When do hand-tools transition from premium to porn? I’ve used or handled some superb stuff (e.g., Lie Nielsen planes, PB Swiss screwdrivers) – fantastic in hand, a pleasure to use, and the price premium pays for practicality. However, who buys Nepros tools, and what do they use them for?
Is Nepros the only brand that seems more about art than artisan use?
I have seen very few Nepros tools “in the wild”. I can’t help but wonder if they are the Japanese equivalent of tool truck brands like Mac and Snap-On: most of their tools seem to be aimed at professionals and then they have some special-edition extra fancy stuff on the side. I have seen fancy presentation style tools made by Snap-On before, like gold-plated wrenches or tire pressure gauges. Even Craftsman had gold-plated tools meant to be gifts back in the day when Craftsman tools were still made in the USA. Nepros seems similar.
Nepros is the fancy luxury sub-brand of KTC (Kyoto Tool Co). KTC is similar in quality to Vessel from what I’ve run into, so assume they’re major competitors over there. Not sure why the Nepros stuff exists, but it’s pretty.
If you haven’t seen Bridge City Tools, they’re also in that crazy artistic (and crazy price) world for me.