Keith,
If that was all that had been wrong with it, it may have been worth investigating.

But, it was shot.

The excessive lash was just part of it. The fixed jaw was narrower than the movable jaw, from years of parts being cut with an acetylene torch. The thing had been cracked, and welded. It needed jaws, and a handle, and swivel parts. If you needed a vise to sit out on a post in the weather, it would have been OK. As long as you didnt clamp on anything you cared about.

None of my vises have any lash. Never did. I have seen threads worn to the point of too much lash, but, it might take the careers of four or five guys who dont care about the vise to do it. That is where a lot of these old vises are, right now.

Best,
Ted