bunchgrass

In typical internet surfing style, I stumbled upon a site dedicated to the hand tool known as a bill hook. The author, a collector in the UK, has put together a lot of information regarding that tool's evolution but also covers some interesting details regarding the history of cutting tool manufacturing in the UK. Knowing I would likely never find my way back to that site (I forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs), I figured that maybe the site could be appreciated by some here. So here it is. http://billhooks.co.uk/edge-tool-making-and-makers/edge-tool-making-3-materials/

Thanks Stewart - I had my eye on that one as well and decided to go with it! The first anvil, 139# HB, was near San Francisco, CA Reply to: qggwh-3365323415@sale.craigslist.org......... and s9bd8-3318730225@sale.craigslist.org 4 anvils 100# - 300# in Bellingham, WA ($400-$600). And CA - 130# PW/$400 r4ssf-3274185347@sale.craigslist.org There's a start.

Hey - thanks for your responses. I really appreciate them. This is where the weight miscalculation on my part shows - at my wrongly determined weight of 205#, I would have been just under $2/lb but at 139# it's just under $3/lb @ $400. AND it's still quite a distance for me to pickup. "At one dollar a pound, if you get that anvil, lol, you committed a robbery! If you get it for 2 dollars a pound, you got an excellent deal. 3 dollars a pound, and the price was fair. Any more money than that, and you may be overstretching your wallet, considering the condition, which is pretty good, but not perfect.............. If any of you in the intermountain or pacific northwest have something you'd prt with, feel free to PM me. Thanks again for your help.

Saw an HB anvil and thought it might be a good starter for me (bye bye RR track). Stamped as 1 3 9 which I calculated using cwt system at 205# but now after reading here HB was stamping with weight in pounds! Arrgh. So 139 not 205 and that makes the asking price less of a deal for sure. Here's a pic. Any comments welcomed.

Here's an anvil, vise, forge etc in British Columbia - $900 Monopoly money (Canadian dollars) or a bit over $800 US. "The anvil I believe is a London pattern, there are a few numbers discernable on the side of it. The blower is hand crank. The forge has been a welded repair (apparently a common problem on forges) but is in working order as is everything else. All last used by a now retired ferrier and all a good bargain for $900 Cdn." http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pml/tls/2121387467.html

I should have brought this up sooner but, have any of you listened to "A Toolbox Christmas" by Woody Phillips? It's all the old Christmas carols played on power tools (no real instruments as far as I know). Pretty cool - and appropriate for some of us tool freaks.

It's amazing what you can find on those archive sites - have seen some old catalogs of farm equipment etc. The social commentary in that "Modern Blacksmith" was priceless. I had to read it when I saw there was a chapter on "Intemperance"! Only thing - I couldn't get it to copy or print and fear it may eventually vaporize into the "webi-sphere".

Hey All, I don't know where this might "fit" in the forum AND perhaps many are not even interested but I found a site that has old archived materials copied on it. So of course I found something called "Modern blacksmithing ...." that includes these quotes: "Every smith should connect himself with a branch of the church and be punctual in attendance to same." "The danger for the smith becoming a drunkard is greater than for any other mechanic." Published in 1904. Great stuff! http://www.archive.o...age/16/mode/2up

How about making the base height adjustable - like a scissors jack setup? It might take some finagling to get it to be not too rickety. What do you all think?

The Feed and Farm Store, N 6265 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Farrier and blacksmithing supplies and coal. Mark Solomon, 1020 S. Main, Moscow, ID 83843. TEL: (208) 882-6549. THAT'S THE STORE! I found while surfing around other blacksmithing sites (anvil fire has a list of coal suppliers by state). So no excuses now IdahoIronman! Good luck.

Hey Russ, About 8-10 yrs ago there was a feed store in CDA (can't recall the name) that had coal. I don't think it was Aslin Finch but someone at AF might be able to assist you. Best. Geoff

Hi, I just jumped in started posting without introducing myself - so my name is Geoff and I live and work (farm) here in north Idaho - just outside of a small logging town of Deary. I've been wanting to get into blacksmithing for many years - just too much other stuff going on. Nothing better than fire and hammers! Glad to have found you all!

Thanks to all of you for both your input and offers! Nice community you've got here at IFI. I do have a pretty good chunk of RR track that I "bang on" but sure would like something more substantial. FYI on that Hay Budden - here's some info from the seller; he's very, very far from my house but dang it sure looks nice. THe face dimensions are 4-3/4 by 17-1/2. According to my friend's copy of Anvils in America, that makes it 200# (I can pick it up and load it, but I'd hate to carry it around.- I have a smaller anvil that I decided to use...its 120# and is MUCH easier to move). In addition, the serial number on the foot is 182803, which makes it a 1911. Might have to continue to look - Hmmmm Thermopolis WY?

So who do you think makes a new "good imported anvil"?

Yah, I'm near Pullman so it's like 5-6 hrs to Seattle. Stop teasing/taunting me with your pictures of scantily -clad and well-endowed anvils! How about this 150# er? Logo mean anything? It looks really clean as far as i see - but asking too much (Like $4/#) a $450 200# hay budden?