Mauser lover, welcome to HM.
I highly encourage you to look at the information you can find here:
http://www.longislandindicator.co/ Hands down, the most useful source of information on instruments for the shop. You will find accurate information on the different kinds of tools as well as which brands are the best.
No offense meant to the other guys but certain brands or makers excel in different areas. For example:
- The finest dial caliper is made by Etalon, while the best digital calipers are arguably made by Mitutoyo.
- The finest dial and dial test indicators are made by the Swiss (Compac, Interapid, Tesa, Browne & Sharpe) and Germans; Mitutoyo, Starrett and others are okay.
- The best micrometers are again made by the Swiss (Etalon, Tesa, Browne & Sharpe) and the Germans (I like Helios); Mitutoyo makes really good digital ones, while all the other makers come after them, including Starrett of new and old.
- Solid squares, the right angle machinist's squares, are made by many makers but the most accurate are made by Tesa.
- The best usable graduated rules are made by Starrett; their satin chrome scales seem to last forever and are laser etched for accuracy and longevity.
These are the tools you will use the most. There are thousands of others to buy but spend money on good basic tools. I would also suggest you buy what you need. Forget the planer gauges and buy a good dial caliper. Forget the vernier protractors and get a really good dial test indicator. If you happen to need a protractor, then buy a good one.
Small hand tools, like small bore gauges and telescoping gauges or the calipers that rely on "feel" are made by the older tool making companies, Starrett being one of the finest.
Be aware that many companies are outsourcing their tool lines to Asia. Starrett, Browne & Sharpe, Fowler, and even Tesa have lower line tools made in China. Mitutoyo outsources to Brazil. It pays to research the country of origin before paying premium prices.
The cheapest tools tend to be the top tier tools. They last longer, retain their accuracy over time and can be repaired when needed. Cheaper tools may be okay for a time but eventually their accuracy wanes and they cannot be fixed.
Almost every tool we normally use has a sort of standard. Aloris/Dorian quick change tool posts, Albrecht keyless chucks, Jacobs USA-made Super Chucks, Criterion boring heads, etc. Your job is going to be identifying these tools and then finding them for a killer price on ebay. They are out there.