Law vice

[taff]

Para7,

You will enjoy the vise, its a hook holder like no other. Simple, elegant, practical, indeed almost iconic its its solution to the brief. In essence a superb piece of design.

Couple that with Lawrences almost fanatical commitment to customer satisfaction, quality and you have a fine piece of kit to wrap your flies on. He also applies his considerable skills to reels and tying tools. Again these would stand upto the best out there.

I've owned, used and loved mine for over 10 years. I use it just about every day I'm not out fishing, I know it so well that I could pick it out of a line up of other LAWs. It's a tool that I return to time and again.

Is it the best vise in the world? Who knows! I for one aint qualified to comment, I've not tied on all of them. My prior vises were pretty much high end mass produced jobs and very fine. Is my LAW better than those I've used/experienced. Yes! In every way.

Are my flies better than anybody elses because of my LAW, probably not.

Lawrences business model? I don't think he has one, if he did he would be driving a Bentley. No, he's just a very gifted precision design engineer, with remarkable knowledge of materials and their properties and an amazing understanding of erganomics. We are lucky that like us, he has a love of fishing.

Just think how much a car researched, designed and built by Lawrence would cost!

400 quid for his vise? worth every penny! When was the last time you saw a LAW up for sale on the classified pages?

Paul

[hiyabarney]

Hi first of all let me say that I have a LAW vice and love it to bits I have used amongst others HMH, Dyna King and various weaver copys, they are all good but I prefer the Laws vice.
I am not a profesional tyer and do not tie thousands of flies, enough for my own use, maybe a fishing partner or two and some experimental patterns from across the pond. I find it is very well made and I know it has been hand built for myself.
As for mass production? or Project Managed Production, are Snowbee Waldren vices made in this way? to get to the point now so to speak, I know of a few of Snowbee Waldren vices where the jaws have broken tips, (quality control or what). you tend to be at the mercy of parts suppliers, who may make shortcuts in the production techniques and quality. this leads to faulty goods and a bad brand name.
I like to think my LAWS vice was a labour of love made by someone who put more than materials into its making.
So go on if you want one BUY one........

ps: I am not rich, I live in a 2 bed semi, and do not pimp or sell drugs to supplement my fishing.

[threadchaser]

Well said Gentlemen i wouldn't part with mine i get so much pleasure using it, my old teacher has had one for over 17years and he has tied thousands of flies and his is still going strong and its never given him one problem. And at the end of the day each to their own if you don't see why they cost that much dont buy one. IMO its been one of the best buys i have made. And i agree i cant remember ever seeing a law vise up for grabs on the second hand market. Enough said i'll get off my soap box.

[Chris Reeves]

Why don't you all just accept that those of us with LAW vices are just using the best fishing tackle available. The fact that is is desirable, tactile and beautiful is also a plus.

No one gets abused for buying a Hardy's rod, which after all is just a rod, but one with a high price tag and expensive name .

Cheers

[Rabbitangler]

Originally Posted by Chris Reeves

No one gets abused for buying a Hardy's rod, which after all is just a rod, but one with a high price tag and expensive name .

Cheers

Nor any other ridiculously overpriced piece of plastic mass produced in the far east for pennies then sold on at an obscene mark up. you get what you pay for and I fully expect my LAW to be passed down to my grandchildren or other equally young recipient (dont get your hopes up Kev ) when I suffle off. Not many modern rods will do that.

[stuartpengs]

Originally Posted by Chris Reeves

Why don't you all just accept that those of us with LAW vices are just using the best fishing tackle available.

Are they better than the C & F reference vice? At £450 I thought they were there or thereabouts the best vice.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Originally Posted by stuartpengs

Are they better than the C & F reference vice? At £450 I thought they were there or thereabouts the best vice.

Stuart,

*disclaimer mode on* I am not without bias - I have been tying on a LAW Bench vise since 1989 when Lawrence built the first two - one for himself, and one for me *disclaimer mode off*

For my tying use the LAW is the perfect tool - your mileage may vary.

That said - tying on a vise for any length of time requires comfort for the tier, solid hold on a wide range of hook sizes and shapes, easy and secure clamping and unclamping, and free access to the hook. All vises out there have their own strengths and weaknesses in these areas

Taking a step back, and looking at the "comfort for the tier" - an aspect not to be underestimated IMNSHO - please review the following two images and tell me which spells comfort to you?





Cheers,
Hans W

[chris68]

Hans,

Not a lot of difference comfort wise, just remove the clutter and have the bare vice on the C & F image and you are looking at a similar working space

Chris

[Hans Weilenmann]

Originally Posted by chris68

Hans,

Not a lot of difference comfort wise, just remove the clutter and have the bare vice on the C & F image and you are looking at a similar working space

Chris

Chris,

I did try to find an image of the C & F without the attachments before posting, but was not successful. I gave my perspective. Your mileage may, and likely does, vary

Cheers,
Hans W

[chris68]

Hans,

I have worked on both vices, I found the LAW one to be a little high for my liking, although a lower table would help,I liked the C & F one a lot, swings and roundabouts though where most fly fishing tackle is concerened, you do need to try before you buy

Chris

PS, please photograph some of my flies