A clamping ratcheting wrench is disclosed that is capable of being opened and closed without slipping the wrench over the end of a nut to be tightened or loosened. This wrench overcomes many problems because it may be used on a nut that is in a very tight position where a traditional wrench would not fit, nor would a conventional wrench be capable of ratcheting. The ratchet is effected by individual ratchet segments that are held in place when the wrench is opened. One of the true advantages of the various aspects is that the ratchet can be opened and closed once the ratchet segments are aligned, such that the segments are secured in place to allow the wrench to be opened up without having all the segments fall out of the wrench. A first aspect of the invention discloses an interlocking ratchet piece design, while a second aspect of the invention discloses another ratchet piece design with structural channeling to secure the ratchet segments in alignment so that the segments do not come out of the wrench.