How to shoot an anvil :)

[Valentin]

Found this movies while browsing arround and thought about sharing with u guys...one describes the procedure needed to make a good anvil shoot

Anvil shoot

[Jerry W.]

Looks like a lot of fun. The last on is a good reason that I shouldn't.....

Jerry

[Glenn]

Safety is a prime concern when shooting anvils.

There was a program on TV (Modern Marvels?) about an anvil shoot and they put an anvil over 500 feet into the air and 3+ feet into the ground upon re-entry.

These shoots are loud enough to attract the attention of concerned neighbors, and a whole list of emergency services, and homeland security. You may enjoy the anvil shoot, but others may take a dim view of your activities. Play safe.

[agsolder]

Didn't ABANA ban anvil shoots at any of their chapter seances, smite-ins, smitharees, etc. while back?

[Valentin]

I never seen this done in Romania or heard of ...Is the anvil getting any damage ?

[ornametalsmith]

Originally Posted by agsolder

Didn't ABANA ban anvil shoots at any of their chapter seances, smite-ins, smitharees, etc. while back?

FWIW, they did. The SBA still shoots the anvil every other year in Madison,GA. and FABA still shoots the anvil at their annual conference in Oct.
And ABANA's decision is what made the chapters become "affiliates".

[Jerry W.]

We have an Old Favorite Receipts book from Castroville, Texas. It has recipes and history from the area. First settlers were from Alsace-Lorraine and others from France and Germany. Mostly Catholic. This is printed on the inside of the back cover -

Shooting the Anvil

The anvil played an important part in the days of the Castro Colonies. On the farm and ranch it was used in making tools, keeping the old tools in working condition, shodding horses and repairing horseshoes.

Then, of course, boys will be boys, and they soon found out that by placing black gunpowder and a fuse between a block and the anvil, lighting the fuse, and running like mad, they would have a very loud explosion. Soon everyone was shooting the anvil on special occasions: Christmas, New Year's, and especially when the Bishop came to town. In the Quihi area the farmers, one after the other, would shoot the anvil as a warning to tell all that the creek was rising or flooding.

It says that the last time they shot the anvil was February 19, 1975 at the One Hundredth Anniversary of the founding of the St. Louis Society.

The cookbook is published by the Castro Colonies Heritage Association.

I know that this is not earthshattering news but, thought it was interesting enough to share.

Jerry

[Don A]

Florida Artist Blacksmith Association-Anvil Shooting

anvils

Anvil shoots at shows - SmokStak

[KevinD]

SBA Madison 2007 Anvil Shoot

YouTube - SBA Madison 2007 Anvil Shoot

[Dodge]

Originally Posted by Valentin

I never seen this done in Romania or heard of ...Is the anvil getting any damage ?

Val, I have heard that it can cause anvils to chip on the edges of the explosion area. Thats why, typically, an old damaged anvil is used. Check out: Anvil launching