Crescent Nicholson Universal Handle | 21474U

These handles are big, beefy, and intuitive to use on longer/larger files. Because these are mechanically tightened by hand to secure the file to the handle, files can be swapped out easily if need be. Avoids tapping, whacking, heating the file tang up with a torch and other common methods used to firmly attach a file handle to the tang of a file. They are a bright orange with black accents which makes them harder to lose. Yes, they do not have the look of an "heirloom" tool but they are durable, fit the hand well, and can be easily removed if desired. When properly tightened the files I used them on stayed put. The "fuss factor" is minimal and the desired result of mounting a handle to a file is accomplished. Take care to center your file tang in the jaws and make sure you tighten enough to eliminate any freeplay between the handle and the file. Easy peasy!

Was looking for another wood handle for a rat tail file of mine, saw this and decided to give it a try. Not only does it hold my rat tail file nice and tight and give a good grip.. I can also put a sawzall blade in this thing and use it as a keyhole saw on sheetrock or whatever else I need to cut by hand. I see no quality issues with this handle, the orange part is hard plastic and the black is more grippy plastic and the tightening handle is knurled metal. All of which feels good in my hand and feels like it's going to stay together just fine for along time.

Good design, but too small for larger files. The file I specifically purchased it for was way too thick for this handle. Works well with thinner files.

Works good. Some of my longer files (8 to 12 inch) require this handled to be tightened up very tight but with all metal insides this is not a problem.

I have had trouble with the old style file handles that are wood. Their function is based on hammering the tang of the file into a prepared slot in the wood handle. Over time, that slot gets reamed out by rugged use of the file and the handle wears out before the file does. Usually, the wooden handle doesn't serve its purpose well at that point. This mechanical handle that fits any flattened, pointed file tang and solves that problem. The handle functions as a clamp: you slide the flattened tang of the file into the clamp and screw it down; it holds the file very well, no slips, no wobbling. Yes, it takes a minute to unscrew the handle from one file and put it on another, but it works better than any other file I've used. Note: it is designed for a flattened, tang such as is found on a bastard file. This particular design would not work with a rounded tang as on a chain saw file or with a file that has a rectangular-shaped tang. Maybe the company makes different adjustable handles for those needs.

Works as advertised. Would recommend.

I purchased a big set of files and needed a handle that would be able to switch files very quickly without a lot of headache. This handle is quite easy to use. I was very pleased with the way it easily held the file, clamps down and doesn't let go, I have arthritic hands and I don't have any problem getting this tightened down or loosened up when I need to change a file out. plus its comfortable in the hand when using. Very pleased I would buy another if I needed more than one.

Unfortunately Nicholson chose to completely re-design this product without providing vendors with updated product images (across ANY vendor outside of Home Depot, as far as I can tell) or even changing the model #. The re-designed version is clearly a cost saving measure and seems worse in every way. I reached out to numerous vendors themselves, and they had no idea the product had changed. Model numbers exist for a reason, something I suppose Nicholson chose to ignore so they could keep the high rating of an old product and carry it over to a piece of junk replacement product. Regarding the product, it's more difficult to tighten and release the files, the entire handle is much less comfortable to work with and due to the ergonomic changes just overall more difficult to get a good grip on, and the whole thing just feels less sturdy. One of the two I purchased is already damaged from having to use pliers to open the damn tightening mechanism, which seized after one use. Used the previous model for 10 years with no issues before it finally broke, which was fantastic value, and why I bought 2 as replacements. Really a bummer that they chose to sacrifice quality rather than just raise the price a couple bucks. This new version isn't worth half the price they're charging now, and if I found a vendor that still sold the original design I would gladly pay double the price. I was going to return these but ended up having no alternative handles so begrudgingly kept them. I don't even know a good alternative product to get, there's a reason I stuck with what I had for 10 years, it was just a great product. I'm unlikely to purchase any other products from Nicholson going forward as the same model number bit is a literal bait and switch and I'm having a really hard time believing this was a harmless oversight. Not informing any of your vendors that you completely redesigned the entire product and making the vendors think they are still selling the same high quality product is just a real scummy move. Companies like you can do better, shame on you.