HMH Omni jaws (top) with a #12 hook. The Omni jaws are standard on the HMH Silhouette which does not have interchangeable jaws.

When a high end vise manufacturer decides to enter the sub-US$100 vise market, it is obvious that choices have to be made concerning where costs must be cut. I was pleased to discover that HMH made some sound decisions in the design of the Silhouette model.

The jaws, cam lever and barrel assembly are the regular, high quality materials and finish one expects to find on HMH vises, and the cost cutting has taken place lower down on the vise, where it is primarily a cosmetics rather than a functional issue.

The Silhouette is a traditional cam lever, draw collet vise. Unlike the other HMH vises, the Silhouette jaws cannot be changed.

The fixed jaws comfortably hold hooks up to 2/0, and offer good clearance on hooks at the very small end of the scale. The inside of the tool steel jaws are smooth, without serrations or hook pockets. The jaw assembly is set at a comfortable, but fixed angle.

The sculpted cam lever allows for smooth operation. Loosening the knurled brass ring allows the jaws to rotate 360 degrees while the hook is in place. Operation is hassle-free, while close tolerance machining avoids any noticeable play or wobble.

The Silhouette can be ordered with either pedestal or C-clamp. Here is where one of the limitations shows up. The standrod is permanently attached to the jaw assembly and designed to fit either pedestal or C-clamp. When used with the pedestal, the jaws are positioned comfortably, 8" above the tabletop. Use of the C-clamp reduces this clearance to 7" or less.

The pedestal is a simple plate, black powder-coated and adequate in weight and footprint for most tying use. For deer hair bass bugs, or other tying operations which require heavy thread pressure, a heavier and/or larger footprint pedestal is recommended.

The C-clamp is a simple aluminum affair, with minimal finishing to reduce manufacturing cost. Tolerances are adequate. The C-clamp gap is a decent 2" is padded.

HMH Silhouette

Verdict:
The HMH Silhouette at an MSRP of US$95 offers remarkable value. It has been designed to offer many years of hassle-free service, and it is backed by a lifetime guarantee by one of the premier manufacturers of flytying vises. In the sub-$100 range it is hard to fault this vise in the pedestal configuration. The limited length of the standrod makes this vise less suitable for use with a C-clamp.