Help ID this bench vise

[mjullmer]

First time poster here. I've made do for too long without a bench vise and finally found one a decent distance from my house on CL. In the pics it didn't look so big, but wow, it's huge! I can't find any info about it online, all I know is that it's a 5 inch, No. 450 MTECO Made in Japan. Anyone know anything about these vises and any insight on quality? Curious what era this is from and whether I should hold on to it or swap/sell for a smaller (3 3/4") vise that would better suit my needs.

Here's some pics:

 

[1982fxr]

I got nothing

 

[lafester]

Looks to be pretty well made, but hard to tell from pics.
Anyway there is no reason why you shouldn't use it until you find something you like better.

 

[Jessie]

I would definitely trade it for something smaller if that’s what you want. Nothing better than an old quality made in America vise.

 

[redragoon]

It's huge compared to today's Chinese and Taiwan imports. Old style tool strength came from more mass. It may be from the same manufacturer who produced the Made in Japan Craftsman line.

Japan has a good history of tool manufacturing and quality steel/iron. It looks to be in great shape. The removable jaws are nice for making replacements. I'd guess maybe 50 years old or so, but the guys in the vise thread would know more. I'd trust it as much as any solid USA vise. Don't use the body or slide as an anvil surface and I doubt you'll ever have a problem with it.

If it is a good price, then I would get it to keep and use. I bought an Athol one nearly that size from a guy using it to hold aluminum and balsa wood for model planes. He probably didn't even need to bolt it down. lol

 

[drivesitfar]

MJ: I think i've got an old Columbian vise I can trade you for that old vise. I live in Seattle so not close but we get up to LaConner to eat pizza at the brewery and I buy lumber up there so maybe we can make a swap. i'll see if I might have a couple others for you to choose from.

if you haven't decided to start using it PM me with the specs on your vise (weight and height cause i'm guessing it's jaws are 4.5 or 5 inches)?

happy new year