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?

Oh crap - I'm sorry, Stupid me thinks the whole world is in N. America - my sincerest apology for that! I'm in Idaho near the Washington border (zip = 83823) so I guess it could be both western US and western Idaho. As far as travel distance - pretty flexible. Drove to Indiana to get a stock trailer then up to Vermont to pick up some horse drawn equipment (I'd like to keep it a shorter trip than that - round trip was 6000 miles). So I guess I'd travel 1000 miles +/- depending on the direction. As far as "hunting" goes, I've been looking for many years - that $1 to $2 per pound value was bandied about 10 or 15 years ago. Around here you're competing with some deep pockets that want to make a buck resaling these things or put them in their gardens. Same with the horse drawn equipment - I've seen people pay prices that are incredible for a plow that they can hang their mailbox from. A crappy worn out one will hold a mailbox but they end up buying some gem. Sorry to diverge. With Craigslist, the internet, this site ..... the options have increased so I'm back inquiring. For my purposes the total price is as important as the per pound price. Thanks monstermetal - but 400# @ $1000 is exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks again for taking time to respond.

Hi, Someone mentioned reporting the shilling practice to ebay but what are they going to do about it? I'm sure they're pretty happy with how their operation has been working. Left feeling helpless.

I know the money is high - it sure seems to be like that here in the west (at least my experience). What do you mean "if I need it now?" - then just grin and bear it? BTW - for $750 there's the anvil, leg vise and a 14" band saw. Any guess what the weight or maker might be?

Is my picture of no real help? IMHO - the edges look pretty nice. But I can't even begin to guess the weight although there are other items in the background to help scale it. Are the ID markings only found on one side of the anvil? So once again, what do you all think?

I apologize for my inept attempt(s) at posting the pic. I'll try again using the PC rather than the Mac. Both anvils are priced pretty high - the guys asking near $500 for the unknown Swedish one w/ welding on the edges The second one is about $750 for the anvil, vise and some other tools. Thanks again for your patience.

Does the anchor symbol mean anything (a certain makers logo)? Ahhh - here's the pic of the 2nd no name/size anvil that the guy thought weighed 150#. I think it looks smaller than that but ..... Did the picture work? I can see it in my edit and preview modes here but doesn't appear when I look at the posting - just a weird dead link.

Hi,I'm looking at buying an anvil for my shop - RR track is not heavy enough for some farm repairs. Anyway, I've run across these 2 options and they both seem to be a little "short on info" - would be interested in your inputs. Thanks. First one: no pic here's what I got after inquiry -"Upon closer inspection, it is stamped "Sweden" and has a symbol that includes an anchor. Edges have been welded. It does ring." That's all. Second one: Picture in attached file, no weight/size given. Comments "I can at least lift the anvil so I am guessing at 150 lbs. It may have astamp on the side but I cannot make it out."I know that's almost nothing to go on but I'm trying to decide whether to even pursue either one further.Thanks. Okay - I can't seem to get the pic to load as an attachment and can't figure out how to insert it into my message

I too have had similar experiences with shills and e-bay. With regard to the idea that someone makes a living selling stuff, that's true but one can continue to relist and relist until someone comes along and pays the higher price. And that's legit IF they place a RESERVE on the site. But using auto bid shills to set that RESERVE is not really an auction at all. On the flip-side, as a bidder, we can set a max limit and use the autobid as well. BUT there's nothing worse than some xxxxxxxx decorator buying good usable old equipment at ridicuously high prices because it looks neat in the garden or adds a rustic flavor! I wish they'd buy the Chinese garbage to put their flower pots on - not some nice old well-made and usable anvil. As my dad used to say "that's a cryin' shame."