Just wondering if anyone ties on a Regal vise. I’m considering the Medallion model and after reading the descriptions on their web site, it seems the stainless steel jaws would suit me best. I’ve tied on an HMH for the past seven or eight years and although I love the vise, I’m starting to notice some hook slippage. I am not a fan of “true-rotary” vises (I hate the position they force you to put your left hand in when tying) and after seeing the Regal at a fly shop this weekend I’m strongly considering one. I’ve heard all the stories of the jaws chipping from improper hook placement but it seems they’ve solved those issues with the stainless steel jaws. I tie trout flies pretty much exclusively. Mostly I tie in the #14 to #24 range, I do tie some bigger streamers down to #6 and some midges #26. I’d love to hear opinions from anyone that tying on one.
I only purchased mine a few weeks ago and havent tied on it much, the hook holding ability is amazing, I have tied from 22 to 8 in it and it holds them all solid, no slipage. When I want to tie I dont want to mess around with adjusting the vise for a different size hooks. I tend to tie one to three flies then move to a different size pattern etc. with the regal there is no problem with adjustments.
Darryl - If you contact HMH, they’ll help you. I have a Regal and an HMH and prefer the HMH over the Medallion. Can’t beat the access to the rear of the hook on the HMH. I guess it’s whatever you’re used to. I still prefer my Renzetti to both of them.:rolleyes:
H&H has the Crown vise (Item #CAS2007) which is a Regal knock off.
I own two and one is much easier to operate (stiffness) than the other, but both handle from #4 stainless (mustad 34007) to #20 hooks. I use it more than any other vise I own.
Cost: $49
I have a “Regal Like” vise and I can easily bend any hook I’ve put in it. The hook holding power is unparalelled. If full and easy rotation is more important, maybe look at something else. If you want a rock that you can used forever, I’d get one!
Had a Regal before I purchased a Renzetti. Hook holding ability was never a question, as long as the hook was seated properly - if you were off a bit, especially with smaller hooks (#16-20), pray you’re wearing eye protection because it would fly out of the jaws like a bullet. It didn’t happen very often, but when it did, it sure livened up the tying session, and added a few minutes as I crawled around looking for the “spent” hook. All-in-all, though, a very nice vise.
I use and highly recommend a Regal Vise. Great warranty and much smoother than the “knock offs”. I also own a Renzetti and use the Regal 98% of the time. Hook & Hackle will make you a great offer to purchase if you will contact them.
Hook & Hackle and a Regal Vise are both great to work with…
My thompson “A” would break and spit out hooks on a regular basis. I retired that when the Regal was introduced in the early 80’s, I had one hook jump out of the vice and chip the original jaws last year while taking a picture of one of my flies for a flyfishing forum—go figger! I like it and have tied everything from a 4/0 to a 28 in it.
On my second set of jaws at this time…probably +/- 700 gross of #14-22 per year at my maximum yearly production. Went to custom only and do maybe a quarter of that since the overseas production took off.
I would advise to get the Regal and take good care of it…though it is in no way fragile.
Thanks for the opinions guys. Do any of you specifically tie on the Regal with the stainless steel jaws? If you do, what is hook access like with small (#24 and under) hooks? How well will the stainless jaws hold a #4 or #6 streamer hook?
By the way, I tie LOTS of flies. I average probably around 4,000 flies a year, give or take a few hundred, so I am looking for something that is very durable. Any opinions on the durability of the Regals? Like I said, I love my HMH and have tied many, many flies on it, but the fact you don’t need to adjust the Regal to change to different hook sizes intrigues me and would be a very useful feature to me. On a given day I might tie a dozen #20 Adams Parachutes and next tie a dozen #4 Clouser Minnows, so if the Regal holds that range of hooks securely and allows good access to the small ones, it would be great for what I would be using it for.
Also I’m not a fan of true-rotary vises (Renzetti, Dyna-King, etc.). I’ve got some nerve damage in my left hand and its fairly painful to tie in the position a true rotary vise forces my left hand into.
Oddly enough, I’ve managed the same trick with my Renzetti Traveller, so this is not necessary as unique a problem to Regals as one might think. And while were on the subject, replacing the jaws on a Renzetti is a MUCH more costly endeavor than on a Regal.
I have not played with the Regal with stainless steel jaws, but I do have a conventional Regal Medallion with the “traditional” jaws that I like quite a bit. I particularly like the new bronze pocket base with this series, which is the best in the class IMHO.
For some reason, the guys who I’ve met who are grizzled old master trout fly tiers tie on one of 3 vises. 1) a high end Renzetti 2) a Regal, or 3) a Dyna-King, either a Pro or Cuda. I would not worry about the Regal in the slightest - they make some fantastic stuff.
On the other hand, I would do whatever I could to refurbish the HMH as well. I have one, and I really like it a lot.
I actually have the model with “midge” jaws. I have tied from #20 down to #2’s on it with zero problems. One thing I really like about the Regal design is I lay my left hand on top of the smooth head when tying, ready or holding materials. The Midge jaws give plenty of room to work with small hooks/materials, and thus far, I’ve had no problems tying larger on it either.
I also have the midge jaws…they were chipped when I got them, but I just turn the head of the vise upside down, and it works great…have tied down to 24 and up to 2 with no probs. I use my regal knockoff for the bigger stuff.
I like the Regal vise for it’s hook holding ability and have been very careful with the placement of hooks in the jaws. Still and all, out of thousands of flies over the years, I’ve had three hooks that were not quite right in their placement and went flying all the way to hook heaven. The jaws smashed together and chipped each time. Expect to launch a few hooks even if you are a careful, meticulous person. Be careful. 8T
Regal is a very good vise. I almost bought one. The reason I did not, is because I am also now into to tying Slamon flies up to size 5/0. Now I could have bought the vise and could have bought extra jaws. I just did not like that I had to tye wet flies in size 6 & 8 and then change heads to tye salmon flies. Also when I prices the extra jaws I was quoted an extra $165 about two years ago. So I went with the Renzetti Master. Now my mentor Don Bastian ties on a Reagal and loves it. I would too if I was only tying Trout flies. So in my opinion after looking at Reagal, I would give a thumbs up on them. Now to your situation an HMH is a really great vise. Though maybe you just need to put a little reapir cost into it. Now if your also tired of your vise then I can understand that you want something new. I have found through my many years of tying that once you have a vise that you really love you never really seem to want to tye on something else. Just my two cents worth.
Darry, I own two Regals, one with midge jaws on the bronze pedestal base, the other a c-clamp with regular jaws. Have owned both for many years with no probs, and would not consider selling them for any reason. If you tie mostly #14-24, buy the midge jaws.
Well, I went ahead and ordered a Regal today. It’s on back-order, so I won’t get it for a few weeks but I’ll let you guys know what its like when it arrives. Thanks for all of the replies.
