Zyliss vice

[ank]

I found a Zyliss vice in a flea market, just the vice without accessories. How can I find out if it's the old swiss version, or newer version? I read that newer version are much weaker and break easily.

 

[Sideways]

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/thread...ng-unused-from-new-zyliss-4-in-1-vice.136738/
The one pictured there is Swiss made. All I can suggest is compare yours to the photographs. You can google for more pictures too and you will get to know what the original ones look like.

Red plastic handle will be a start. That was part of the original look. Many of the later copies have black plastic.

 

[powertools]

I am a huge fan of the Zyliss vice so much so that I have 4 complete kits.
Some time ago I tried to do some research into the history of it but could not find much info. The first kit I bought was from a show about 40 years ago and it has Swiss Made cast into the front jaw and has a red handle. The subsequent 3 kits have all been second hand 1 has a red handle and the other 2 have black handles none show country of origin but to be honest they seem to be all of a similar quality.
When you consider that these things are all over 30 years old it is amazing how many still turn up on the likes of ebay still in the box but I think it is because they are in the main the basic kit and it has limitations in use the full kit is far superior and useful.