Blacksmith Vises - Good for any other type of work?

[Recoil Rob]

So I'm the basement with the wife of a friend that passed away, looking for more stuff of his to sell, he was a real accumulator. One of the things I found is the Parker 288-1/2 vise I showed I another thread.

In a corner I found an very nice old blacksmith vise. I could not find a name on it but on one side I found scratched into the metal " to Ezra, Merry Christmas 1877, love Perri".

Ezra was my friends grandfather, Perri was his wife we think.

The family doesn't want it so I'll end up giving her some money for it and it will take up space in my basement. I don't plan on learning blacksmithing, although I highly admire the work they do, so I was wondering if there are any other tasks they are well suited for? This is the style of vise below.

 

[5lima30]

I'd love to have that Parker "leg vise". They are very sought after in my area. Check out the I Forge Iron.com it is a blacksmithing website that has a whole section devoted to leg vises.

 

[autopts]

[QUOTE=Recoil Rob;
The family doesn't want it so I'll end up giving her some money for it and it will take up space in my basement. I don't plan on learning blacksmithing, although I highly admire the work they do, so I was wondering if there are any other tasks they are well suited for? This is the style of vise below.

That vise appears to be in nice condition and that writing will only enhance its value. Look very closely for a name even though many were nameless. If it functions, its still usable even though you don't work iron. If you have a decent amout of room in your shop, I'd strap that little guy up somewhere and use it. Resale, depending on overall condition can be decent. Wow that vise is at least 130 years old. Very nice!!

 

[Amitygravel]

Even though the dynamic jaw travels on an arc , it still will hold onto items.
The fact that it has a personalized note dated in 1877 is just too cool.
I have two leg vises and wouldn't think of getting rid of either one.
A buddy of mine uses his to clamp BIG billets of damascus straight from the forge
for grinding. It gets used very hard and stands up to it.

 

[bgott]

They are not really a general purpose vise. You can use it as such, mine is easier to get to than my Wilton mounted on the bench so I use it more often. The only problem with using them for cold work is you can rack the moving jaw if you are trying to to bend steel at a angle. They work well for red hot metal and you can beat the hell out of them without damage, the leg going to the ground is there for support for that purpose.

 

[Outlawmws]

So I'm the basement with the wife of a friend that passed away, looking for more stuff of his to sell, he was a real accumulator. One of the things I found is the Parker 288-1/2 vise I showed I another thread.

In a corner I found an very nice old blacksmith vise. I could not find a name on it but on one side I found scratched into the metal " to Ezra, Merry Christmas 1877, love Perri".

Ezra was my friends grandfather, Perri was his wife we think.

The family doesn't want it so I'll end up giving her some money for it and it will take up space in my basement. I don't plan on learning blacksmithing, although I highly admire the work they do, so I was wondering if there are any other tasks they are well suited for? This is the style of vise below.

That is a really cool find. I'm going to say that "Erza" was probably either a great-grandfather or more likely, a great-great-grandfather (Or earlier). He had to be an adult or close to it in 1877. so born in 1860 or earlier?

 

[gregthor]

It is too bad they are letting a peice of family history slip away. If it was from your family I would say that belongs in the living room standing up next to the fireplace or in a corner for decoration. Some day some one in their family may learn more about Ezra and Perri when a family member is doing geneology. The writing is pricless. Having a family tree framed above the vice in the living room would be cool. It would tie the vise to the family.
Greg
ps- keep your eye open for items that Ezra may have made with that vise. It would be fun to have both.
pss -also it sounds like a woman is giving it away. some of the guys may feel different about it.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Grandfather or great grandfather, my friend was born in 1939.
The wife has no ties to any of Ezra's family, she was his second wife and there are no children, to her it's just something that can be turned into cash.

 

[jamesc]

my dad has one in his workshop, i grew up using it for everything, you can really tighten those up and they can take a beating. they are bulky and not the perfect vise but I love the look of those.

 

[gregthor]

Grandfather or great grandfather, my friend was born in 1939.
The wife has no ties to any of Ezra's family, she was his second wife and there are no children, to her it's just something that can be turned into cash.

ahhh.. I see. Well in that case, it looks like you are a lucky man to get that really cool vise.
(I can be a little sentimental with family tools. I have tools from both my grandfathers and I reallly enjoy them.)
Greg