+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Armourers Vices

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member Roy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    04-22-2023 @ 04:09 AM
    Location
    NZ/Ocean
    Posts
    352
    Real Name
    Roy
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:16 AM

    Armourers Vices

    What size were armorers bench vices? 3.5" or 4" jaw widths? I've seen a likely looking 'Dawn' vice for sale.

    I'd love an old fashioned leg vice but they are hard to get.

    Roy
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Keep Calm
    and
    Fix Bayonets

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:16 PM
    We were issued with standard engineers vices. Never saw anything else in all of the places - and Countries - that I worked in

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:16 PM
    Vices? If you think Armourers have vices, you should meet an Assault Pioneer Platoon; they'll show you where the vice is versa!.

  6. Thank You to Bruce_in_Oz For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    Legacy Member Roy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    04-22-2023 @ 04:09 AM
    Location
    NZ/Ocean
    Posts
    352
    Real Name
    Roy
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:16 AM
    Thread Starter
    Ok let me rephrase that.

    Bench top engineers vices made by Record, Woden, Dawn etc. and used by armorers in conjunction with a horse and leather or cork lined clams to hold a rifle butt, did they have jaws of 4" or 3 1/2" width? Perhaps either were used and maybe there were other sizes too.
    Keep Calm
    and
    Fix Bayonets

  8. Thank You to Roy For This Useful Post:


  9. #5
    Legacy Member Bathurst72's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 11:16 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50
    Real Name
    Steven
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:46 PM
    Hi, from my research on Australianicon Armourers Field Repair Kits, we had the 4 inch Dawn vice fitted. There are several WW2 pictures with this vice been used. The 4 inch is the correct vice to fit into the storage section of the Armourers kit and the distance between the mounting holes to fit to the box when in use is correct for a 4 inch. The 3.5 inch is narrower and will not mount on the box or correctly fit in the compartment.

    So the correct one for Australian use is the 4 inch Dawn.

    As for the armourers horse, again from some research, the English one was a one piece "s" shaped support, but from WW2 pictures of Australian ones, we had a 4 piece "H" shaped one, screwed together.

    From the scale of the pictures, i have guessed that the size of the Australian 4 piece Horse, this would have also fitted into a compartment of the Australian Armourers field repair kit.



    I hope this helps.

    Cheers
    Last edited by Bathurst72; 09-22-2018 at 12:05 AM.

  10. #6
    Legacy Member Bathurst72's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 11:16 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50
    Real Name
    Steven
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:46 PM
    Hi Roy here is a couple of pics, sorry for the vice colour but this is how I found it. It is a Dawn 4 inch.

  11. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Bathurst72 For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Legacy Member Bathurst72's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 11:16 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50
    Real Name
    Steven
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:46 PM
    Hi again Roy, here is a couple of pics of the vice in use. Not the armourers tool kit where the Bren repair is occurring, has a hand operated grinding wheel attached to one leg.

    The third pics is of my armourers tool kit.

    cheers

  13. Thank You to Bathurst72 For This Useful Post:


  14. #8
    Legacy Member henry r's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Last On
    09-20-2021 @ 07:13 AM
    Location
    northern tablelands nsw Australia
    Posts
    633
    Real Name
    henry.
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:16 PM
    that armours box makes me weak at the knees.

    the cost of filling it though, makes my wallet break into hysterical laughter.

  15. #9
    Legacy Member Bathurst72's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 11:16 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50
    Real Name
    Steven
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:46 PM
    Hi Henry, yep the cost, well way to much. I am still missing a few bits and they seem to be the hardest ones to find so they to will be a lot of these$$$$$$.

    The pics are old ones taken some time back and there is more in the box now. Some of the tools are not period correct but are still for gun repair.

    cheers

  16. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Bathurst72 For This Useful Post:


  17. #10
    Legacy Member ArtioZen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Last On
    05-25-2023 @ 09:54 AM
    Location
    Allentown PA
    Posts
    228
    Real Name
    Henry
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:16 AM
    Any drawings of these boxes around and a list of typical contents? I would like to build a display model for re-enactment. Some of the guys need their screws tightening..

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Armourers Help Required
    By Aussie48 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 03-26-2017, 02:32 AM
  2. Question for the Armourers
    By Longshaor in forum FNFAL Rifles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-20-2013, 12:11 PM
  3. One for the Armourers
    By vintage hunter in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 07-04-2013, 11:36 AM
  4. Lee Enfield barrel vices
    By Bearclaw in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-02-2011, 04:03 PM
  5. Armourers checklist?
    By tbonesmith in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-29-2011, 04:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks