Steve Sells

Steve; I've had some recent interaction with Stuart myself.  I'm afraid I'm not overly impressed with facebook fame;  I've founded blacksmithing groups; been a president of an ABANA affiliate, president of a living history group; moderator on a neo-tribal forum and sub-guru over at anvilfire; etc.  Several of my students have gone on to go Pro and *that* is something to brag about...!

Stuart was bragging to me that he was personally responsible for raising the price of smithing gear; something I considered to be "anti-smithing rather than pro-smithing".  I tried to not rile the waters that we were discussing---about if a 19 year old should be spending US$4000 for a 490# A&H anvil.  I considered it NOT a positive thing as if the 19 year old is really interested in blacksmithing then a moderately sized anvil and a powerhammer would get them much further down the road than a HUGE anvil and nothing else.

Shoot I got one of my larger anvils off a fellow who had finally gotten tired of hauling it around every time he moved.  I traded him a 125# PW, a screw and screwbox for a postvise and $100 for a 410# Trenton.  Funny thing: the anvil was manufactured in Columbus OH, used and abused in Arizona copper mines, brought back to central Ohio where I got it and proceeded to take it back out to NM---should get a mileage bonus.