Introduction.
I've been considering this thread for some time.
It's more or less a tool review anyone is welcome to participate in.

25 ounce California framing or ripping hammer.
Just picked it up because my 16 ounce claw hammer isn't cutting it.
The slot in the end of the head holds nails all you have to do is give it a whack the nail is set and you drive it in.
The checkered face grips the head and won't let it slip off.
I'm not driving nails but these things to hang wire from.
The 16 ounce hammer didn't have the weight of the head to do this effectively.
My 62 year old work mate can't drive one of these in to save his life.

That's a cool checkered face. I have a lot of hammers but haven't seen one like that.
So important to have the perfect hammer weight. Depending on the job or type of job, also I like when the weight is just right for me, for the action, so there's no strain on the muscles being used.
The same goes for axes, and likewise pickaxes.
My favorite axe is the handaxe that was my Dad's old one, perfectly weighted and the blade doesn't lose it's edge, nor has it ever come off the handle like so many others. That is a one hander for light work. Heavier axes, I use two hands and a full body swing. But I have snips now that do that kind of work around the woods. And of course the splitting axes which are raised up in two hands to cleave from above, again using your whole body. So the weight of the tool is well matched depending on the muscle behind it.

Here it what I used back in the day.The saw long reach,worm drive Milwaukee was a must for us ,cross cut plywood one stroke.Stacked 4x8 ply,ripped those 2 foot,or 16 inch 3deep.The hammer long reach.My invention the true plumb bob.Place nail,hang bob,with mini suqare transfer mark to wall,snap top and bottoms,Red chalk will last forever.Best for perfect door jambs.

@Kurt
I've still got my old ball bearing Skill Saw I bought in around 1983 and it runs like a charm.

Cordless saws were awful when they first came out, but the batteries have gotten a lot better. I upgraded my ridgid cordless kit to 3 Amp hour batteries and now the circular and reciprocating saws are useful for the first time.

My favorite tools for the garden are probably these:
- a traditional spade
- a good strong pair of scissors or small bypass lopper (AKA pruning shears) that you can hold in one hand like scissors

They're my favorite because they seem the most necessary, and help get the most stuff done.

Edit: Oh, woops. I thought this was in one of the gardening forums! Sorry. I'll have to think about that one.

I think I might go with a tape measure and a good Phillips screwdriver, because tape measures are cool, and Phillips screwdrivers are in high demand. I'm not really into shop tools much. I thought bandsaws were pretty fun in school, because you could make a lot of stuff with them pretty quickly. You have to be safe with them, though.

I was also trying to think of most used gardening tools - I hadn't even though about the tape measure, but it is something I have about 8 of in my shop, one in my kitchen, plus a couple rulers in there, a couple in my back porch, and another couple of them in my shed. Always measuring something! Another thing I have many of, since I don't want to go looking for them, are box cutters. Always cutting something!

As for electric, the cordless drill, used more for a screwdriver. I think I have 4 of them.

Instead of using a drill for a screwdriver I use a Milwaukee cordless heavy duty type screwdriver thing.
It's got enough power to do most things but for more heavy duty type things I use the cordless impact driver.
The one in the picture is on sale around here for 79 dollars.
Normally 99 dollars.
I can't express how much this has improved my life on the job.
If you wear a Phillips bit out just toss it and put a new one on.
Any of the typical 1/4 extensions snap on as well.
It will last me well more than a day with one charge and constant use.
And it comes with 2 batteries and a charger.

Next I have like a million screwdrivers.
But what I most often use is this screwdriver in particular.
It's the Klein 32500MAG.
It comes with tips you can replace but you have to order them.
The beauty of this model is it will hold other 1/4 drive tips in with a magnet.
As you can see in the picture.
Naturally it has the most common nut driver functions as well.
It has common torx and square drive tips too.
Another good development is the positive lock ring that keeps the ends from jumping out.
I got the regular tip removed to show you can put a regular tip on of 1/4 inch drive.
The Milwaukee multi screwdrivers are garbage.
Don't buy them unless they've changed.
The drive for the tip is not 1/4 and if you lose one you'll have to order a new one.
Not worth the trouble just buy a new combo screwdriver right?
Wrong.
I lost a tip down a hole one day and I was pretty much done.
I use the long tip on this one for tightening one particular screw that is counterbored.
The short tip won't reach the screw down in the hole.
No matter what brand if you drop the screwdriver a tip can jump out and you may never find it again.

I have two Ridgid drills.
One was given to me without batteries or a charger.
The one I bought I've had terrible luck with batteries and got sick of it
Next when I used the drill on a daily basis the rubber on the grip started coming off.
You almost never see Ridgid power tools on any construction site.
I can't remember the last time I have.
Well over a year for sure.
Not recommended.
Makita is a good brand and I have the set of drill and impact driver.
But I wouldn't buy another one because almost everything is Milwaukee on the job site unless it's some cheap stuff like DeWalt or Ryobi.

A good pocket knife.
This one I've had for 20 years at least.
A Case Russ lock that can be opened with one hand and fits in your pocket.
They go from a little under $100 to well over if you get some manufacturers name on them like Harley Davidson or maybe John Deere.

Well as said in another thread someone stole my Milwaukee drill.
I decided to replace it today because yesterday someone walked off with my orange Klein wire pulling rods.
You can't turn your back on anything here without someone picking it up.
The cost of a new drill and a 3 amp battery was more money than this better drill charger and 2 5 amp batteries was.

I just checked where everything was made on the drill out of curiosity.
Batteries made in Korea Singapore Japan Malaysia with further processing in China.
Drill made in Vietnam charger made in Vietnam.

I used the new drill the other day and it's crazy powerful.
Experience tells me I needed to attach the handle to keep from getting my arm twisted off.
As of now it's my drill.
When I get paid back for it the drill will become the companies drill.
I used a 1 1/4 inch spade bit on it to drill through two 2X4s in low gear and really slow on the throttle.
The handle was put up against a stud as a brace and ran up the stud as it drilled through the wood.
It caught a couple of times and was I ever glad I took precautions.