Combination Wrench (High Torque Series)-1 13/16" - vintage Facom, made in France. Their premium 1-13/16 inch Long-Pattern Combination Wrench from FACOM's industrial fastening catalog. Designed for high-torque applications in heavy machinery, fleet maintenance, and structural engineering, this wrench uses an extended handle design to maximize leverage. (Note - this item does NOT qualify for $10 flat rate shipping. Actual shipping costs apply.)
- Massive Mechanical Leverage: To help technicians pass immense torque to large nuts with minimal physical exertion, this wrench features an exceptionally long shank, measuring a substantial 622 mm (approx. 24.5 inches) in total length.
- OGV® 12-Point Ring Head: The box end features FACOM's patented 12-point OGV profile. Instead of pressing against the weak corners of a large hex nut, the internal curves drive force strictly across the flat sides. This ensures high torque transmission and prevents catastrophic nut rounding.
- 15-Degree Offsets: Both the open-end fork head and the 12-point ring eye are precision-angled at a 15-degree tilt. This layout provides vital hand knuckle protection and allows the user to flip the wrench over in tight spaces to catch a fresh bite on obstructed fasteners.
History of the Facom High Torque Long Combination Wrenches
1. The Genesis: The 'L' Variant (1980s) - The core structural architecture of this extended, heavy-duty industrial wrench family made its official debut in the early 1980s. The "L" suffix signifying Série Longue. This series was introduced to provide industrial field technicians with extended I-beam handles capable of pushing extreme manual breaking torque on heavy equipment fasteners without twisting. These wrenches were made in France and the country of origin was proudly displayed (cast) on the tool.
2. The Modern Shift: The 'LA' Suffix Debut (Late 1990s) - The precise "LA" revision designation debuted between 1998 and 2000. This suffix arrived during a company-wide modernization of FACOM’s inventory and manufacturing protocols. While the lengths and specs were consistent from one series to the next, the "A" update marked a subtle refinement to the forging tolerances and optimization for modern digital asset management. It was during this late 1990s window that FACOM actively migrated part numbers on the physical tool stamp from "L" to "LA". Production under Stanley ownership was moved to Taiwan. The LA series have a satin chrome finish and laser etched markings.
3. The Phase-Out Era (Late 2010s) - The fractional sizes of the extra-long 40.LA family enjoyed a long manufacturing run, but they were systematically phased out and discontinued by the late 2010s. As FACOM scaled back on niche SAE tooling to consolidate manufacturing efforts around their standard metric lines and high-performance 440 series aerospace wrenches, the fractional sizes in the 40LA series disappeared. The 40LA wrenches are still available in metric sizes from 19mm up to the massive 65mm size (a 33", 6kg/13.2 lb wrench).
