Dual pawl ratchet mechanism

A pawl mechanism, for a ratchet tool 100 having a drive gear 112 with gear teeth 118, comprises: a pawl carrier 154 including a first pawl pocket 138, a first groove 144a, and a first recessed ledge disposed adjacent to the first groove. A first pawl 108 is disposed in the first pawl pocket, and includes pawl teeth selectively engageable with the gear teeth of the drive gear 112 to select a first rotational drive direction. The first pawl includes a first projection 146 extending away from the pawl teeth and over the recessed ledge, and a first protrusion extending from the projection and into the groove. A second pawl 110 is carried by the pawl carrier in the same manner. The first recessed ledge has a thickness less than a thickness of a main body of the pawl carrier. A reversing lever 132 is coupled to the pawl carrier, and movable to select either of first and second rotational drive directions.