John R Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 At least I think it is a Columbian. Experts, chime in and tell me what you think it is. Jaws are in perfect alignment and the jaw faces are smooth. Everything is there: Clamp, spring, clamp wedges, bench mount. Even the original 5/8 square head bolts and nuts. The hammers, hot chisel and hot punch came with it. Got it today from a picker that found it at a barn sale. Life is good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusb Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 How are the screw threads? Looks columbianish to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Threads are in great shape, they still have grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 It's shaped just like all the Columbians I've got but it's far heavier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I have a 6.5" columbian that is not a light gal; but is a gem of the ocean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotshoein4 (Mark) Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Don't Columbian vises have an open screw box on the back? I'm still learning about these too. Such little information about them out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 the more recent ones do but I don't know about the earlier ones. Also there is NO guarantee that a screw and screwbox are original to the vise; shoot I've swapped them around myself to make one good vise out of two damaged ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotshoein4 (Mark) Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Very true and it kills all my hours of research and reading. Hahaha. I figure anymore at the end of the day, I got a great vise no matter the maker. As long as it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 My feelings are that these are tools to be used not icons to be worshipped. A fancy name does not make a vise in poor condition work better. Having all original parts does not make a vise in poor condition work better. If collectors want to burn me in effigy every time they hold a conference; that's fine by me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Absolutely right. A tool is an extension of your hand; a collection is an extension of your personality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 It will get a lot of use. The forge, 4 anvils, a dozen or so sets of tongs, hardies, many hammers and other things are waiting for the vise to be set up. Next week I will search for a large timber to set in concrete for mounting the vise. And there is over 600 pounds of 1045 and 1095 waiting. I mainly work with knives. I found a little brother to the 120 pounder and will pick it up later this week. At 40 pounds it will be a gem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 600 pounds of 1045 and 1095---what are you going to use after October's over? JHCC nice statement "A tool is an extension of your hand; a collection is an extension of your personality. " however as smiths who may make their tools I might add in "mind" to the first part. Collections definitely seem to be a personality thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 I stumbled into the 1045 and 1095 some 25 years ago. Found it at a machine shop auction. No one else knew what it was or wanted it, so I got it at a low bid. Most is flat bar stock. Now stashed in the barn, I have a small supply in the shop. I will pass it along to the grand kids one day, one is a pretty talented fabricator and likes to play in my shop. Two pieces are in the last photo above alongside the knife blank. Perfect forging size! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefse Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 You guys have such cool tools @_@ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 well; I have about a ton of the old sample library from a welding engineering department. When they moved from their 1915 building to a brand new campus, I made friends with the guy tasked in cleaning out the old building. Lots of neat stuff; but mainly in 2"x 4" x 18" pieces hard to work efficiently in a shop with no power... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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