Abstract: An improved ratchet mechanism for box end wrenches or similar devices consisting of a driver ring with cam teeth on one face, a driven ring fixed to a socket member rotatably confined in the driver ring, the socket member having a wrench configuration in its interior, and a pawl ring rotatably supported on the socket member. The pawl ring has cam teeth cooperating with the driver cam teeth and the pawl ring and the driven ring have shorter interfitting teeth. The cam teeth have sufficient rise to hold the short teeth engaged when the driver ring is rotated one way, and to allow the shorter teeth to disengage when the driver ring is rotated the other way. A means for directly applying axial forces to engage the sloping faces of the cam teeth of the pawl ring and the driver ring thereby tending to encourage meshing of the driven teeth of the socket member and the driving teeth of the pawl ring in the form of a spring is positioned between the driver ring and the retainer ring.