Bahco 808050P Ratchet Bit Screwdriver Swivel Pistol Grip

I've had this scewdriver for almost 2 months now, and it's the first one I always go for out of my tool bag. I use this everyday, multiple times a day for work. So far it has held up, and works just as good as it did on the first day. If that changes I'll update this review. The rubber handle makes it easy to grip, and the bit storage in the handle is a nice touch. Comes with only 6 bits, but it uses standard 1/4 inch bits that can be found in any hardware store if you lose any or if you need more. The magnetic tip is great. It keeps the bits in place and also does a good job a holding on to loose screws as well. The shaft is a good length, and the grip on it is a good touch as it makes it easy grip and spin the shaft, and the ratcheting mechanism works flawlessly and seems to be of good quality. Overall this is a great quality screwdriver. Obviously for a screwdriver, it is pricey, as you can get a regular bit screwdriver for around $10. However, if you do need to use a screwdriver on a daily basis for work or anything else, the ratcheting and magnet on this screwdriver will make your life a lot easier. I really can't find any negatives with this screwdriver. After all, it's a screwdriver, and it works. If I really want to be picky, it would be that the handle storage can only store 6 bits. I've had others in the past that could hold 10 to 12 bits.

This was an amazing tool from the moment it reached my hands. Full disclosure, I am a new guy in the tinkering world and I am learning it as I go. I had a small screw driver with a relatively good bit set, but I was lacking something with a bit more sturdiness. I wanted a solid screwdriver I could use as a multi-purpose tool, and this was definitely a good choice. It feels heavy in my hand (I personally like that) and has been helping me in every fix I need to do. The rotating handle is great for when you need to apply a bit more force. (In my country you need to force the screw in when mounting some furniture, so it helps me given that I have no automated tools for that yet). The ratcheting mechanism works great, very easy to use but was a bit counter-intuitive for me. If I want to tighten a screw (going clockwise) I need to rotate the switch counter-clockwise, but after you use it a few times it doesn't really matter anymore. In general a great multi-purpose tool. I recommend you get a good bit set to go with it, which is what I plan on doing next.

Excellent tool

I bought this T-Handle screwdriver as a compliment to a larger set made by the same company, but with a "ball" type ratcheting handle. Why?... it's a little easier on my wrists (yes, I'm an old dog). If you are putting something together that requires an abundance of screws, you will appreciate how much easier this ratcheting T-handle design will make any given task. Unlike most other compact ratcheting screwdrivers, this tool holds up well to alot of torque, without slippage. The ring that controls the direction of the driver locks in solidly and changing from tightening to loosening and back again can be done effortlessly (with some similiar handles, you have to have the gears lined up just right or it will lock up on you - NOT SO with this one). I highly recommend this tool to anyone looking for a high quality tool that makes any given fastening/loosening project less stressful and with less fatigue overall. GJM

I have been looking for a ratcheting screwdriver that featured a lighting mechanism since the time I was forced to repair something that came undone while driving at night. I happened on something advertised as Nascar and supposedly made by Crescent, a reputable manufacturer. However, that item proved to be deficient in several respects. Aside from the packaging which had Crescent and a Nascar racing car on its frontal piece, there appeared to be no connection to either Nascar or Crescent. Of more significance, the ratcheting mechanism appeared rough and would repeatedly catch and snap. As for the light, I could not initially get it to work because there were no instruction for this part of the tool. Finally, when I did manage to figure out the polarity, the light was so weak it barely emerged as any kind of illumination from its hidden recess in the tool. By contrast this Bahco tool, which, by the way, the packaging indicates is a French company and manufactured in Taiwan, works smoothly. The ratcheting action is nice, just a shade less smooth, that the JR Williams and Gearwrench analogous products, and the light is, well, what you would expect from a quality tool. It brightly illuminates the workspace and is easily turned on or off. This tool comes with bits in a rear storage compartment which is accessed by pressing the indents on the handle on both sides. Two each of Pozi, Phillips, and Slotted are provided. The grip on the tool is nice and the shaft has a knurled portion for greater grip. The packaging,while minimal, does include necessary information for changing the batteries (button type)and accessing the bit storage in the handle. All in all, a very serviceable and, more importantly, essential addition for an emergency tool kit.

So you think I’m mentally ill for writing a dissertation on screwdrivers? Well, you’d be right. Also, I have unfortunate news for you: your mental health is surely not stellar for reading it either. However take solace in knowing it isn’t entirely our fault. Tool manufacturers seem to have ceased to exist. All of the tool companies have been bought up by conglomerates and have in most instances shipped all of their manufacturing overseas. So what we are left with are tool brands- you can’t judge all Brand X drivers to be of the same quality because in many instances they’re manufactured in different places, on different machining, and the logo is slapped on at the end before they ship a tanker full of them. I’m doubtful there’s anything remotely resembling the QC of bygone eras. So asking yourself is the Stahlwille in the same league as the Bahco or Gearwrench might not be be the right question- as, get ready for it..... wait for it...... they could all be the exact same screwdriver! And all those extolling the virtues or differences of one or another on Amazon or YouTube or some dark, dank forum location have simply drank way too much of the late stage capitalist Koolaid and are deluding themselves into thinking there are appreciable differences. How’s that for a state of affairs? Feel less mental yet? There’s more. Let me give you a rundown of how I’ve come upon this sad state of affairs: In my daily tasks I’d really just like one good example of the following: Full size Stubby T Handle 1/4” ratchet with screwdriving attachment I don’t need 8 different regular screwdrivers. I had realized I had amassed a fairly large collection of stuff that served one or another purpose but none that served all purposes for me. I had doubles and triples of some things, but nothing of another. So, I wanted to downsize and get just the right amount of the right thing and in the process maybe get something really nice that I’ll enjoy using. The criteria I set were: Smooth ratcheting action Minimal shaft play Holds the bit firmly with either a strong magnet or chuck No proprietary bits or bits with a ball detent so I can use a wide array of attachments like Allen bits, nut drivers, etc. Ideally rust resistant: Bonus points for nickel plated bits Bonus for stainless shaft Bonus points for accepting 1” and 2” bits. Since I’d rather carry a bit case along anyway bit storage wasn’t a deal breaker. You think it’d be a piece of cake but I have gone through about a dozen different options and have used / bought / played around with dozens more over the years and making sense of it is about as convoluted as it gets. Some in the running for me were: Stahlwille, Snap on, Williams, Megapro, Rolgear, Wera, Wiha, Kobalt, DeWalt, Klein, Bahco, Chapman, Gearwrench, etc. Then, I started noticing some curious things. The Stahlwille (German), Bahco (Swedish) and Gearwrench (US, Apex Tool Group) ratcheting screwdrivers all seem to be manufactured by the same company / same origin of Taiwan. Another reviewer erroneously suggested that it was the same mechanism as the Williams and Snap-On which is incorrect- those are still made in the USA by Williams. And that info includes the full size as well as those with the 2-position pistol grip and the LED and stubby. They all have identical shafts, bit holders and roughly the same handle with some minor differences mostly in color and branding. The Williams and the Snap On are the same (Williams manufactures for Snap-On) with the Williams even having the snap on part numbers on the bits. If it’s between these two for you go with the Williams. The price differential is huge. The Klein heavy duty ratcheting seems to be manufactured by the same company that makes the Lenox and some others. Again only the handle material and perhaps the bit compliment are different. The Megapro is largely the same as the Channelock, besides bit compliment. However the Megapro has options not available from Channellock. And I’m just getting started. It’s a mess. Just take my word for it and follow my lead or you may find yourself burrowing down a screwdriver rabbit hole. So, before I get way too out there let me just cut to the TL;DR: TL;DR: Seems like no matter how much I was willing to pay at the end of the day it wasn’t about price. Everything was on the table for me besides the offensively priced PB Swiss. Interestingly enough many modestly priced options in some cases outperformed premium brands. So here’s what I’d do: Get the Williams T and full size if you can handle the bit storage situation. Some can’t handle the bits rattling in there. It has the tightest tolerances and smoothest action. Least wobble. Also most Spartan looking and plastic. Don’t get this if your primary purpose for buying a screwdriver is to show it off on Reddit. If you can’t handle the bit situation, or maybe you want a knurled knob, I’d go with the Bahco / Gearwrench 2 Position with Pistol Grip. Also the LED model seems like it could be useful but I have never used it. If you want a full set with stubby and T and multiple shafts in one box with tons of bits get the Gearwrench full set that comes in a box. It’s inexpensive and very similar in performance to the Williams and Snap-On at a bargain price. Don’t discount it’s quality because the price seems too good to be true. For a screwdriving ratchet (not a ratcheting screwdriver) I’d get the Wiha set or the All Trade Powerbuilt 1/4” Stubby, which is a steal for the price but didn’t hold the bit as snugly as the Wiha. Also; the Klein ratchet with finger hole is excellent as well for certain situations. The Rolgear and Megapro get honorable mention even though each had a dealbreaker for me, which may not be one for you. The Megapro automotive is great unless you are in a salt air climate in which case it’s a no go. The Rolgear has an excellent mechanism however it’s a new type of design which may not appeal to everyone and has a bit too much play in the shaft for me. And the best Big Box option would be the DeWalt with extendable shaft. Suprisingly good ratcheting mechanism, nice handle. However there’s appreciable wobble once you extend the shaft a few clicks and no onboard bit storage. I find that Wera is overpriced and overrated in every single tool I’ve bought from them Screwdrivers and Ratchets and bits. Twice the wobble of even my Big Box bought DeWalt. Yeah, you heard me.... come and get me Wera snobs. I think insulting the Wera fans is a great place to call it on this review. Over and out.

The only thing I liked about this purchase is that the Snap-on guy that comes every Thursday was going to actually give me credit toward the Blue Point version of this (with no light, but still made by Bahco) or credit toward the purchase of a Snap on ratcheting screw driver. I wouldn’t expect to get that deal with every snap on truck, we spend a lot on that truck and my employer is pretty much putting that guy’s kids through college with his purchases over the years. Anyway. I’ll never buy another Bahco anything again as this ratcheting screwdriver lost its forward ratcheting capability in less than a month. I took it apart to see if it would be an easy fix and I was so disillusioned at the design, I wouldn’t use it even if it was fixable. All I will do with this thing is modify the light part and glue a magnet on it so it can be affixed to any screwdriver or small shaft tool that could use a light. I went ahead and bought a real Snap on ratcheting screwdriver and two different lengths of Williams T-handle ratcheting screwdrivers. All three are awesome and put the Bahco to shame. I don’t recommend the Bahco. I read it was at some point made in France. I wouldn’t doubt it. This ratcheting screwdriver is definitely the Renault of the screwdriver world. I happen to be more of a Cadillac or Ford truck guy than a Renault guy I guess. I’ll stick with made in USA Snap-on, Cornwell, or Matco from now on and my tools will work!

If you have any screws that need high torque and down pressure this is the screwdriver you need. I had to remove about 400 screws on my plane during its first annual inspection. Many had been over tightened. This was the best screwdriver for removing those screws. The handle could be larger, and it is made of mostly plastic, but it is excellent quality for the price.