Bessey has launched a new limited edition clamp set that they advertise as being “presented in a beautifully designed anniversary box” and is “perfect for craftsman and collectors alike.”
The new Bessey limited edition clamp set, TGA10-SET-135, comes with 2 clamps, each with a 10″ clamping capacity and 4.5″ throat depth.
Bessey encourages you to “grab it while stocks last.”
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The clamps feature a wood handle that is “elegantly stamped” with Bessey’s logo.
Bessey says that the clamps’ construction “combines components from Germany and Spain to create a real collector’s item.”
And of course, as mentioned, it comes in “an attractive special edition sales box.”
Price: $69.95
Update: Thanks to Vards for the heads-up on the comments! Right now, 5/9/25 6pm ET, Amazon has a LIGHTNING DEAL where the price is $41 for the 2-pack of clamps.
It’s difficult to gauge how much extra you’re paying for a “beautiful box” and “elegant handle decorations. Amazon has Bessey 5.5″ x 12″ F-style clamps for $32 each, and 4.5″ x 24″ F-style clamps for $31.54 each. $70 for two 4.5″ x 10″ clamps seems like you’re paying a bit extra for the things that make it a limited edition.
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Is this set just for collectors, or is it a good buy for woodworkers?
Philip+Proctor
LOL @ limited edition tools.
Chris
I can maybe understand the appeal of limited edition colors bud whatnot. But excessive branding and a “fancy box” is just really cheesy.
Bonnie
Incredibly silly.
Greg
Once Bessey went to being made in China / Taiwan it just became like all other clamps but still good just not anything special in my opinion
Brad
Guess you missed the part where there made in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany with German steel ? That’s a long way from China
Nathan
Pass.
SecretSquirrel
I’m glad these ones are made in Germany, but since they have low grip wood handles, and are twice the price of their normal German made rubber grip handled clamps, that’s gonna be a no from me dawg.
Pack it in a systainer and I’d grab em.
Vards Uzvards
It makes a beautiful present. A woodworker can’t have too many clamps, right?!
Earlier, in mid-November, this set went for $62.95 on Amazon.com, BTW.
Scott K
I find “collectible” tools to be silly, but to each his own. I picked up the 4 pack that’s still on sale for $21. Hopefully they work as well as the set I bought almost a decade ago.
fred
I have a modest collection of antique planes and think that old tools are suitable for collecting. Some are more desirable than others – commanding prices accordingly. But, to my knowledge makers like Norris and Spier made beautiful yet functional planes to be used rather than for collectors. Modern factory-produced tools that are marketed as collectables seem like a bit of a money grab to me. Not they are necessarily bad tools – but if you are speculating that they will be worth something as an investment you are likely to be disappointed.
Wayne R.
Exactly. Old collectable can mean good quality at modest prices, new collectable is just marketing.
MM
I agree 100% about the “money grab” comment. One thing I’ve learned over the years being involved in different kinds of collecting is this simple fact:
Products with artificial scarcity, i.e. deliberate “limited editions” made in a factory, rarely appreciate anywhere near the same degree as objects which are scarce for other reasons, like rare materials or the automatically limited output of a skilled craftsman.
I have mixed feelings about tool collecting, I don’t have a problem with it in principle, but it is irritating when collector demand drives up the cost of tools that I actually want to use for work. The example that instantly comes to mind are the smaller size Wilton “bullet” vises. Wilton still makes the larger ones but they discontinued the 2″ and 2.5″ sizes years ago. In my opinion those are the best vises of that size ever made, and there is nothing on the market today that is as good. Collectors call the 2″ the “Baby Bullet” and the 2.5″ the “Toddler”, and these sell around $1000 depending on the exact age, condition, and model. I want one of these for my shop but not at that price.
Another example is Japanese woodworking tools. It wasn’t very many years ago when one could buy top-quality handmade chisels and plane blades for very reasonable prices and things could be easily made-to-order. Nowadays most of the old timer blacksmiths have retired and there aren’t many new ones taking up the role. Also, collector pricing has taken hold for many of the more famous makers, so a chisel that might have cost $200 a decade ago costs over a thousand today. The primary customer of these blacksmiths used to be working professionals, today it seems the market is shifting more towards niche collectors.
And speaking of Japanese woodworking tools & planes, Fred, are you familiar with the “Yari-Kanna”? These are a tool I first learned about last year, and I bought a few earlier this year. I was going to write an article on the toolguyd forum about them, and I even have a draft done, but alas the forum is no more. In my opinion these are a very interesting, and under-appreciated tool.
Goodie
I agree. I have a number of old tools, but they are all “users” – old Stanley planes, old chisels, braces, and a very serviceable Emmert pattern makers vice that’s more than 125 years old. My Stanley #3 is from the 1880s. It’s still a user. I respect them and take care of them, but think they were meant to be used. When it comes time for them to go, I plan to prioritize getting them to woodworkers who want to use them.
I’ll save my clamp “collection” money for someone selling slightly used Bessey clamps at a woodworking sale or on Facebook marketplace for a good deal.
eddiesky
“We need to sell more clamps!” – CEO Bessey.
“How about lowering the prices?” – Consumer Relations
“No!” – CEO Bessey
“How about we make a collectible, limited edition version and mark it up?” -Marketing Bessey.
“YES! Do it!” – CEO Bessey
Feb 2025
“So, why do we have all these unsold limited edition clamps”- CEO Bessey
MichaelT
This. Just this.
John Barnhill
Actually, Its “who approved these limited edition clamps?” – CEO Bessey
Brad
The price for two good German steel 10″ 4.5″ throat width clamps isn’t to far off from this price people just love to have things to complain about.
If youre in the market for a quality set of new clamps that’s not Chinese junk & dont have months to waste rummaging around thrift stores and eBay because your not retired this isn’t the worst way to go.
Vards Uzvards
Today this pair of clamps is $41 on Amazon.com (Limited time deal).
Stuart
Thanks! Hmm, that seems like a pretty good price seeing as how much the regular ones sell for. I guess there wasn’t much of a market for limited edition woodworking clamps.
KokoTheTalkingApe
It’s 9:24 pm Mountain time, or 11:24 ET, and the price is $64.10, at least for me. 🙁
Robert
Except for special use clamps, clamps are herd animals. Need to use and have a lot to evenly apply pressure. So the box interferes with storing sufficient clamps together. I find them best organized if I have identical clamps in one tool chest drawer.