Wilton Bullet Vise

[TexasAggie09]

Howdy Yall,

I am always in the hunt for vintage vises and unfortunately my last Charles Parker antique shop find didn't turn out to be that great of a deal. I wanted to ask the experts before going to check this out. Here is the only picture I have of this vise. To me it looks like it's in pretty good shape. It has 5" jaws. Any ballpark figures for how much would be a good price? Thanks!

 

[Danglerb]

Don't like the picture, gut feeling is it might of been a good deal before quick wire brush restoration.

I'd like to have a Wilton bullet, but not a baby blue and wire brush without the base.

No guess on value, others will know better than me. Only way I see myself getting one is if the seller doesn't follow ebay and just wants to clear out some old stuff.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Maybe $100. No swivel base and the handle looks bent. Plus, I'd have to repaint it myself. Painted a vise baby blue one time and it just didn't look right, so I repainted it a hunter green.

 

[RatchetMan]

I shy away from freshly painted vises due to the risk of sellers having covered up some issues that may only come to light later. In fact, the few times I have sold vises (provided their paint wasn't original) I stripped the paint off so buyers could see what they were getting. This pretty much goes for other metal items as well.

 

[TexasAggie09]

Thanks for the advice fellas! Always comin through. It could be worth a $40 risk though...

 

[bluebolt]

Yeah a picture of a freshly painted vise worries me too. Is there damage on the back where the end cap goes on the main body? And I agree handle might be bent a little. That is an older vise, looks identical to my No. 4 which was the precursor to the 5" 9500 I believe. Watch out for the jaw supports under the inserts to be damaged or broken off. That side looks good but what about the other side? Pull the slide all the way out and look inside the main body tube with a light for damage or cracks. Condition of jaw inserts is a bargaining point as well KMScott makes nice ones but quality isn't cheap.
If you are going to mount it on a work bench the swivel is nice but if it's going on a stand not really needed.
Price is subjective but if it is truly in good shape $100 or a bit more is reasonable depending on your area.

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks for the advice fellas! Always comin through. It could be worth a $40 risk though...

I was writing while you were posting I would be all over that for $40!

 

[drivesitfar]

$40 is a heckuva deal if it isn't cracked or had any recent repairs to critical areas. buy a can of the paint color you like to give it a nice look on your bench if baby blue isn't your thing and you are still only in it for $50.

if the seller will let you pull the screw out to check the threads and you can give a close look toe the jaw and both the dynamic and static jaw then you have a good vise even if it doesn't swivel. good luck

 

[tedsters]

$40 is a good bargain for a 5in but it does have some abuse the handle is bent and with that bottle sitting there u can't see all of the jaws to see if there broke and there is grinder marks big gouge out of the jaw i would look it over good and make sure there is no cracks in the base if the rest of it don't look no worse then this side and if it works as it should i don't think you can go wrong

 

[zkling]

Looks like it was heavily rusted at one time at least part of it. I think I see pitting on the front of the screw handle assembly. For $40 if it works as it should. Is the beer included?

 

[autopts]

For $40, line up 100 of them. I'd buy em all. That's small change for a bullet.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Just wondering ... anyone else think the handle has a slight bend to it?

 

[oldldh]

The handle has a slight list to starboard...

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Just wondering ... anyone else think the handle has a slight bend to it?

Definitely has a bent poker.

Go get it for $40. A can of paint and a few hours with the wire wheel you'll have a nice bullet.

To me, most guys seem to be under the impression that EVERY vise for sale should be 100% original and absolutely PERFECT to consider buying. Though I have found some virgins in my pickings they are few and far between.

Vises are meant to hold objects in place so you can apply pressure with heat, BFH's, grinders etc. etc. With the exception of major cracks or weld repairs any marks that it has acquired in its lifetime give it character IMO.

Take the ride and pick it up. Buy a can of Verde green(or whatever color floats your boat), spend a few hours prepping it for paint, paint it, mount it to your workbench and post it on the vise thread. You will get the "thumbs up" of approval.

 

[pieceofwork]

For $40, line up 100 of them. I'd buy em all. That's small change for a bullet.

No kidding, you can't buy an import piece of **** for $40. Ugly paint and no swivel mean nothing if you need a good, solid vise.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

For $40, that should already be in your posession.

 

[kc-steve]

Last time I heard of a Wilton Bullet for sale around here was about 18 months ago. A buddy called to tell me it was at an estate sale for $40. I ran over there in 25 minutes just as they were closing the doors but the gal allowed me in only to find out it was sold just before I got there.

I gave my buddy hell for not buying it when he saw it.

Steve

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Don't like the picture, gut feeling is it might of been a good deal before quick wire brush restoration.

Why is it not a good deal now?? If anything he did the new buyer a favor by knocking off the old surface rust and grime. The seller also had enough sense not to paint the lead screw end and handle. That's a sad sight requiring a good bit of elbow grease to make right.

 

[EDGAR]

Wilton no. 4 has a 4 inch jaw width. It would have been the precursor of the Wilton 9400, with a 4 inch jaw width, and not of the Wilton 9500, assuming that is the order of succession as there was the Wilton 101028, the Wilton 400, etc.

 

[bluebolt]

Wilton no. 4 has a 4 inch jaw width. It would have been the precursor of the Wilton 9400, with a 4 inch jaw width, and not of the Wilton 9500, assuming that is the order of succession as there was the Wilton 101028, the Wilton 400, etc.

The old numbering sytem that started in the early 1940's has nothing to do with the new system. I assure you my No. 4 is a 5" wide jaw vise.

 

[EDGAR]

Bluebolt

Could you be kind enough to post a picture of your No. 4? I am curious about your No. 4. I have a first generation NO. 4 and I would like to compare it to your newer (?) No. 4.

I think I remember someone posting a picture of a Wilton with a number 4 in the support part under the slide tube, near the base, is that your vise?

 

[bluebolt]

Bluebolt

Could you be kind enough to post a picture of your No. 4? I am curious about your No. 4. I have a first generation NO. 4 and I would like to compare it to your newer (?) No. 4.

I think I remember someone posting a picture of a Wilton with a number 4 in the support part under the slide tube, near the base, is that your vise?

Mine is identical (but not as pretty LOL) to this one in post #53, you can see the No. 4 in the location you are talking about. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94265&page=3

 

[EDGAR]

I have to say that the No. 4 Wilton, in post # 53 of the link you posted, looks like the one the OP wants to buy for $40, the letters on the right side look to be the same style.

 

[bluebolt]

I have to say that the No. 4 Wilton, in post # 53 of the link you posted, looks like the one the OP wants to buy for $40, the letters on the right side look to be the same style.

Yep which is exactly how mine is. This may be the second casting Wilton did with the Patent pending one being the first.

 

[EDGAR]

So, after this second, 1945, no. 4 design, I guess they decided to change the numbering system so that the model number indicated the jaw width?

 

[bluebolt]

So, after this second, 1945, no. 4 design, I guess they decided to change the numbering system so that the model number indicated the jaw width?

I think so. Now I will have to start watching to see if 9500 marked vises ever came from Chicago or were they all Schiller park.

 

[btrnuthatch]

That #53 post was mine and as noted, my first attempt at a makeover. Funny to see it referenced in this post. Regarding the OP's initial value question, I sold mine for $200 to partially fund the addiction. I now have 14 vises and trying to break the habit. But I just fell off the wagon yesterday. Oh well ......