3 there is a ratchet gear generally designated 36 disposed rotatably within wrench head portion 14 that gear has teeth 38 around its full circumference it is formed essentially unitarily with rectangular driving member 40 which has a conventional mechanism of a coaxial spring loaded plunger 42 and a laterally exposed detent ball 44 associated with it for the retention and release of socket and other fittings above and below its toothed region the gear is provided with hub portions which to some extent serve as locating means the upper hub portion is accommodated in a recess provided in head portion 14 while the lower hub portion is accommodated in the bore of a retainer ring or plate 46 that plate in turn is secured in position by a snap ring 48 fitted into a mating groove in head portion 14 a ratchet pawl 50 pivoted on screw 22 is conventionally disposed within a recess in the wrench shank or body adjacent and in effect representing a continuation of the recess therein accommodating ratchet gear 36 elongated recess region 16 wherein control rod 28 is disposed extends from the pawl recess and the control rod itself at its end distant from knob or botton 26 is bent down and with a free turning fit therein is received in a hole provided in the ratchet pawl thus pawl 50 and control rod 28 are in pivoted engagement local relief is given to the upper surface of the pawl to permit the control rod to come in relatively low upon it below cover plate 18 a detent ball 52 is carried in a recess.