Lufkin folding extention rule

[Mel Larsen]

I was out in the shop today rearranging the tools on my "OLD Tool" board.  I have been adding a few and needed the space.  I dropped a wrench down behind the lathe and while attempting to recover it I found my old Lufkin folding rule.  This rule had belonged to my dad.  I can remember him using it when I was just a kid back in the early 50's. It was one of the few tools I picked from his shop when he passed on.
It is a Lufkin X46 with the brass 6" extension.  I brought it into the house and began looking up any information I might find on the internet.  Well it looks like they are still in production as Amazon.com still sells them.  I tried to find a way of dating it, but the only difference I can see between it and a new one is that the new ones have the stud numbers (16. 32 and so on) marked in red and mine does not.  I oiled the joints like is says to do on the rule and will put it back in it's place on the wall.
Mel
 

[HeelSpur]

Its still in great shape, is there any writing under the brass rule?
I know lots of folks would write their names there in case of theft.

[OilyRascal]

Nice rule.  I have a Craftsman version my dear nephew decided he'd break into two pieces.

[Branson]

Its still in great shape, is there any writing under the brass rule?
I know lots of folks would write their names there in case of theft.

Well I'll be dipped.  The one my wife bought me lives in my desk drawer.  I looked under the brass rule, and now I know it belonged to BEN.   I have another one that lives out in the shed that I'll have to check.

I never cared much for zig-zag rules -- all white and yellow -- and then my wife found this one, all wood and brass, and I love my Lufkins.

[scottg]

You got to love a good zig zag!!
 Extensions, folding end hooks. They rock!
 They are fragile. As we all know.  But they are cool.
  I only have 2 or 3 of them really. The only good ones I ever found.
I have given a bunch away over time. But they were rougher.  Rough ones are easy to find.
Good ones aren't. At least from my perspective.     
  yours Scott
   

[chopper1]

I have a few of them.  I remember breaking a one of my step-dad's when I was a kid trying to fold it.
I've got white, yellow and a steel Lufkin that I did use but am looking to sell as I don't do much carpentry any more.

[fflintstone]

I have a metal lufkin.

I see a fair amount of lufkin because they "were" made in saginaw. my guess is over the years a lot came home and went to friends.

[jimwrench]

 I like them too and still use them. (some of them) I don't use the interlox but the rest are whichever gets grabbed.
 Picture top to bottom
 Interlox by Master Rule Co.
 Craftsman 3435
Evans X40
 Lufkin 066F
 Lufkin 246F
 All are prevoiusly owned by someone else and none are personalized. Hadn't thought of someone marking them under the slide but these are clean.

[HeelSpur]

I finally found my 8 foot zig zag rule and 2 others that have the caliper doohickey that is 8 inches.
Is the 8 footer pretty common?

[mikeswrenches]

The 8 footers aren't as common as the 6's.  Probably because they cost more.

As an aside I recently bought a box of new Mathias Klein zig-zags.  They are a funny light green color.

Mike

[HeelSpur]

One of the ones with the 8" caliper I have is a Klein.