This is a funny little what's it

[pritch]

I bought a box of old pipe threaders at an estate sale today and this thing was in with:









It's clearly not home made, but there is not any marking on it at all. Any ideas?

[john k]

That is an interesting ( guide/holder/clamp), but sure never seen one before.   Good pics, but you got me scratching my head. 

[pritch]

I think if the bent pieces on the ends were turned like the one on the left in this picture:



I think it would clamp to the edge of a bench or table...but then what?

Yeah, I tried and tried to decide a use, and I got nuthin'

[Papaw]

I think that is a saw vise.

[lbgradwell]

I've never heard of a saw vise, but Papaw must surely be right!

[Papaw]

It holds the saw in place so you can sharpen and set the teeth.

[Neals]

Nice find! I have never seen one like that. I have one but it is a lot different. No idea which box I put it in so no picture

[amertrac]

brand new in the box WOW   bob w.

[pritch]

I think that is a saw vise.

That certainly looks like it. Now I can sharpen and set my saws LOL

Thanks, Papaw!

[Bill Houghton]

I think that is a saw vise.

I'd concur.  I've got a Stearns vise (I think it's Stearns) that's almost identical in design.  I believe they were intended for carpenters doing a quick touchup on the saw while on the job.  Clamp the vise to a sawhorse, hit the saw with your file, go back to work.  The serious saw vises, for major tuneups, are much larger/heavier.

[pritch]

Like this, then:





Because my saws are in really bad shape.





Just kidding. I'll have these professionally restored someday.

[ron darner]

In the top photo, imagine turning the entire unit upside down,which puts the center below (and the ends above) the bench top. This will raise the saw up to a more useful height in many cases, and leaves a continuous section of the saw accessible (as shown, the clamp could interfere near the center, leaving two shorter strips). This also works with a bucksaw, where the blade is narrow, and you need the teeth to be above the bench top for clearance. With the saw blade coming up from below, only the teeth and a narrow section of blade are exposed, stabilizing the work, and leaving a continuous section open between the arching ends, which clear the teeth. It should work with ANY width blade less than bench height.

[Branson]

Pritch, you got the vise mounted upside down.  With that much distance from the teeth of the saw, the vise is practically useless.