Old hand vise question

Dstarver · July 11, 2013, 08:56 AM

I picked-up this old handvise and am wondering what it was made for. It has proof marking that I no nothing abhandvice.jpg

handvise2.jpg

handvise3.jpgout. Any help would be appreciated.

**Dixie Gunsmithing** · July 11, 2013, 12:21 PM

I may be wrong, but the stamps looks to be naval ordnance. It looks like its made to either clamp the outside or inside of a part on a slide way, and maybe on a pistol. I've never seen that design, but that don't mean they didn't make it in-house, and never cataloged it.

Added: This design could be used to make an adjustable lap for a slide or a frame. Place some compound in the ways, slightly tighten the tool down in it, and run it forward and back to achieve a lapped surface.

**James K** · July 11, 2013, 11:12 PM

I am not sure it is a hand vise; I think a hand vise would have a knurled knob for more positive tightening . It could be a device made to clean out or straighten grooves, like the grooves in a 1911 slide.

Jim

Dstarver · July 13, 2013, 07:46 AM

thanks I would really like to know what it was usaed for.

**Dixie Gunsmithing** · July 13, 2013, 09:21 AM

Dstarver,

I just took a look through several military manuals, and could not find a tool like this listed. They generally have them cataloged, and have detailed prints to recreate each tool. I am pretty sure that is naval ordnance, but it could be for something else than a gun, or even something to do with the linkage between the guns and trigger in planes, who knows?

I asked a friend of mine, who is ex-Navy, and worked in instrument repair on a sub tender, and he had never seen a tool like this, but did mention that they made custom jigs, etc., that were never cataloged. He said that during Nam, they were turning out pot pipes while the CO's back was turned.

smoakingun · July 13, 2013, 08:49 PM

the device is for clamping, not spreading. If you look closely you will see that the top screw is perpendicular to the jaw attached to the handle and the the lower screw is perpendicular to the floating jaw.

Dstarver · July 15, 2013, 07:07 AM

Both jaws are loose or float. I stand corrected you are right.

**4V50 Gary** · July 15, 2013, 08:24 PM

Showed it to an instructor who said it reminded him of the spreader jaws used to hold a 1911 frame.

July 11, 2013, 08:56 AM	#1
Dstarver Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Posts: 13	Old hand vise question I picked-up this old handvise and am wondering what it was made for. It has proof marking that I no nothing abhandvice.jpg handvise2.jpg handvise3.jpgout. Any help would be appreciated.

July 11, 2013, 12:21 PM	#2
Dixie Gunsmithing Staff Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	I may be wrong, but the stamps looks to be naval ordnance. It looks like its made to either clamp the outside or inside of a part on a slide way, and maybe on a pistol. I've never seen that design, but that don't mean they didn't make it in-house, and never cataloged it. Added: This design could be used to make an adjustable lap for a slide or a frame. Place some compound in the ways, slightly tighten the tool down in it, and run it forward and back to achieve a lapped surface. Last edited by Dixie Gunsmithing; July 11, 2013 at 02:13 PM.

July 11, 2013, 11:12 PM	#3
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,141	I am not sure it is a hand vise; I think a hand vise would have a knurled knob for more positive tightening . It could be a device made to clean out or straighten grooves, like the grooves in a 1911 slide. Jim __________________ Jim K

July 13, 2013, 08:49 PM	#6
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	the device is for clamping, not spreading. If you look closely you will see that the top screw is perpendicular to the jaw attached to the handle and the the lower screw is perpendicular to the floating jaw. __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

July 15, 2013, 07:07 AM	#7
Dstarver Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Posts: 13	Old Clamp Both jaws are loose or float. I stand corrected you are right.

July 13, 2013, 07:46 AM	#4
Dstarver Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Posts: 13	thanks I would really like to know what it was usaed for.

July 13, 2013, 09:21 AM	#5
Dixie Gunsmithing Staff Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Dstarver, I just took a look through several military manuals, and could not find a tool like this listed. They generally have them cataloged, and have detailed prints to recreate each tool. I am pretty sure that is naval ordnance, but it could be for something else than a gun, or even something to do with the linkage between the guns and trigger in planes, who knows? I asked a friend of mine, who is ex-Navy, and worked in instrument repair on a sub tender, and he had never seen a tool like this, but did mention that they made custom jigs, etc., that were never cataloged. He said that during Nam, they were turning out pot pipes while the CO's back was turned.

July 15, 2013, 08:24 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 19,302	Showed it to an instructor who said it reminded him of the spreader jaws used to hold a 1911 frame. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

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