Wynot

Great find! Thanks!

Just sent the link to this discussion to the Assistant Service Operations Manager at DeWalt. He's going to research it and get back to me.

Here's a thought... I don't see this for use with slab concrete but, for a plumber or electrician securing pipes or conduit to a cinder block wall, the pin could be an effective way to create a shallow pilot hole. Then if the fastener went in tough, the T handle could be very helpful. What do you think?

So, I tested the impact driver theory. The driver caused no visible rotation of the screw. I also bore scoped the handle. There is an orange nylon o-ring that keeps the pin secure. Deeper in, past the perpendicular handle hole, the steel transitions to white nylon. The interior profile seems to mirror the pin taper. As you can see, at the bottom of the hole, a raised '4' appears. There is no deformation of the '4', telling me the pin never strikes the bottom. Here are some bore scope pictures.

It's 22.4mm deep. No telescoping that I can see, only the spring loaded collar to lock in the bit.

This is a ratcheting driver but, it is more than that. The pin was not fixed, coming loose over the years. The pin was designed to come out and the pin was designed to be placed perpendicularly in the handle. It is not just part of the packaging. DeWalt didn't randomly put a removable pin in the handle for no reason. The question is why. I agree the pin is an odd shape if the intent was for it to be used as a T handle to apply more torque. It occurred to me that I've got a bore scope that may fit in the hole. Hopefully, I'll be able to see if there is something internally the pin does when struck. I'll also see if striking causes any rotation. I'll post any findings in a few days. Thanks!

I'll have to test that theory but, you might have something here. I've been looking at the concrete dust or whatever it is on the pin and it might be a red herring. The previous owner may have used the pin for an unintended purpose. If it is a manual impact driver, the pin head provides a striking surface and, placed perpendicular, the pin forms a T handle for additional rotational torque. It would be great to find an advertisement or something to confirm, though. Thanks!

The nail fits both ways. Both holes feel like they are fitted with nylon bushings to keep the pin secure while making it easy to put in and take out. The handle end has a steel collar where the pin goes in suggesting it's designed to be struck (but why?). Any standard hex bit should fit in the bit end. The tool is ~8 inches long and is over a pound. I called DeWalt. They made it but can't identify it without a model number and there are no numbers on the tool that I can find.

Hello everyone. First time poster here. I sought out this forum in hopes someone could shed some light on this mystery. I bought this tool at an estate sale several years back. The relative couldn't give me any info on it. At first glance, it is a very heavy, well built ratcheting nut/screw driver. But it has a hardened pin that nests in the handle. The pin can be pulled out without much effort and there is another hole in the side of the handle that the pin fits. The hardened pin has obvious hammer strikes on the head and what looks to me like concrete dust on the tip. I can see a use for the pin and I can see a use for the driver. I don't see the purpose of the marriage of the two. Who would need a tool like this and how would they use it? I tried to insert images but it wouldn't let me. The link to the pictures is: https://postimg.cc/gallery/pXWwSy3 Thanks!