If you are a tool freak, you must have all those new tools worth $300. But what if I told you that the vintage ones cost 10x more? Cool, isn’t it? Well, the thing is that collectors love the crude finishes on old tools! And one tool that really attracts them is a vintage vise!
In layman’s terms, vises are like simple jaws to secure the object while welding. But back then, things were more intricate. Most vises had some extra features like screw backs and slides. So, those vintage features hike the cost like crazy! Let’s see how and by how much!
Key Takeaways
- You’ll see some crude features, like screw backs, push-pull levers, toothed jaws, and void surfaces on an old vise.
- There are four types of old vises – Bench, Woodworking, Leg, and Pipe. Of these, the pipe vises have circular holes for pipes and valves, while the rest have square holes for logs.
- You can date a vintage vise with its patent numbers, brand names, and trademarks. So, don’t forget to check the numbers and marks on the sides and handles.
- Try getting wood, cast iron, or ductile iron vises for an old, solid make.
Key Features of a Vintage Vise
What do you think a vintage vise looks like? Of course, it won’t have sleek steel or aluminum slides and handles. But here, you can expect crude, beaten, or porous heavy-duty iron jaws. Also, you might see wood or leather jaw caps in some models!
But it’s not only about the material! Below are some more features that you can spot:
- Regional and meshed patterns on the logos, base, spindles, and jaws
- Hand-made marks like voids, lumps, and uneven thicknesses
- Built-in anvils or work desks for hammering or shaping the metal
- Hand-operated screw mechanism or push-pull levers
- 4” – 8” toothed jaws with adjustable screws but limited movement
- Aging signs – blunt edges, rust, and greenish patina
The History & Evolution of a Vintage Vise
Now, you might not know this, but the first vise is literally 3000 years old. Mind-boggling, right? And it was so crude, more like a stone paperweight holding the wood in place. So, of course, it was really heavy and often broke the wood! So, it was time for a revamp!
Things changed in the 1750s when local artisans added jaws and handles to the vise. But they still couldn’t move it properly. But, by the 1800s, they had sorted it all! Like, the vises now had sliding jaws and screw levers for easy use. But there was another problem!
You see, makers used liquid iron to make all these new parts. And this new material was not durable. In fact, it led to severe warping, bending, and rusting with time. So, makers moved towards cast – iron and alloyed steel during the Industrial Revolution.
The next few years saw the rise of many old vise brands. And surprisingly, each had unique designs like swivel bases, pipe jaws, and inserts. But these models don’t cost that much due to their thin, stainless steel walls and factory-made designs.
7 Steps to Identify & Appraise Your Vintage Vise
Today, a vintage vise generally sells for $10 to $100, but the oldest and rarest branded vise tools can be worth up to $3,000 due to their excellent craftsmanship! This huge price difference is due to several factors, such as age, material, and brand, that impact the final market value of an old vise.
1. Find the Manufacturing Date & Patent Numbers
Well, one fool-proof way to know if your vise is vintage or not is to check its date and years! And to find this, simply rotate your vise and check the dates on its slides or jaws. If your vise is from the 1800s or 1900s, it’s vintage. But if it’s from the 2000s, it might be new!
But yes, you won’t get any dates on the old, handmade models. So, in that case, look for the patent numbers on their handles. Here are some for reference for dating vintage vises:
| Year | Age | Patent Number | Estimated Valuation |
| 1930s | 93 years | US 2,127,008 (Patent for Reed Manufacturing & Co) | $400 – 800 (for branded Reed Vise.) |
| 1907 | 116 years | US898413A (Patent for Mechanical Vise) | $40 – 120 |
| 1920s | 103 years | US1720464A (Patent for Screw-drive Vise) | $100 – 300 |
Another way to date a model is to check its features. So, here’s a checklist for help:
Old Vises from the 1800s
You’ll spot these vises with their precise and tight grips, cast-iron jaws, and parallel sides. Also, you might see some handmade features like lead weights, swivel bases, and bolted joints. But these won’t have grip levers or clamps. So, you can price these from $50 – 500.
The 1900s Vises
The 1900s vises are precise but composite. On one hand, they have easy-to-operate manual anvils and acme screws. But, on the other hand, they have superior quick-release and toothed jaws. So, they have a better grip and usually cost $40 – 250.
The 1950s Vises
If your vise has sleek steel bodies, toothed jaws, and swivel bases, it’s a 1950s vise. These vises are custom-made and have round or squarish sockets for better grip. Besides, these models have hardened steel blades, caps, and plastic inserts that reduce costs to $4 – 200.
Avoid getting vises with stamped ‘EXP’ letters as those might be expired or non-functional models.
2. Check the Type of Vise
Ready to identify your vintage vise? Let’s move to the first step and determine its type, key features, and base price:
Bench Vise
Imagine a vise with long, attached anvils and squarish jaw inserts. Well, that’s what bench vises look like. And what makes them more precious are their steel jaw inserts and swivel bases. Typically, they cost $60 – 700, but branded ones might value even up to $2500.
Old Woodworking Vise
If your vintage vise has 5-6 inch long jaws and corner clamps, it’s a woodworking vise worth $30 – 800. Such vises are flexible, with a tilt base and screws for various angles. Plus, these also have metal or leather caps and picture-framing clamps for grip.
Leg Vise
Does your old vise have an extended leg with toothed or grooved threads? If yes, it might be a leg vise worth $60 – 500. You can further verify it by its heavy-duty jaws, tilt bases, and bolts.
Pipe Vise
Pipe vises are long cylindrical socket vises for holding pipes. These usually have a tripod mount, hard steel jaws, and extra chains and yokes for grip. Besides that, you’ll also see some oxidized or painted finishes and a price of $18 – 20 for one.
3. Check the Material
Most of the earliest vises had oak, ash, hickory, or maple wood jaws. But with time, makers started using metals too! So, liquid, cast, and alloyed iron became common. But this isn’t all!
Today, we have many more vise materials like brass, bronze, and steel. So let’s see their top features, costs, and what brands use them:
| Old Vise Materials | Top Features | Top Brands | Average Cost |
| Wood – Oak, Ash, Hickory, Maple & Walnut | Heavy-duty jaws, Grooved finishes, and high-capacity drivers | Richard Wilcox, Wilton, Columbian | $15 – 900 |
| Cast Iron or Liquid Iron | Blackish, oxidized finishes, toothed jaws, and inserts | Wilton, Craftsman, Charles Parker | $40 – 600 |
| Alloyed or Ductile Iron | Medium-size drivers, thin inserts, and bolted joints | Globe Vise & Truck, Fewells & Son | $9 – 200 |
| Brass, Bronze, Copper | Yellowish surfaces, Shiny Polish, low-friction screws, and iron nuts | Vilton, J.H Williams | $30 – 450 |
| Hardened or Alloyed Steel | Heat-treated jaws and inserts, grayish finishes, and brushed finishes | Craftsman, E. C Stearns | $20 – 170 |
| Stainless Steel, Aluminum, or Zinc | Shiny finishes, sleek and thin sections, and welded handles | Simmons, Columbian | $4 – 120 |
Look for old vises with wax, shellac, paint, or oil finishes for the best returns.
4. Observe the Colors
Vintage vises use three colors: bare metal, oxidized, and painted. Of these, the bare metal ones are the most precious, costing up to $1000.
The oxidized white or black ones are new, costing $10 – 600. But the painted or galvanized red, blue, and green vises cost less, at $4 – 400.
5. Check the Brand
If you love high-quality, polished vises, the branded ones might be perfect! And to check if a vise, just see if you get any logo or trademark on its slides or handles. If yes, check the initials and confirm them from our list below:
| Antique Vise Brands | Key Features | Estimated Price (for pieces with NO Restoration) |
| Wilton | Heavy-duty bench vises, swivel base, jaw inserts, and powder-coated finish | $100 – 3000 |
| Charles Parker | Cast iron bodies, red walls, swivel base, and attached anvils | $500 – 2500 |
| Columbian | Cast iron slides, red or blue painted walls, and replaceable jaw inserts | $30 – 650 |
| Craftsman | Liquid Iron Casings, Swivel bases, and Serrated or Pipe jaws | $50 – 700 |
| Reed Vise Company | Grooved or Toothed Jaws, Replaceable Jaw inserts, and Attached, Rectangular Anvils | $100 – 900 |
Try to get old vises with stamped ®, SM, and ™ marks for the best value.
5. Evaluate the Weight
Get a weighing scale and check your vise’s weight with the slides. If it’s 100 – 120 pounds, your vise must be solid and antique. But if it’s less than 30 – 50 pounds, it’s a hollow, stainless steel one. And such vises don’t cost more than $300 – 400.
Check if your vise has 2 – 5 inch throats, 4 – 10 inch jaws, and slides for an old make.
6. Assess the Condition
Slight wear and tear or aging marks are okay! But, if your vise’s chipped or broken, it might not be that precious. Well, faded or defective vises lose up to 40% of their value. So, re-polish and lubricate your vises to save them from rust and breakage.
What Oils Do You Use on an Old Vise?
You can use any coconut, linseed, or olive oil to lubricate an old vise. Other than that, even dry or WD-40 lubes are a wise pick.
How Do You Clean a Vintage Vise?
Soak your old vise in denatured alcohol and brush it thoroughly to remove the rust. Then, just rinse it with a non-abrasive cleaner or vinegar and water, and dry it before storage.
You might already love old tools and equipment. But trust me! Vises are the most expensive of all and might even cost up to $3000. That’s because they are old and difficult to get today! But, if you already own a vise, value it with our guide, and resell it to get rich!
Like vises, many other antique tools, such as antique pliers, antique wrenches, and antique screwdrivers, are highly collectible today! If you want to collect or sell any of these vintage tools, don’t forget to check their individual price guides at Antiques Know How!
