The Weapons Techs are subject to the same budget restraints as everybody else. No special tools unless they came from the factory. A 4" bench vise is the most common used by anybody.
'Dawn' is just a brand name.
I've seen different ways to attach the vice. One with a separate metal base plate. I'd not previously seen one with a big block of wood to secure the vice!Attachment 96063Attachment 96064
The only ones I ever saw in the UK and Australia had the vice fittings for mounting it onto the top of the box. But by the time I entered the real world of Armourers (after my apprenticeship) these tool boxes were relegated to under the work benches in a workshop or under the 25 yard firing point on the indoor range where everything else that was totally useless went, including the Bren spare parts boxes etc etc! Armourers were issued with a KIT, TOOL, hand, basic, Armourers. All the special tools relevant to the Vickers, Brens, Mortars etc etc were kept in a cupboard and used as and when.
Speaking of vises, versa and such, these are a very handy unit if you can find one of the originals: the Versa-Vise.
Brownells, Garrett-Wade, Grizzly and Shop Fox make knock-offs, but only of the low jaw version. Quality varies reportedly, Brownells being probably the worst.
The high jaw is preferable IMHO.
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Hi mate, there are two different types from what I can find out, the english version differs from the Australian version, mainly how the vice is mounted. I only have a list of tools from about 1953 Australian armourers book and RPS listing as well.
PM
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