Need mechanics 5" swivel vise ID

[reivertom]

Hello folks
This is my first post and I plan to use this site a bunch. It has some great info and I feel right at home when I look around here. I'm glad there are other tool and machine "nerds" like me. :^) Anyway, I am looking at a seemingly well built vise at a local 2nd hand shop and it doesn't have any name embossed in the castings. It looks as though it had a sheet metal name tag riveted to the side, but it is long gone. It has 5" jaws, it is a light greyish color, and it rotates horizontally as well as vertically. I guess you call that a double swivel type vise with a round slide. I looks as if it has some age and use on it and looks better built than the newer cheap swivel vises. It is much larger than the cheaper ones and probably weighs 60lbs or better and is about 12" high or more. It has been well used but not abused and also has a healthy pair of pipe grip vises. I will try to buy it if I can get it for the right price. Any help to the maker or even a educated guess would be very appreciated. Thanks, Tom

 

[jakemac]

Welcome to the forum.

It would help if we had a picture to look at. With the info you've given us, we might as well flip a coin and choose the edge. More info, or an image would get a better answer to the question.

 

[2oolhound]

Does it look like one of these"

https://www.google.ca/search?q=imag...TCKek3Z-ZicYCFcMLkgodEZsAtg&biw=1409&bih=1090

 

[reivertom]

I know it is a long shot that I could get an ID from my description, but a guess would be OK. I don't want to pay much if it isn't made in the USA, but it still would be useful even if it is from Taiwan, etc., if it's cheap enough. I also would like to know when these double swivel type vises were first marketed? Are they a newer invention from the 70s or 80s or do they go back 50 or 75 years? Thanks

 

[reivertom]

I finally found a photo of one just like it, same color and same use and age! This photo doesn't have a good reference to the size though. What do you guys think? USA?

 

[Shiftless]

I finally found a photo of one just like it, same color and same use and age, it looks like! This photo doesn't have a good reference to the size though. What do you guys think? USA?

If the vise you are considering looks like that one, I would say definitely Asian import, older ones usually from Taiwan, and later ones from China. That being said, as long as you don't abuse the thing, using it for light or medium duty, it should last a long time. Many quite handy guys have these bolted to their benches and are satisfied. Just don't pay a premium price. Others are welcome to chime in on my opinion, but I'd say 20 bucks would be fair as long as it functions as it should and has no cracks or signs of previous repairs.
Remember that Harbor Freight will sell you a new one very cheap and give you a guarantee and 20% off with a coupon.

 

[Lx460]

If made in the USA it would typically be cast in.

99% it some kind of Asian import. If it's in decent shape and cheap you can use it until and if it breaks.

Without a picture of the actual vise it will be impossible for anybody to ID it.

 

[reivertom]

Thanks guys....I had a feeling it might be an older import. It does look better quality than the Chinese Wilton double swivel that I have and much better than other Chinese vises such as the ones from HF....it's heavier and bigger too. It is a sad state of affairs when we are happy that something is made in a democratic country such as Taiwan rather than by a bunch of commies.

 

[1982fxr]

the best thing to use that type of vise for is holding real vise parts while you paint them.