What the heck is this?

[Duke74]

Ok. I have been looking at this vise for a few weeks now. A lady has it for sale but I have no idea what it is. It looks like a record and the no 4 on the side looks record-ish too. It may have been painted red over the blue, I don’t know. It looks vintage. The screws holding the jaws on are slotted screws. The problem is, it has Rxo on the side. What the heck is that?The lady says it’s says Rxo but to me it doesn’t quite look like that. Any ideas? Is it a vintage Chinese knockoff of a record? Check out the pics and see what you think. Thanks!

 

[dwasifar]

Ok. I have been looking at this vise for a few weeks now. A lady has it for sale but I have no idea what it is. It looks like a record and the no 4 on the side looks record-ish too. It may have been painted red over the blue, I don’t know. It looks vintage. The screws holding the jaws on are slotted screws. The problem is, it has Rxo on the side. What the heck is that?The lady says it’s says Rxo but to me it doesn’t quite look like that. Any ideas? Is it a vintage Chinese knockoff of a record? Check out the pics and see what you think. Thanks!

I don't see any indication it was ever blue. There are a lot of nicks and scratches to the red paint, and if there was blue underneath, I'd expect to see at least a little of it. Unless it was stripped and repainted, but that just feels unlikely.

I think it's a RAE/Hamilton, or a knockoff of one. Could "Rxo" actually be RAE?

 

[Duke74]

It’s funny you say Hamilton because I think they were made by RAE. I have seen Rae vises that looks very similar to this Vise except for an extra little curved piece where the moveable jaw slides into.

 

[Duke74]

Here is a Rae Vise. Very similar shape except for the extra curved piece.

 

[seber]

Looks like Chinese junk to me. Especially the big 4 on the side.

 

[Duke74]

I got in touch with her and suggested that it might be Rae on the side. Her husband looked and couldn’t tell for sure. iF it is a Rae Vise, it is not Chinese **** but a good quality Vise.

 

[FMC1959]

I would say 99.9% sure it is a Rae. Do a Google search for "Rae vise", then click on images; you will see many that have that curve you mention, but also others that do not. Rae, Henry, Hamilton and a couple of other Canadian vises, were all Record copies.

From the picture you have, the 3 letters; you can make out the larger first letter "R". The 2 other letters are almost surely "ae". Rae often had the R larger with the "ae" smaller. Rae also often had "No 4" just like your pic rather than just the number; but some models did have just a number.

Cheaper made in China vises also have classic styles, usually one or 2 looks, branded under an infinite number of names. They usually have a BIG number like the attached pic. Also another characteristic is the large oversized anvil. Lastly, the knob, handle, swivel lock knobs and other parts which are usually steel, are often chrome on the made in China vise.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Looks like a Paramo #4 vice.