Last year I picked up a Colombian leg vise with cast steel base. The jaws on this are 8 1/4" and are in excellent condition. Weighs 205 lbs and the base is 50 lbs. Works like it was made yesterday, perfect condition.

What an absolutely horrible vise. You need to send it to me right away for proper disposal.

If you can pick her up with base over your head it is yours

If I were closer to CA.  I'd take on that challenge.  Nice vise.  I like the looks of the plate too.

but...

The screw looks amiss.  

 

1 hour ago, RobS said:

If I were closer to CA.  I'd take on that challenge.  Nice vise. 

Ah ha. Did not know about that part. Looks like something I can make easily. Thanks for sharing

Lovely vise; but is there anything to show that the base was original to the set up?  I've re purposed a lot of different things to provided bases for postvises. I think it's the size of the vise and not the base plate that is rare. Anyone have a catalog showing that base plate as an original option?

Does the hole in the base plate look cast in or drilled?

Otherwise all of my common vises  would count as "rare" eg: rare 6.5" columbian with 2' wide dozer wear plate base"

1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said:

Lovely vise; but is there anything to show that the base was original to the set up?  I've re purposed a lot of different things to provided bases for postvises.

Good question. I pulled it out of 1910 blacksmith shop and they were together, same hole size on the base as the stud on the leg. I have looked online to see if there was any info on Colombian vises and there was but no bases. I would think other companies offered accessory's and that is where this base comes into play. The hole in the base was cast into place and not drilled.

Well if I drill a hole for a postvise to set in I make it the same size so that may not be indicative.  

Anybody have some old smithing catalogs?   My Sears Roebuck reprints don't show such things but I'd not expect them too, (1897, 1905, 1908).

Most of the "bases" I have seen commercially supplied with postvises are incorporated with "patent" stands.

if that's cast steel it would be an expensive option!   Cast iron would seem to be a more likely way to go back then.

37 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

Well if I drill a hole for a postvise to set in I make it the same size so that may not be indicative.  

Anybody have some old smithing catalogs?   My Sears Roebuck reprints don't show such things but I'd not expect them too, (1897, 1905, 1908).

Most of the "bases" I have seen commercially supplied with postvises are incorporated with "patent" stands.

if that's cast steel it would be an expensive option!   Cast iron would seem to be a more likely way to go back then.

Just checked with a prick punch, you are right cast iron. Sure seemed like cast steel when it dropped on my foot