Watch Craigslist in your area for good old American iron. Those which are better built are machinist vises which have the screw hidden under the dynamic jaw slide. Good names to watch for are Wilton, columbia, (charles) Parker, rock island, record (English so more rare here), Reed, Prentiss, and I am sure there are some I am missing. If you break one of those......it is because you were seriously abusing it!!!
Unfortunately even Wilton outsources some of their cheaper lines to China now (those new in the 250 - 450 range) so if you try to go new....be sure of where they are made.