Identifying a beat up 4" bench vise

[jdewitt]

New here. I found a bunch of threads about vises and it sounds like there's quite a few knowledgeable people around.

I'm trying to identify this beat up bench vise. Jaws are 4" wide. I can't find any markings or serial numbers on it anywhere, though on the right side there's a rectangle where a name plate probably was at some point.

Pics below. Thanks!

 

[ken w.]

Looks like a Wilton. The square is where the name plate would go.

 

[454ragtop]

Looks like a Wilton mechanics vise, or a knockoff of one......

 

[jdewitt]

The Wilton 744 looks similar, but it doesn't have the square protrusion where the leadscrew goes through. Maybe it is a knockoff... bummer.

 

[rusty65]

The Wilton 744 looks similar, but it doesn't have the square protrusion where the leadscrew goes through. Maybe it is a knockoff... bummer.

Nah it’s the real deal I’ve seen that model both ways on the front.


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[freudianfloyd]

Looks like a Craftsman vise my grandpa has. Cant remember who the OEM was though.

 

[jdewitt]

I found another thread on here where someone says Wilton bullet vises usually have a manufacturing date stamp on the bottom side of the slide. And look what we have here.

Looks like it was manufactured around 1978. This might be one more piece of evidence pointing to it being a Wilton.

 

[dumper]

It looks like a Wilton. Even if it is, it is only a light duty homeowners grade vise, similar to the old red Craftsmans from the 70s-80s. I've had both- I prefer the old Craftsman.

 

[exmaxima1]

It looks like a Wilton. Even if it is, it is only a light duty homeowners grade vise, similar to the old red Craftsmans from the 70s-80s. I've had both- I prefer the old Craftsman.

It's a much better vise than the CM shown. The Wilton has a full square steel tube for the slide, unlike the simple bent U-shaped slide on the CM. The Wilton is essentially the same design as their "bullet" models except for the square slide (rather than round). And the Wilton has replaceable pipe jaws.

 

[dumper]

It's a much better vise than the CM shown. The Wilton has a full square steel tube for the slide, unlike the simple bent U-shaped slide on the CM. The Wilton is essentially the same design as their "bullet" models except for the square slide (rather than round). And the Wilton has replaceable pipe jaws.

The red vise I posted is a Wilton, with a U-shaped slide. That is what I was comparing to the old red Craftsmans. I now see what you are saying-the OPs vise has a square slide, I think some people call them "pseudo Bullets!"

 

[jdewitt]

"pseudo Bullets!"

Maybe I'll call it the square bullet. I've taken it apart and it's pretty solid. Only downsides I can find are the jaw inserts are somewhat worn (but still serviceable) and the pipe jaws are broken or gone. One is gone completely and the other is broken in half. Not sure if I want to shell out $40 for new pipe jaws right now, that's more than I paid for the whole thing.

After looking some more, I was able to make out some numbers on the right side. It has 111146 and then 01 in a larger font size below it.

 

[1982fxr]

It's a Wilton 744.

 

[AngryBeaver]

that is a Wilton 744 mechanics vise as a few others said. the early ones didn't have usa cast in them. they had a label and were marketed to quite a few tool trucks such as mac, blue point and one other one I can't remember. ones made after 1993-94 has made in usa stamped on the left side. they were USA made until they moved production overseas in 2003. I bought one new in 1998. its dated 10/97. I still have it to this day.

the foreign made ones have very chitty castings and will be marked 4A, 5A, 6A or 8A (depending on jaw width). new jaws are still available

 

[jdewitt]

I think you've all pretty conclusively determined what it is. Thanks for the help everyone.

If anyone has a good (cheap) source for the broken pipe jaws, that would be great. I might try cutting and filing my own from a chunk of scrap steel and see how they work. I'm on a pretty tight budget right now.

 

[Asport]

I seen one similar at an estate sale yesterday.

 

[exmaxima1]

I seen one similar at an estate sale yesterday.

LOL

 

[FJ 432]

One less zero and I'd have to think about it!

 

[anndel]

I seen one similar at an estate sale yesterday.

Where is that, Hawaii? I've seen on Oahu CL or garage sales a beat up vise like in the photo going for $500 and the seller wouldn't budge on the price saying it's a highly wanted item. On CL they even sprayed paint without cleaning the rust off an old Wilton bullet and asking $450 for it.

 

[1982fxr]

I think you've all pretty conclusively determined what it is. Thanks for the help everyone.

If anyone has a good (cheap) source for the broken pipe jaws, that would be great. I might try cutting and filing my own from a chunk of scrap steel and see how they work. I'm on a pretty tight budget right now.

I think Zoro is about the cheapest, around $25 a pair

 

[Asport]

Where is that, Hawaii? I've seen on Oahu CL or garage sales a beat up vise like in the photo going for $500 and the seller wouldn't budge on the price saying it's a highly wanted item. On CL they even sprayed paint without cleaning the rust off an old Wilton bullet and asking $450 for it.

Chicago area. Everything pretty much was way over priced. There was a lot of decent machinist stuff priced almost what you could buy it new. The consignor had no clue on pricing. Listed as everything has to go this weekend.

 

[AngryBeaver]

I seen one similar at an estate sale yesterday.

thats a 644... less HD.. more homeowner grade

 

[exmaxima1]

thats a 644... less HD.. more homeowner grade

644 is a cheaper model with simple bent-U slide. This is a 744 with much stronger square-tube slide. 744 is Mechanics-grade, not homeowner.

 

[AngryBeaver]

644 is a cheaper model with simple bent-U slide. This is a 744 with much stronger square-tube slide. 744 is Mechanics-grade, not homeowner.

the original post is a 744. the one ASport posted at an estate sale is a 644. look at it again

 

[erty67]

Wilton Mechanics 744 for sure. Its identical to my 744 and 745

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[exmaxima1]

the original post is a 744. the one ASport posted at an estate sale is a 644. look at it again

Touche'