Engineering Over Expediency: Why Rivfly Rebooted the Vise Project

At Rivfly, we believe that a brand is defined not just by what it ships, but by what it refuses to ship.

Earlier this year, we developed our first-generation fly tying vise (V1). It was functional, cost-effective, and ready for production. However, as our team—led by engineers with backgrounds in high-precision gearbox manufacturing—tested the final prototypes, we realized it met the market standard, but it didn't raise it.

For a new member of the fly fishing community, "good enough" is not a sustainable strategy. We made the difficult decision to scrap the V1 project entirely.

Introducing Project Apex: A New Engineering Standard

We have returned to the drawing board to develop the Rivfly Apex Series, a vise designed to bridge the gap between entry-level tools and master-tier instruments.

Leveraging our expertise in industrial transmission, the Apex Series is being engineered with features typically reserved for the highest price bracket:

• Material Integrity: We are upgrading to 40 CrMo Alloy Steel with Nitriding treatment for the jaws, ensuring distinct hardness and grip longevity.

• Precision Motion: Moving beyond standard friction knobs, we are implementing a Rear-Mounted Rotary Tension System. This allows for infinite drag adjustment without cluttering the tying zone.

• True Ambidextrous Design: Recognizing the needs of diverse anglers, the Apex is designed to be fully convertible for left-handed tyers out of the box.

An Invitation to the Trade and Community

We are currently in the tooling phase and are committed to radical transparency. We invite our fellow AFFTA members, shop owners, and the angling community to follow our engineering process.

We have opened a "Co-Development" list to share our progress updates and gather feedback before the official launch.

Click here to view the Project Apex Blueprint & Development Status

(Note: We are offering a Founder's discount to early supporters who join us on this journey.)

About Rivfly Ventures LLC Rivfly is a fly fishing brand founded on the principles of engineering precision and accessible performance. Based in Wyoming, we specialize in premium flies, tying tools, and the forthcoming Apex Vise system.