Mystery Vise. ?

[SignalZero]

Finally ran into a situation a couple months ago where I really needed a bench vise and didn't have one. Long story short, picked this up at the flea market this morning, but can't figure out what brand it is. The only markings are a "1" inside a square embossed on the side (in pic) and a big "3" stamped in the bottom. I'm guessing the "3" might be because the jaws are 3" wide. Looks like it's been painted a few times, so color is no help.

I got through 50 pages of the "vises of GarageJournal" thread, and the best I can come up with is it's a knock-off of a Paramo or a Clarke.

Any guesses?

 

[454ragtop]

Definitely has an Asian knockoff look to it, suspect you nailed it.
Jim

 

[SignalZero]

Just pulled it apart, and that blue-green/green-blue seems to be the original color; similar to the gulf GT-40. I'll probably go with the Gulf colors when I spruce it up.

If it was foreign, would they measure it in inches (assuming the "3" on the bottom is for 3-inch)?
Either way, for what I have in it I'm not complaining. It looks like whomever bought it took it out of the box, let the handles rust, then sprayed some black on it. I might use it more than that, but it's taken me this long to need one.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hard to tell with the spray bomb black all over. Were the handles chrome plated? That is a general dead give away for an import.

 

[G_P]

I have an imported vise just like that collecting dust in my basement. Mine has a big number "5" on the side and no other markings.

Not a total piece of junk. I have pounded on mine pretty bad and never broke it.

Replaced it with a Chas. Parker and never looked back!

 

[SignalZero]

Hard to tell with the spray bomb black all over. Were the handles chrome plated? That is a general dead give away for an import.

I think this is the case. After reading this I checked. They're pretty corroded, but I was able to geting a shiny spot on one. Then the shiny spot flaked off a little. Looks like the chrome plating flaked off, and the corrosion is underneath.

Thanks.

I have an imported vise just like that collecting dust in my basement. Mine has a big number "5" on the side and no other markings.

Not a total piece of junk. I have pounded on mine pretty bad and never broke it.

Replaced it with a Chas. Parker and never looked back!

The times I've really needed a bench vise were few and far between. I may use it out of pure convenience now, but I don't see me beating on this enough to kill it. If I do, I'll upgrade and post the death pictures here.