Nice review, Mr. McPhail. I’ve owned the pedestal version for almost 15 years now and it’s definitely one of my most cherished pieces of fly fishing gear. It is beautiful, substantial, and the thumbwheel is still “buttery” smooth after all of these years. The weight of the pedestal base makes for a solid platform even when tying the largest of saltwater flies. It is simply a joy to tie flies on. Recently, I looked into a c-clamp to change to a lower tying position. Luckily, I still had Lawrie’s contact information. He fabricated the c-clamp and extension arm for me in a couple of days and shipped them to me here in the USA. He is a gentleman and a pleasure to work with. Keep up the fantastic work, Mr. McPhail!
Thanks for a detailed look at the vise you use, your fly tying really is a work of art, i'm sure i speak for many to thank you for all the tips you pass on to us. Cheers Davie.
Great wee insight to a wonderful vice, I looked on youtube last year and someone was selling one after his father had passed on what a price it commanded it was sold instantly. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to show this. That was a lot of money back when you bought it and still is today ! If you have a passion for tying flies then why not and you obviously do with your teaching and innovations to the art. Great stuff Davie. Ali
Beautiful vice, I’ve always noticed how you are never hampered when tying and you have a lot of access both to the left and right of both hands and that thumb screw is genius. Very good video Davie, you should be making your own vices pal
Great vise. Well thought out. Thanks for showing it. The one I use most often is my custom J Vice made by Jay Smit in South Africa. I also like my Petitjean vise. I use the latter for all my tiny hooks. Both of mine along with Lawrence Waldron's are very functional works of art.
Hello Davy, thanks for sending me the link for the video, you are right, it is a lovely wee piece of engineering. I was thrilled that you contacted me, keep them coming, it’s brilliant!
Thanks Davie, when a great tyer and an beautifully designed / engineered vise come together makes for awesome connection. May you both keep going for another 20 years!!!
great video on the law I'v always wondered how it went together, it was a privilege to see it up close at the G.A.C open day and thanks again for the glenfarclas you tied on it for me just amazing davie cheers and all the best.
That's one sweet vise Davie. I upgraded to the peak rotary vise and I love it. The only thing I didn't like is that it doesn't come with the D-arm in which my wife ordered it from eBay.
I have a friend, a top class engineer who has just made me a copy, not quite exact but still very very good. As someone said to you earlier, “you could tie a fly using a set of rusty pliers”. He is right, you could and perhaps I could too. I hate to think how long it would take me, and isn’t it satisfying to use top class tools.
I was gonna ask u what make your vice was davie on one of your other videos as i like the fine head on it . I have been using a regent rotatable which i bought for £20 when i started tying about 17yrs ago. Still works well .
Hi troutflycrazy, I used one myself many years ago and it was a great vise, I gave it away to a friend to use after I had bought another and I am sure it's still tying flies today.. All the very best Davie
Davie, you gave me contact details some six seven years ago. I contacted Lawrence and he said he was quite busy and didn't have any for sale. Thought that was the end of it when a few months later phone rings and I'm asked if I'm still interest. He is a really nice man. He was very complimentary about yourself and your thread control. I'm guessing if my son takes up tying he'll have the best vice there is, if not he can get a couple thousand pounds for it.
Well done on getting a hold of one of Lawrence's vices which as you know are like hens teeth, they are very special very much like Lawrence and as you said he is a true gentleman.. All the very best Davie
That vice seems to be more robust than the Renzetti that I use. I don't actually use the true rotary function on my vice either. I use it mostly to check the position of the off-side materials before tying them down, or maybe to be able to tie a beard on a fly from the top - where you can see the process better. One question, how does the star-shaped tension knob compare to the more typical cam lever in terms of clamping power and ease of use?
Hi handcannon, If I can I will use the grooves on the vise to hold the hook but the screw does easily tighten and hold most hooks... All the very best Davie
Thank you very much, but I thought you said there might be a copycat. I’ve not found one with such a fine point to hold the hook as stable as I see yours does. Could you give me the names?
Hi Mark, I do use the grooves a lot which makes holding most hooks even easier with half the turns you would need to hold a hook at the points, though the vice does really well... All the very best Davie
Hi Scott, I've used a few vices over the years and all have served me well, the one I used most before the Law was a Dyna-King X1 which a friend now uses but as far as I believe it is no longer made but their other vices are just as good.... Regal, Ronzetti, Jvise, HMH, Snowbee Waldron and Norvise are some of the others which are worth having a go with..I hope this is of some help to you.. All the very best Davie..
Hello Scott, happen to read your question. If I may, I would like to offer a comment. I purchased a Regal maybe 25 years ago. By and large an okay vise but if the hook is not seated just right the end of the jaws will chip off. Now I have to turn the jaws over to use. I believe I would choose a vise with jaws made of good steel and a point that can easily accept a size 20/22 hook. Maybe a newer Regal vise is not cast material like mine is. Regal will replace the jaws as of last year for $68. Just a thought.
It has pretty poor reviews. Gunnar Brammer ties with it in his newer videos, and I've seen the hook slip at least twice while he's tying. I upgraded to the top of the line and went with Renzetti Master after much research and consideration, and it's superb.
Davie, I'm seeking some advise about vises. I have a Royal knock off that is perfectly good for me, but in the desk top base the jaws are about 6 inches above the table top. At what height do you recommend a vise jaw should be above desk top.
Hi Scotsman.. I have never measured the height my jaws are from the table until tonight and it's 7 inches though they are set so that my elbows are level with my sides and not up and away like wings as this will cause you to get pains especially on you neck and the middle of your back..So the more relaxed you are the more you will tye and especially enjoy it far more.. All the very best Davie.
he does still make them for Phil at fly tying boutique and I think he does 10 either every year or something like that but they charge £2000 which is scandalous. but if you are happy paying that for exactly the same vice that was sold at £350 good luck to you, I don't think it will ever drop in value so it's a good investment (see if the Mrs falls for that one).
If you want to buy a LAW at the original price, the bad news is that that train has left the station. But if you've ever tied on a LAW you know what all the fuss is about. Some 'exact' copies are as good (well, nearly) as the original, but even they are shooting up in price. If you're a pro or a serious amateur, this is the vise you aspire to. Will other makes do the job? Yes, but......................
got one like it including a pedestal....two sighting boards and a gallows....now worth over £2000.00....someone had 10? made for him by Lawrence and sold them for £2000.0 each and sold within days
HMH will soon be releasing their new $500 TRV vise, which shares quite a bit of design similarities with the LAW vise. www.thepicta.com/media/1465378210568335147_2289639283
After seeing this I went online to see if I could find one, sh1t the prices are a good deal more than £1000! So, bottomline is I'll be staying with my Chinese knock off Regal!
Hi Kuba Suchar, I'm sorry there's no fly on this video, I'm just trying to answer many of the questions I get asked..I'll be filming hopefully a few videos soon... All the very best Davie
:D Sorry. This is joke. simply, all the the time I found the commercial. I understood :) , but I really I waiting for Your great flys. All the Best Mr Davie McPhail, KS
Nice review, Mr. McPhail. I’ve owned the pedestal version for almost 15 years now and it’s definitely one of my most cherished pieces of fly fishing gear. It is beautiful, substantial, and the thumbwheel is still “buttery” smooth after all of these years. The weight of the pedestal base makes for a solid platform even when tying the largest of saltwater flies. It is simply a joy to tie flies on.
Recently, I looked into a c-clamp to change to a lower tying position. Luckily, I still had Lawrie’s contact information. He fabricated the c-clamp and extension arm for me in a couple of days and shipped them to me here in the USA. He is a gentleman and a pleasure to work with.
Keep up the fantastic work, Mr. McPhail!
Thank you very much for all you do
Thanks for responding to my question. Been following your videos for many years.
Thanks for a detailed look at the vise you use, your fly tying really is a work of art, i'm sure i speak for many to thank you for all the tips you pass on to us. Cheers Davie.
Great wee insight to a wonderful vice, I looked on youtube last year and someone was selling one after his father had passed on what a price it commanded it was sold instantly. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to show this. That was a lot of money back when you bought it and still is today ! If you have a passion for tying flies then why not and you obviously do with your teaching and innovations to the art. Great stuff Davie.
Ali
Beautiful vice, I’ve always noticed how you are never hampered when tying and you have a lot of access both to the left and right of both hands and that thumb screw is genius. Very good video Davie, you should be making your own vices pal
Great vise. Well thought out. Thanks for showing it. The one I use most often is my custom J Vice made by Jay Smit in South Africa. I also like my Petitjean vise. I use the latter for all my tiny hooks. Both of mine along with Lawrence Waldron's are very functional works of art.
What an awesome vise wish they were still in production.
Hello Davy, thanks for sending me the link for the video, you are right, it is a lovely wee piece of engineering.
I was thrilled that you contacted me, keep them coming, it’s brilliant!
Thanks Davie, when a great tyer and an beautifully designed / engineered vise come together makes for awesome connection. May you both keep going for another 20 years!!!
Thanks Larry, I hope in 20 years you and I will still be saying hello and tying flies...
All the very best Davie...
Very Nice Davie.
Thankyou for making this video.
Aloha🌴🎣🏄♂️🎄☃️
great video on the law I'v always wondered how it went together, it was a privilege to see it up close at the G.A.C open day and thanks again for the glenfarclas you tied on it for me just amazing davie cheers and all the best.
That's one sweet vise Davie. I upgraded to the peak rotary vise and I love it. The only thing I didn't like is that it doesn't come with the D-arm in which my wife ordered it from eBay.
Beautifully engineered you can see and feel the quality.👍🏴
Damn good vise I have the same one have had it over 20 years i got it from Lawrence
Would love for ot to be available again.
Dominique LeBlanc Check out HMH’s TRV.
Thanks for sharing. I'd give me left (you know) for one of those. Only in my dreams. All the best Davie!
I once saw a copy call pro vice, but I can't find it anymore....
nice thanks for the post
I have a friend, a top class engineer who has just made me a copy, not quite exact but still very very good.
As someone said to you earlier, “you could tie a fly using a set of rusty pliers”. He is right, you could and perhaps I could too. I hate to think how long it would take me, and isn’t it satisfying to use top class tools.
Pure fly tying p@rrn👏👏👏👏
I was gonna ask u what make your vice was davie on one of your other videos as i like the fine head on it .
I have been using a regent rotatable which i bought for £20 when i started tying about 17yrs ago.
Still works well .
Hi troutflycrazy,
I used one myself many years ago and it was a great vise, I gave it away to a friend to use after I had bought another and I am sure it's still tying flies today..
All the very best Davie
Davie, you gave me contact details some six seven years ago. I contacted Lawrence and he said he was quite busy and didn't have any for sale. Thought that was the end of it when a few months later phone rings and I'm asked if I'm still interest. He is a really nice man. He was very complimentary about yourself and your thread control. I'm guessing if my son takes up tying he'll have the best vice there is, if not he can get a couple thousand pounds for it.
Well done on getting a hold of one of Lawrence's vices which as you know are like hens teeth, they are very special very much like Lawrence and as you said he is a true gentleman..
All the very best Davie
That vice seems to be more robust than the Renzetti that I use. I don't actually use the true rotary function on my vice either. I use it mostly to check the position of the off-side materials before tying them down, or maybe to be able to tie a beard on a fly from the top - where you can see the process better. One question, how does the star-shaped tension knob compare to the more typical cam lever in terms of clamping power and ease of use?
Hi handcannon,
If I can I will use the grooves on the vise to hold the hook but the screw does easily tighten and hold most hooks...
All the very best Davie
Thank you very much, but I thought you said there might be a copycat. I’ve not found one with such a fine point to hold the hook as stable as I see yours does. Could you give me the names?
Top!
Dónde puedo comprar una como esta?!
Lovely piece of engineering, quite legendary now. Do you use the grooves in the jaws at all Davie ?
Hi Mark,
I do use the grooves a lot which makes holding most hooks even easier with half the turns you would need to hold a hook at the points, though the vice does really well...
All the very best Davie
Nice review Davie!
There is currently one of these vices on eBay, out of my price range at £2K I’m afraid!
David, you could tie a brilliant fly, held in a rusty old pliers.
And blindfolded, as it turns out...
Hi Davie, thanks for the video. If you had to buy a current vice on the market what would you go for?
Hi Scott,
I've used a few vices over the years and all have served me well, the one I used most before the Law was a Dyna-King X1 which a friend now uses but as far as I believe it is no longer made but their other vices are just as good.... Regal, Ronzetti, Jvise, HMH, Snowbee Waldron and Norvise are some of the others which are worth having a go with..I hope this is of some help to you..
All the very best Davie..
Hello Scott, happen to read your question. If I may, I would like to offer a comment. I purchased a Regal maybe 25 years ago. By and large an okay vise but if the hook is not seated just right the end of the jaws will chip off. Now I have to turn the jaws over to use. I believe I would choose a vise with jaws made of good steel and a point that can easily accept a size 20/22 hook. Maybe a newer Regal vise is not cast material like mine is. Regal will replace the jaws as of last year for $68. Just a thought.
HMH is building one like that I wonder if they bought the pattern thanks for the vid
It has pretty poor reviews. Gunnar Brammer ties with it in his newer videos, and I've seen the hook slip at least twice while he's tying. I upgraded to the top of the line and went with Renzetti Master after much research and consideration, and it's superb.
To hanks for that Davie.
Davie, I'm seeking some advise about vises. I have a Royal knock off that is perfectly good for me, but in the desk top base the jaws are about 6 inches above the table top. At what height do you recommend a vise jaw should be above desk top.
Hi Scotsman..
I have never measured the height my jaws are from the table until tonight and it's 7 inches though they are set so that my elbows are level with my sides and not up and away like wings as this will cause you to get pains especially on you neck and the middle of your back..So the more relaxed you are the more you will tye and especially enjoy it far more..
All the very best Davie.
@@DavieMcPhail thanks, kinda makes sense, I tie with my stuff set up on the dinning table and after a couple of hours my back killing me.
Quality often comes at a cost. Over 20 yes I'm guessing you feel like you've got your money's worth Davie...
Many thanks for posting.
Davie, what is the length of the offset on the auxiliary arm?
Jim McLaughlin i
he does still make them for Phil at fly tying boutique and I think he does 10 either every year or something like that but they charge £2000 which is scandalous. but if you are happy paying that for exactly the same vice that was sold at £350 good luck to you, I don't think it will ever drop in value so it's a good investment (see if the Mrs falls for that one).
Thank you.
If you want to buy a LAW at the original price, the bad news is that that train has left the station. But if you've ever tied on a LAW you know what all the fuss is about. Some 'exact' copies are as good (well, nearly) as the original, but even they are shooting up in price. If you're a pro or a serious amateur, this is the vise you aspire to. Will other makes do the job? Yes, but......................
I want to be like Davie using Law Vise
got one like it including a pedestal....two sighting boards and a gallows....now worth over £2000.00....someone had 10? made for him by Lawrence and sold them for £2000.0 each and sold within days
HMH will soon be releasing their new $500 TRV vise, which shares quite a bit of design similarities with the LAW vise. www.thepicta.com/media/1465378210568335147_2289639283
£350 and now they go for thousands
There's someone selling a law vice on ebay for £4000
After seeing this I went online to see if I could find one, sh1t the prices are a good deal more than £1000! So, bottomline is I'll be staying with my Chinese knock off Regal!
WTF??? where is fly?
Hi Kuba Suchar,
I'm sorry there's no fly on this video, I'm just trying to answer many of the questions I get asked..I'll be filming hopefully a few videos soon...
All the very best Davie
:D Sorry. This is joke. simply, all the the time I found the commercial. I understood :) , but I really I waiting for Your great flys.
All the Best Mr Davie McPhail,
KS