I had one of these vices (amongst others, some mechanical, some not) i digress, actually mechanically v good but some chips to the enamel ad the filler underneath, I fully dissembled it and there was nothing sandwiched on mine. I filled the damage with Dolphin Glaze, refinished in manor paints hammer finish, Myford ML10 green as that is what was in the gun. Your vice looks mint like the £650 ones on eBay.
Phil