Regal Revolution Vise

This is a quick review of the Regal Revolution vise by Regal. Right off, this is a very solidly constructed vise. There are no plastic parts, and the adjustment knobs are a great looking brass and large sized making the very accessible and easy to work with.

In my view, this vise would work great from the beginning fly tyer to the most proficient. I know this vise has been around for ages, and there is good reason for it. It's exceptionally made and extremely easy to use. I've tied flies down to size 30 and as large as a size 6. Regardless of the hook size, it loads into the jaws quickly and easily.

This is the first time I've tied on a spring-loaded vise, so it took me a bit to get used to. Simply pull the lever on the size, and the jaws open up. Place your hook and release the tension on the lever, and you are ready to tie.

A knob at the base releases the stem or allows you to change the horizontal angle of the vise head. Loosening or tightening the knob on the side of the vise head increases or decreases the force needed to rotate the head. Tighten it enough, and the head stop rotating. Another knob underneath the head allows you to remove the vise head and replace it with another Regal vise head quickly and easily.

Finally, an Allen wrench screw on the back side of the stem, when loosened, allows you to adjust the vertical angle of the head from tilted up to tilted down - or kept on a horizontal plane (the position I most commonly tie).

The vise will run you about $500. In my opinion, that is a very fair price for a vise that certainly will be able to last a lifetime.

[FlyTyer]

Very impartial & accurate review. I bought a Regal vise in the 1980s & tied on it until I bought a Regal Revolution 4 years ago. I like the hook holding capability, the easy hook insertion & its rotation. Despite what Regal says about size, I’ve tied on up to 3/0 sized flies with the standard jaws.

For tiny hooks, tilt the vise head upward about 45 degrees from the horizontal. You can insert more of the hook & still leave most of it exposed, avoiding the ping of a hook disappearing. I recommend keeping a magnet with an extension arm by my desk, so I can find dropped hooks. (I tend to drop hooks before I get them to the vise.)

I’ve chatted with a few professional tyers, & the recommend getting the Regal vise with the new hook shaped jaw if you tie a high volume of very small flies.

[FlyTyer]

Very impartial & accurate review. I bought a Regal vise in the 1980s & tied on it until I bought a Regal Revolution 4 years ago. I like the hook holding capability, the easy hook insertion & its rotation. Despite what Regal says about size, I’ve tied on up to 3/0 sized flies with the standard jaws.

For tiny hooks, tilt the vise head upward about 45 degrees from the horizontal. You can insert more of the hook & still leave most of it exposed, avoiding the ping of a hook disappearing. I keep a magnet with an extension arm by my desk, so I can find dropped hooks. I tend to drop hooks before I get them to the vise or even when getting them out of the box. I haven’t had a ping since the 1990s; I just drop hooks. :-(
I’ve chatted with a few professional tyers, & the recommend getting the Regal vise with the new hook shaped jaw if you tie a high volume of very small flies.

[FlyTyer]

Very impartial & accurate review. I bought a Regal vise in the 1980s & tied on it until I bought a Regal Revolution 4 years ago. I like the hook holding capability, the easy hook insertion & its rotation. Despite what Regal says about size, I’ve tied on up to 3/0 sized flies with the standard jaws.

For tiny hooks, tilt the vise head upward about 45 degrees from the horizontal. You can insert more of the hook & still leave most of it exposed, avoiding the ping of a hook disappearing. I keep a magnet with an extension arm by my desk, so I can find dropped hooks. I tend to drop hooks before I get them to the vise or even when getting them out of the box. I haven’t had a ping since the 1990s; I just drop hooks. :-(

I’ve chatted with a few professional tyers, & the recommend getting the Regal vise with the new hook shaped jaw if you tie a high volume of very small flies.