I see are certainly Chinese:)
In the Soviet time, there used to be robust, albeit not overly elegant Soviet tools. I guess some manufacturers are still operating. There certainly are knife-makers (both artisans and industry), and some of the products may be pretty good, but I'm not an expert in standalone knives.
As for the RAK (meaning a tool with SAK functionality and universality, not a commando tool), I suspect there is no such thing. At least none existed in the USSR. My father was an officer, and he bought civilian folders for himself:)

Like Russian branded Chinese made tools or Chinese brands?

Most tools brands we get here are E.g. US branded but made in China. Brands like Stanley, IRWIN and UK brands like Silverline, Draper, Sealey, Rolson etc. are all Chinese made too

But you don’t know of any “Made in Russia” brands?

To my understanding (and please correct me if I’m wrong); but most USSR / CCCP era stuff was not made to be pretty, but it was made to last, almost to an indestructible level. Most were also intended for industrial use and not sold to consumers, and also another reason for them being very “over-build” is that there’s a lot of remote areas in Russia where getting replacements isn’t easy, so they were build/designed to just always work.


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[MMR]

It’s strange every time one goes on a forum or FB page asking about anything “Russian”, no one seems to want to go anywhere near it.

Sort of like going on a muscle car forum/ FB page and just as much as mention the word “Honda” or go on a Mazda Rotary forum / FB page and say anything about a “V8 engine transplant”

....everyone will either just run away screaming like the apocalypse is coming and/or there will be a serious flame war coming your way.


Or if you go anywhere near the Land Rover community and just whisper “I own a freelander” ....EVERYONE will look at you like you are homosexual



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[Mechanickal]

I think in this case there is just nobody who can povide valuable info here.

[SteveC]

 

[MMR]

I think in this case there is just nobody who can povide valuable info here.

But there are several Russian members on here and members from other Eastern European / former USSR countries....I mean they must have something to add...

Problem is unless one can speak/read Russian, then must information online is very general and doesn't really go into any real detail.


I mean if someone were to make a post showing interest in Denmark or Danish made stuff, I would be not only honoured but also more than glad to help out...but maybe I am just nice like that?

Don't know if it is a case of Russians feel the same way about USSR era as the Germans feel about WW2 *Insert "Don't mention the war" jokes from Fawlty towers* or the Americans feel about the Vietnam war?

I wouldn't take any offence if someone asked me about anything viking related....it's just history ...nothing personal

[MMR]

Interesting (and pretty dangerous looking) soviet chainsaw



.Every component of it is almost so cool that they would make an art piece in themselves...that 2-stroke cylinder head looks like something you would find on a sputnik

[SteveC]

Looks like they were way behind the times if that was made in 1978    Looks more like something from the 1940's or 50's

[MMR]

Looks like they were way behind the times if that was made in 1978    Looks more like something from the 1940's or 50's

[MMR]

Okay I guess it’s the same as the times when I have asked on vintage car forums about a UAZ or GAZ 24 Volga V8 or on shooting forums about Izhmash Tigr/ SVD Rifles or the times I have enquired about German WW2 rifles and scopes...seems like those who know anything don’t want to share any information and/or even have a talk/chat about it.

Not sure what the big secret is, but I guess I’ll just have to do my own research and keep the results, vendors and contacts to myself.

Which is odd as anything related to other European or American WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam war, Cold War items, there’s plenty of support, helpful communities and vendors online, and people are more than glad to help


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[Poncho65]

No reason for you to withhold info if you find it for yourself I have no idea about Russian tools or else I would tell you I know that finding info on Russian MTs was hard enough to find out about and that is what we do here   Russian hand tools is something completely foreign to me (both literallty and informationally) and perhaps most of the members we have from there either have no info on them or at least no interest to find info on them

[Keyboardinator]

Sorry, had trouble posting yesterday and the day before.
As I said, there are knife-makers. Try http://kizlyarsupreme.ru/ or http://www.noksknives.ru/  I'm simply not overly fond of non-MT knives, so I've never tried these.
As for reliability, I still use Soviet drill bits, files, and a multitool screwdriver (sorry, I tried to post an image, but failed).

[SteveC]

Okay I guess it’s the same as the times when I have asked on vintage car forums about a UAZ or GAZ 24 Volga V8 or on shooting forums about Izhmash Tigr/ SVD Rifles or the times I have enquired about German WW2 rifles and scopes...seems like those who know anything don’t want to share any information and/or even have a talk/chat about it.

Not sure what the big secret is, but I guess I’ll just have to do my own research and keep the results, vendors and contacts to myself.

Which is odd as anything related to other European or American WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam war, Cold War items, there’s plenty of support, helpful communities and vendors online, and people are more than glad to help


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Maybe there is just no interest    

[ddogu]

Or if you go anywhere near the Land Rover community and just whisper “I own a freelander” ....EVERYONE will look at you like you are homosexual

 

[Keyboardinator]

OK, trying once more.
The black one is Soviet (I think ca. 1985). Have been using it for years. Unfortunately, some bits are lost, including a chisel, a hammer (very little usability:) ), and a big Phillips.
The green one is a modern copy of another Soviet multi-driver. The finish is much poorer.
Sorry, forgot about the scale bar, but the bits are 3 mm in diameter.

[Keyboardinator]

OK, looks like it works now:)
Speaking of places of origin, here are small pliers coming (left to right) from Italy, Russia, and China. They are all pretty satisfactory for my purposes, but the Italian one is the most universal, and the Chinese one is the crudest. BTW, the Russian pliers (they have smooth jaws, which I need sometimes) are produced by Enkor (or Encor, they seem to have no English site), which is mainly a manufacturer of power tools (another field I know pretty little about).

[Borg]

With regard to knives, the top one pictured below is Russian, a Kizlyar, not to be confused with Kizlyar Supreme as they are two different makers, information is quite hard to get but it is my understanding that a lot of Kizlyar Supreme knives are made in China and all Kizlyars are made in Russia, Dagestan to be more specific.

My own Ctepx is well made and seems good quality, i have no complaints with it although it does not get a hard life i am perfectly happy to carry it and would certainly EDC it without question, it feels good in the hand and opens and closes smoothly OH, if i lost it i would buy another

[AlephZero]

Couple of threads concerning Russian MTs:

New Russian multitool for engineers KAMPO NC-2

old russian "multitool"

Re: Noks Biker

 

[MMR]

Sorry, had trouble posting yesterday and the day before.
As I said, there are knife-makers. Try http://kizlyarsupreme.ru/ or http://www.noksknives.ru/  I'm simply not overly fond of non-MT knives, so I've never tried these.
As for reliability, I still use Soviet drill bits, files, and a multitool screwdriver (sorry, I tried to post an image, but failed).

OK, trying once more.
The black one is Soviet (I think ca. 1985). Have been using it for years. Unfortunately, some bits are lost, including a chisel, a hammer (very little usability:) ), and a big Phillips.
The green one is a modern copy of another Soviet multi-driver. The finish is much poorer.
Sorry, forgot about the scale bar, but the bits are 3 mm in diameter.

Ma man! ...Thank you sir! ..Spasibo!   

[MMR]

With regard to knives, the top one pictured below is Russian, a Kizlyar, not to be confused with Kizlyar Supreme as they are two different makers, information is quite hard to get but it is my understanding that a lot of Kizlyar Supreme knives are made in China and all Kizlyars are made in Russia, Dagestan to be more specific.

My own Ctepx is well made and seems good quality, i have no complaints with it although it does not get a hard life i am perfectly happy to carry it and would certainly EDC it without question, it feels good in the hand and opens and closes smoothly OH, if i lost it i would buy another


(Image removed from quote.)

That is a beautiful of a knife

[MMR]

Couple of threads concerning Russian MTs:

New Russian multitool for engineers KAMPO NC-2

old russian "multitool"

Re: Noks Biker

 

Kiitos