Craftsman 5197 AND 5198 registry
- Thread starter Mr. Wonderful
- Start date
Outlawmws
Well-known member
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Very nice. Please add a picture of the date stamp too.Just picked this up today at an estate sale. I think they must have missed it as it was under a workbench and I literally had to move a bedpan to get itI about had a hernia getting it out of the basement and into the car!
The numbers are:
05197-29
05198-12
Still just over 40 combined examples in this forum says a lot!
Haha, I got into a small back and forth with a guy who was watching me attempt to extricate the thing. He insisted it couldnāt be more than 50 pounds. I was like no way this big ******* is that lightAw, c'mon, it's only 77 lbs give or take!
Iāll grab the date code tomorrow.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
You ****! Thatās a good findHaha, I got into a small back and forth with a guy who was watching me attempt to extricate the thing. He insisted it couldnāt be more than 50 pounds. I was like no way this big ******* is that light
Iāll grab the date code tomorrow.
keeblerz28
New member
Mark me down as having another 5198.
Link to my post in the other thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...se-awesome-vises.351100/page-15#post-10954805
Link to my post in the other thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...se-awesome-vises.351100/page-15#post-10954805
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Is it just me, or did the pound get heavier over the last couple of decades? I swear the modern 80 lb. is twice what it used to be....Aw, c'mon, it's only 77 lbs give or take!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
It's not just you! Gravity keeps increasing along with global warming. Slow and its often hard to notice, but there it is.
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Welcome to GJ and congratulations on finding a very rare vise. We're all glad you'll be putting your grandfathers vise back into action. In case no one else mentioned it or you didn't know Rock Island jaws will fit that vise.
The numbers are:
05197-29
05198-13
justin0869
New member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2024
- Messages
- 2
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Well done!
Who all remembers when we went for YEARS with no sightings of either the 5197 or the 5198? there were doubts they ever sold any...
Still, very uncommon and rare finds!
Who all remembers when we went for YEARS with no sightings of either the 5197 or the 5198? there were doubts they ever sold any...
Still, very uncommon and rare finds!
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Wow! lots of original paint left on that one! Like @Outlawmws said. I still get surprised when one popps up.Another 05198
The numbers are:
05197-29
05198-14
We're about 2:1 on the 97 to 98's still very low numbers considering the depth of this forum.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
@justin0869 What is the date on the tail of that one?
justin0869
New member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2024
- Messages
- 2
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
I didnāt think Iād ever get a second posting in this thread but I somehow managed to land myself a 5198! I canāt even make out one digit of the date stamp unfortunately. It seems to be a rather light stamping and not wear or damage in that area.
That puts the numbers at:
05197 - 29
05198 - 15
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That's about 44 more than ever expected during the early years of searching fruitlessly!
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Now we just need to find that 345lb Craftsman 5168 and our victory will be complete!
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
That would be awesome! Heck of a unicorn for sure! Probably a very small chance but Iām sure hoping Iām wrong!
Rileysan
Well-known member
I didnāt think Iād ever get a second posting in this thread but I somehow managed to land myself a 5198! I canāt even make out one digit of the date stamp unfortunately. It seems to be a rather light stamping and not wear or damage in that area.
That puts the numbers at:
05197 - 29
05198 - 15
I still don't own a 5198, but I do have a second 5197 (no photo). Both vises are basket cases but I'll eventually get around to repairing them. That makes 30 5197 vises.
Brian
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
I thought Iād share a couple pictures of the incredible size difference between the 5197 and 5198. 30 extra pounds for a half inch of width on the jaws is a lot!!!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Much taller, too. It does seem inordinate. What is ordinate, though? And is it fairly consistent across industry? (That's not a challenge. I really don't know. I haven't thought about it and I don't have enough vises from the same mfgr and production year in different jaw sizes to have a feel for it.) It would be interesting to see how weight and height typically scales, proportionally, with jaw size steps, across Reed vises, and across vises of other mfgrs. Someone (not me, at least not today) could probably use the database on the Mega Vise thread and come up with a factor for each mfgr in the same era, and then compare factors. Or catalogs.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Curiosity got the best of me.
Reed 404-1/2, 4-1/2" jaws, weight 75 lbs.
Reed 405, 5" jaws, weight 98 lbs.
Delta of 23 lbs.
Just for S&G's and my own edification, I checked a few others...
Prentiss 911, 4/12" jaws, weight 70 lbs.
Prentiss 913, 5" jaws, weight 105 lbs.
Delta of 35 lbs.
Parker 974-1/2, 4/12" jaws, weight 85 lbs.
Parker 975, 5" jaws, weight 118 lbs.
Delta of 34 lbs.
Reed 404-1/2, 4-1/2" jaws, weight 75 lbs.
Reed 405, 5" jaws, weight 98 lbs.
Delta of 23 lbs.
Just for S&G's and my own edification, I checked a few others...
Prentiss 911, 4/12" jaws, weight 70 lbs.
Prentiss 913, 5" jaws, weight 105 lbs.
Delta of 35 lbs.
Parker 974-1/2, 4/12" jaws, weight 85 lbs.
Parker 975, 5" jaws, weight 118 lbs.
Delta of 34 lbs.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Not clear this is a common jump, closest I have is an a C. Parker 974 (4"), at 59 lbs, and a 974-1/2 (4-1/2") at 76 lb. 17 lb difference? But the jumps do tend to go bigger as you get to the over 4" vises:
974 - 59 lbs
974-1/2 - 76 lbs - 17 jump
975 - 104 - 28 jump
976 - 157 - 53 jump
978 - 196 - 39 jump but 2" more - Most other brands at 8" have vise weights I've seen around 250->300 lbs
974 - 59 lbs
974-1/2 - 76 lbs - 17 jump
975 - 104 - 28 jump
976 - 157 - 53 jump
978 - 196 - 39 jump but 2" more - Most other brands at 8" have vise weights I've seen around 250->300 lbs
Jayman17
Well-known member
Wow, that is interesting seeing them side by side. That's a big boy!
Mississippi333
Active member
My late father's was stolen. I saw this from a very nice retired gentleman. Nothing can replace what was stolen but I'm thankful for what I do blessings I do have. Way more than a scoundrel like me deserves. Date is 5/49.
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Is that a 5197 or 5198?My late father's was stolen. I saw this from a very nice retired gentleman. Nothing can replace what was stolen but I'm thankful for what I do blessings I do have. Way more than a scoundrel like me deserves. Date is 5/49.
Mississippi333
Active member
5197 sir.
Mississippi333
Active member
I apologize. Something came up and I forgot to send other Pic.
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Outstanding, that puts the numbers at:I apologize. Something came up and I forgot to send other Pic.
05197 - 31
05198 - 15
I noticed something interesting. The front of the spindle on yours has some hammer dings. If you look above at the picture of my 5197 it has even more of the same marks. I can't figure out why someone would hammer on the spindle like that. None of my other vises have marks on the spindle. My only thought was if the vice was seized up. Hammering on the spindle wouldn't do anything in that case.
hemifalcon
Well-known member
6-1950 Craftsman 5195 headed to the auction pageā¦ 
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Thanks for the input, but we're only tracking the 05197 and 05198 on this thread. Is that yours?6-1950 Craftsman 5195 headed to the auction pageā¦
hemifalcon
Well-known member
Yes it isā¦ my apologies.. I thought it was any 519_ vise.. Iāll delete if needed to keep the content correct?
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Not a problem I wouldnāt worry about it. We all love any of the craftsman 519x! If youāre trying to sell it you might try the classified section.
RobertEsco
New member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2025
- Messages
- 1
Here's one I picked up yesterday in Whittier,CA. Craftsman 05198 with an interesting set of jaws. Would these be a special order set of jaws or just standard? The date I see on the slide is 7-48.
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I would guess those were modified by a PO.
Shiftless
Well-known member
I nominate Robert Esco
categoryā¦ Most impressive first post in Garage Journal.
(also a more common but still coveted āyou ****ā congratulatory comment)
05198 !!!!
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Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Yeah that vise that Robert esco posted is amazing! He *****!
OP
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
Welcome to GJ and welcome to one of the most exclusive ownerships on the internet. Great first post!
That puts the numbers at:
05197 - 31
05198 - 16
Garagelogistician
Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2023
- Messages
- 6
