There is a marked difference between them in fit, ( how much slop or play there is between the moving jaw to the fixed), weight, strength, and in general durability. A quality (usa) Wilton or Columbian vice will withstand an ungodly amount of abuse that will destroy most lesser vices. A quality machinist vice new will usually cost 3-4 times or more what a comparable sized mechanics vice will cost, that is why I suggest finding a good used one. When I bought my Columbian, the swivel base was missing. The replacement base plus the cost of the vice put me at a little over $100.00 for a vice that has seen alot of hard use (new the same vice is about 4-5 hundred). There are better bargains out there on used machinist vices if you are lucky enough to stumble onto one. Go to your local industrial supplier and look at a mechanics/general purpose vice, then look at a Wilton or Columbian, you will see what I mean, no comparison, you will buy it once and it will outlast you!
