I have no idea how it got it's name. I've used dozens of vises in my life from el cheapos, to stupid expensive and this is my absolute favorite. It swivels easily until you crank down the handle. The more you torque the handle, the more rigid it becomes. You can also flip the vise on its side and grip things vertically. I believe it was developed as a gun smith's vise and it's simply perfect for reg repair. At least for me.
