matallourgos

Yeah it definitely looks very very close. Mine doesn't have the notch, but the handling holes and other profiles are the same. I have no markings what so ever other than the "Eagle and Anchor" cast on the body, and a couple of indentions on the top of the feet from the casting.


Does it ring or "crack" when you smack it with a hammer? How's the rebound?

Might be hard to discern if you never heard the ring of a steel bodied anvil, but it's unmistakable. If you doubt that it's a bright "ring", it's not. Fisher's have a sharp "crack", and great rebound, it'll seem like 1:1.

Picked up the anvil today. Removed as much of the paint as I could with a knotted wire wheel on the angle grinder before the boss came out and told me to knock it off. (After 10pm here.) Unfortunately, this has revealed no further clues from what I can tell. I took some more photos, including a close-up of the only known marking on the thing- the "2" I mentioned in the first post. Hopefully my photos reveal some details that might shed some light as to maker of this anvil. One possible unique detail I noticed that might help- There is a distinct notch in the heel end of the base. I'm curious as to if this may indeed be one of the "southern" Fisher anvils as mentioned by Javan.

FWIW, it looks like a dead ringer (get it? ) for my big Fisher, although lacking the Eagle and Anchor. Could be due to it's southern residence? Wasn't it the older Fishers that were sometimes unmarked in the south due to peoples association with the North?

WEIGH IT! guessed weights are commonly off sometimes by as much as 50%! A common bathroom scale should work well in the "believed" range.

Face looks usable, test for fire softening.

As to how good the price is well that depends on WHERE YOU ARE AT---which is not mentioned.

However at below US$1 per pound for a usable if beat up anvil it's a decent deal in most places. (The fact that the face looks to be fairly smooth weighs in much more heavily than the edges being beaten up badly.)

Although if it's a Fisher it wouldn't be as old as a Mouse Hole right? Not sure if it helps with the ID, but the bottom of the base has an irregular hole. Not sure if the picture shows very well, but it has both a hardie hole and a pritchel hole as well.

Let it be done then. I'm stopping by after work and picking it up. I'll admittedly feel a bit shy at first pounding metal on something that is roughly 150yrs old. It is what it was designed to do though...

It does appear to be very similar, if not identical to the Mouse Hole anvils I've seen photos of. And thanks, CurlyGeorge, for the confirmation that this would be good for a beginner. Does an anvil covered in layers of paint still allow one to judge the steel quality based upon the ring heard? It seems like it would dampen the ring...

Hi all.. My first post here. Been lingering and learning a while and finally have an opportunity to make a local anvil purchase. This anvil is being offered to me at $75- possibly negotiable. It appears to be somewhat old based on the construction and what little I've learned so far. It weighs 120lb.'s according to the seller. It has been on his property dating back to when his current garage was a carriage house. It has many thick layers of paint, making it difficult to identify any stampings, etc. It does have a "2" low on one end at the foot. The top plate is damaged, as visible in the photo. Photos show general dimensions- the height is about 10.5in. The opposite side is in good condition, as is the remainder of the anvil. I'm curious as to the maker and possible age of this anvil, significance of damage, as well as folks thoughts on whether $75 is a fair or good price to pay for this as my first anvil. I'm just getting started in blacksmithing, so its use will be very general. I've inherited an old Buffalo forge and now I need an anvil to get started. Thanks in advance for any info or help!