Malco A0 USA Made Regular Grip Scratch Awl, 1/8-inch (1 per Pack)

The carbon steel on this tool seems to be of a good grade - it arrived very sharp, and with a little attention and a light honing it now pierces fabric and leather with little effort. Not stainless, so it will rust, burnish it and keep a little oil on it if you want to keep it shiny. The shaft is smooth enough that it easily opens up the initial hole to the desired size, and the orange handle provides a positive grip. A wine bottle cork (not a composite, but a real cork) makes a handy protector for the pointy end while in the tool box. A good all around tool that will last for decades from occasional use. If I was working leather all day with it I might prefer a gourd style handle to minimize the chance of blisters thanks to the wider contact patch on the palm, but pretty wood handles roll if they don't have a flat, and tend to work loose as the wood shrinks, so unless you plan to use daily and wear out the tool, this is a good choice.

I remember my father having Scratch Awl in his shop. But, I have to shamefully admit I did not know the name. To me they looked like an Ice Pick. Once I found it's proper name I looked around for one. This one looked cheap and inexpensive but with high ratings. Happy to report it's of good quality not cheap and for 3.49 it's a great bargain. I also got a smaller wood handle Scratch Awl from China which is okay just not as good as this one. This Malco Scratch Awl gets used without a thought of breaking it, it feels that good. I've used this Scratch Awl tool from making starting holes for screws to marking wood for a cut. It's still as sharp as it came. I would say, if you need one save yourself some time and just buy this one, hard to go wrong at the price.

This thing is awesome. I'm in my early 30s and work in the trades - this is a very high quality tool, it looks just like an old school screwdriver from way back when but brand new. It's made in USA and it seems like they did a great job hardening it. I was messing around in the junk shop and it's stabbing through stoves, fridges, you name it. I purchased this tool as a nail/screw starter, to make holes for anchors in drywall, to mark my measurements and etc. It will do anything you would want a spike for. Awls are not used by many people but dang they help with so much.

One of the best in today's market.

I needed an awl to "dimple" some wood to make sure the drill would start in the right place. But most awls don't have a sharp point, so I'm not sure what they are good for. Here is a very pointy, USA made tool that is perfect--however, it's a real weapon as well, and I would have gladly paid an additonal five or ten cents to get a cover for the tip. I imagine the person at Amazon who packs these feels the same way. Mine came just rolled in some bubble wrap.

Great quality scratch awl.

Eazy to pound into 20 gauge or lighter sheet metal

Very handy awl at a good price. I used the 1/8 inch awl to mark drill holes in wood and to "lever out" wood plugs from my hole saw bits. Indispensable when you need one. Strong and sharp and a good value at $3.99 for a made in USA product.