Whats this tool? Sheet metal clamp?

[nia573]

I picked up 4 of these 'clamps ' a while back.
They're 100mm 4" long & are stamped West Germany
The jaws are sprung & they're well made
Are they sheet metal clamps of some sort? Tried a quick Google but didn't find any similar types

 

[SilverDeck]

Hand vise. For holding small objects securely while working on them.

 

[nia573]

Ah thank you! That makes sense

 

[neophyte]

What SilverDeck said.
that style of hand vise is probably at least 200 years old, and maybe significantly older.
German and French Vise and Tool suppliers still sell them.
They’re a standard item from Jewelry tool suppliers and for trades doing similar sized work.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Nice for holding small parts to a grinder, sander, wire wheel........

 

[seber]

4" is really big for a hand vise. I had no idea they were ever made that large.

 

[neophyte]

4" is really big for a hand vise. I had no idea they were ever made that large.

They actually used to make much larger versions, that had mounting points on the back so they could be fixed to a bench.
Old blacksmith post vises are a very similar design, but much larger and with the post that rests on the floor.
There were other larger vises they that look almost exactly like the Hand vise but much larger, With sizes going up to a 6” jaw width, or maybe more.
The vintage Cole vise is the most commonly seen one nowadays.

There are also versions made to be clamped into a larger vise, as a supplementary smaller narrower jaw attachment.

 

[neophyte]

The version with the Coke can supposedly has 1-7/8” jaws, and a slightly different screw method to allow for deeper clamping.
I ran across it on Etsy.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

 

[neophyte]

A couple pics os similarly large vises of that type.
One was listed as a “double leg vise” but neither really have legs still attached, and I don’t know that having two legs would really work

SOLD MARTIN - Large double leg blacksmith vise 7,9 inch jaws / Antica morsa da fabbro forgiata con ganasce da 20 cm

Antique giant double leg vise. Weight 198 lbs (90kg) 7,9 inch jaws (20cm); total height 40 inch (102 cm) Forged vise. Massive forged body with octagonal legs. Missing parts (due to age): spring and support bracket Antica a morsa da fabbro con doppia gamba. produzione francese forgiata! corpo...

anvilsplanet.com