Anvils

BrianBRB · Jan 18, 2010

Does anyone collect anvils? I have 7 and don't know how I started or why. There is a few notables such as a Peter Wright and Queens Dudley; and then some from Erie, PA. The farrier anvil I have is not in the picture. They range in weight from 85 to 171 pounds. ( I weighed them). I use them occasionally but seems like I do most pounding on my vise.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 18, 2010

Very nice.... No tellin what people will collect.

Dave

Janicholson · Jan 18, 2010

Anvils are very expensive. A good one is a prize, 7 is a massive collection. Jim

Rick(MN) · Jan 18, 2010

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

eastexan · Jan 18, 2010

Very nice collection you have.

I have a large old anvil that looks like yours in the top picure, closest to the camera.

Mine has been ruined though, because someone had cut the tip of the horn off with a torch.

Undoubtedly, it was cut off for safety reasons. I don't blame them for doing it, especially if there's children playing around it.
I may someday weld a tip back onto it, and grind it down to original shape. If I do though, I'll put it in a place away from kids.

Ronnie

GeneMO · Jan 18, 2010

Can a person buy a new one? I dont have one at all as my brother took ours. It had been through a shop fire and was not much good after that.

What is just a working one worth? No a collectable.

Gene

Walterdavies · Jan 18, 2010

This is mine 103 lbs made in Sweden payed $6.00 for it.
<a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j50/WaltDavies/?action=view&current=ForgeandAnvil001.jpg" target="_blank">

ForgeandAnvil001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

My Forge needs some work on the pan but everything is in working condition.
Walt
<a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j50/WaltDavies/?action=view&current=ForgeandAnvil002.jpg" target="_blank">

ForgeandAnvil002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

cb in wisc · Jan 18, 2010

Yes, you can buy new anvils and they come with all kinds of varations now, espeacially the farrier anvils.

http://www.centaurforge.com/Anvils/products/143/

Here is a link to a web site where you can look them over.

rrlund · Jan 18, 2010

Don't really collect them,but my Grandad used to do some horse shoeing around the neighborhood along with farming. I have his anvil. Had his forge too,but it burned up in a fire.

BCnT · Jan 18, 2010

i havent found any new anvils worth hauling home...i hit em with a hammer and every one of them will leave a mark...anything old and useable will be "collectable" as far as price goes,but every once in awhile you can get lucky and buy one at a garage sale...forget about auctions unless you got deep pockets.

paul · Jan 18, 2010

Anvil is kinda specialized material, can't easily cut a piece off, then weld it back on, and have it work. Every angle & point and hole is for a use. I don't think you'd have a 'good' anvil welding it back together. Beating on metal isn't a place for kids, so I'm not sure I understand why someone would cut up a good anvil & make a piece of scrap metal out of it for 'safety', but I wasn't there....

Harbor Freight sells new ones, cheap. You get what you pay for. A good anvil is terrible expensive, or real old and you get lucky at a grage sale or auction.

I have the one dad used, I use it a lot. Picked up a second one at an auction, was less than $1 a lb, which is a good deal for a good useable one.

--->Paul

Mike (WA) · Jan 18, 2010

My dad was a "horse trader"- not only horses, but harness, blacksmithing stuff, etc. Some guy wanted to trade him an anvil for something once- he didn't want that one, but knew someone who might, and there was this other guy who had one he wanted. . . you get the picture. He ended up making 3 swaps that day among other geezer friends, wound up with the anvil he wanted and $75 to the good. As he put it to me, "There may be more fun ways to make 75 bucks, but offhand, I can't think of any."

Nice collection. Wish I had one.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Jan 18, 2010

I believe old anvils can be re-faced so I don't see a reason why a new anvil couldn't have a new hard face put onto it. Would just take a person that knows the trade and how to do it. Having said that--it doesn't address a soft horn.

With all of those anvils I expect you should get into anvil shooting with black powder. YouTube link below.
Anvil shooting.

GordoSD · Jan 18, 2010

Walter. I need one. I'd pay good money for yours. Email me at "[email protected]"

Gordo

eastexan · Jan 18, 2010

(quoted from post at 11:20:25 01/18/10) Anvil is kinda specialized material, can't easily cut a piece off, then weld it back on, and have it work. Every angle & point and hole is for a use. I don't think you'd have a 'good' anvil welding it back together. Beating on metal isn't a place for kids, so I'm not sure I understand why someone would cut up a good anvil & make a piece of scrap metal out of it for 'safety', but I wasn't there....
--->Paul

Actually, it was just the sharp tip that was cut off when I got it. So all I have to do is build it out an inch or two with 7018 rod and then bevel it out with an angle grinder. That would be good enough for my use.

It's a kid's nature to play and chase each other around things, so I can see why someone with kids or grandkids might want to cut the sharp tip off an anvil. I wouldn't go to that extreme. I might put a can or something over the tip when I wasn't using it, if I was worried about it.
When my daughter was little, she ran into the edge of a table saw and almost put her eye out, so I guess that's why I'm a little more cautious than others might be. You can tell kids not to play around certain things, but that don't mean they will always listen.

Ronnie

D.B. in Mi. · Jan 18, 2010

Do you need to get rid of any of them. hint , hint

RusselAZ · Jan 18, 2010

I have two old heirloom anvils. One about 25 lbs and the other is a 120 lb-er. They were old when I was a kid and that was awhile ago. The big one had the nose broke off, Dad told me why once but I forgot the why,, it has an emblem cast in the side that looks like and eagle holding something in his talons. It also has letters cast in the base that look like, "fisk 11".

The big anvil weighed more than my dad and he was glad when I was big enough to move it around! Such a simple tool to set in the corner watching the years pass. They are sure nice to have once and again. I also have Dad's big craftsman vice which was also old when I was a kid.

Thanks for the memory kick!

douglas carroll · Jan 18, 2010

I always wanted one, they don't seem to manufacture them anymore. I always ask old fellas if they want to sell it, they say no even if they are 95 years old ( the owner ), guess they think they might need it again. probally all are heirlooms. I would use it daily.

Randall SE-MN. · Jan 19, 2010

I still have my g-g-grandfathers Blacksmithing equipment from the late 1800's. He was the local Smithy at his farm (Dodge Center MN). The Anvil is an M&H Armitage (Mousehole Forge) circa 1830. I also have fun with his old Champion N0. 1 Forge and Blower. I use the old Post Drill as well. I love attending all the Rondezvouz(sp) I can to see how the Masters do things.

railhead · Jan 19, 2010

In fact I guess I do but it just happened. I was given a 300 lb Hay Budden once and kept it. then at an auction I bought a very beat up old 100lb Vulcan to use. Then another auction bought another 100lb Vulcan that is in great shape. This summer, older couple had BIG BIG china berry tree over hanging their Carport and they were in danger of losing the carport if an ice storm or high wind saw fit, so I volunteered to cut it down. Took a couple of days. They wanted to pay, I refused. They knew I fancied a big anvil they had so they offered it and I took it. Like a 175 lb unknown, but nice. then this fall I bought a Peter Wright 101 from local guy, fair shape. So I have now 5 and growing. I didn't ever intend to collect anvils but here I am.

I use a piece of RR rail for my anvil. I made it. It is indestructable. I am more proud of it than the real anvils.

eastexan · Jan 19, 2010

(quoted from post at 05:49:31 01/19/10)

I use a piece of RR rail for my anvil. I made it. It is indestructable. I am more proud of it than the real anvils.

I know what you mean, Railhead.
RR rail is quality steel and can make a handy little anvil.

I made one 40 years ago out of a short piece of 90# rail and spiked it down to a short piece of RR tie. I've used it quite a bit over the years.
I've regretted not making it out of larger rail (i.e. 150#), but it's been big enough for what I use it for.

Ronnie

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