Ehhh.. .Im gonna disagree with you on the newer is better.
My vises range from 60 100+ years old, and they still do the job they were designed to do.

My suspicion is that quality American vises made prior to WWII were cast steel as opposed to cast iron; Ive seen several that were welded on, where the welds did not show the porosity normally associated with welded cast iron.

Like vintage guns, there is a different feel when using vintage tools. Most of my tools are pre WWII, in addition to vises, I also have a soft spot for cast iron levels, (Google vintage Davis Levels) some are beautiful works of art, and after 100 years still as accurate as any level I can buy from HD or Lowes. And , all have a feel that you dont get with modern day tools.

I suspect that vintage vise manufacturers quest for quality was their downfall... They built vises to last, and they did, all my vises have outlived their original owners.


Last edited by Mike Hunter; 11/19/19 05:47 PM.