Kook--
Thanks for correcting me. Apparently Ken is going to get rid of the bottle vise and replace it with some chinese rig. Whatever lights your fire-- but; I'm not a proponent of chinese vises. My old man has an original Wilton vise(note: American made)from the 1940's which is fine for wood working but not a serious vise for metal work. Real vises are made by Emmert and Oliver and literally operate as a third hand. Jaws are a foot wide and open eighteen inches. I have an Oliver patternmakers vise (1920s vintage) and wouldn't be without it--spins through 360 deg and can be moved to any angle relative to the bench. This vise is heavy--weighs 90 lbs but once you have worked with one nothing else will do. Emmert turtleback is the same weight and same vise for that matter.
Also have a 5 inch blacksmiths post vise made in the mid 1800s--no known manufacturer. Real good for filing, bending metal, beating stuff and holding items for welding. My dos pesos--good vises are indispensable--especially if you are fooling with old iron.
