Fatfudd

That would be a 1913 manufacture date. Lucky you! I'd love to have an Arm and Hammer of any size. Give us the dimensions and we can give you an approximate weight.

If you don't have a 1" steel ball just take a good hammer and let the face drop on the anvil from about 7 or 8 inches and see if it rebounds. Also does it ring when struck? I'm with Glenn, you can work a lot of iron on a piece of metal that big. I'd just use it and not worry about it. I've used much worse.

I had a Trenton anvil that had the face partially replaced with 7018 rod. It was very soft and even after work hardening it still showed dents even with hot metal. It may cost a little more but if you can use the stoody rods you'll be much happier in the long run.

I'm with Thomas Powers, I have found over the years that one anvil won't cover all my needs. That being said I have hunted and found the best of each kind that suit my needs and then surrounded my forge so that each is readily available depending on what I'm working on. If you are are confined to one anvil you can figure out how to make it work. But realistically as you progress your needs will probably surpass your tool. Yeah, I could make do with one large anvil, which I have but I love to turn to the small horn on my 77 pounder when the need arises. Much is made about the perfect anvil, I have more than a few and I use them all depending on what I need to accomplish. But a BIG Nimba or Rhino would always be welcomed too and wouldn't be left out..

We may be seeing what the current market is able to sustain in terms of prices for even exceptional anvils. You may have noticed on ebay that few of Matchless Antiques anvils have reached the reserve price. Here is an example- http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEAUTIFUL-189-lb-HAY-BUDDEN-BLACKSMITH-ANVIL-Forge-Iron-/110996800961?ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123 His anvils are terrific and I'd love to have some or even one of the really big ones but I'm just not made out of money. It may still get to the reserve but I'm assuming that when shipping costs are added in it sort of throws a wet blanket on the potential purchasers fire. What I'm getting to is that perhaps we will start to see some reasonableness come back into the pricing for everyday anvils especially for the newbies hunting for usable anvils.

Hmmm. cast iron doesn't really ring, It could be a cast steel anvil by a no-name manufacturer particularly if you get a good rebound. Long ago I ran across an anvil that was a give away price that looked very similar. I didn't get it because I thought it was cast iron, now I wish I had it. If you want to get rid of it so you don't have to worry send me a PM and I'll take it off your hands. :)

Is there a number stamped under the horn near the handling hole or a number stamped near the tail on the off side? It looks like an HB but one of those two numbers,.especially the one under the horn being present, would ice it for you.

I see those marks also and based on the top dimension 158 lbs is about right.

njanvilman- I have a question regarding your statement- "I remind everyone that I own the rights the Fisher & Norris and am the only one legally able to make these products and put the name Fisher on them." I would assume that the original patent has long expired on the process for making the anvils. I have no-doubt you own the rights to the Fisher-Norris name but how can you own the production process of the anvil itself? I would agree that no one else can put the name Fisher on them. Please clarify for the unenlightened. Thanks

I'd say you got a sweet deal!! Obviously a good quality cast steel anvil. Postman mentions very briefly West Anvils in his book AIA and shows several different logos they put on the side of theirs, unfortunately your's isn't one of those.. He really didn't know much about them other than they are Vanadium steel and had only seen very few. Its possible that your's is a West. Besides Colombian, Milne, and the Swedes, there probably weren't many other manufacturer's capable of casting such a large anvil.

Definitely Old, I was wondering if anyone knew of the what the side horn was used for? Carriage Anvil?- http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-blacksmith-anvil-with-a-side-horn-190-lbs-used-in-the-civil-war-/281043712307?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416f82b933

I don't know of anyone closer to you than Moriarty. I suppose you have checked around Portales and Clovis? You might want to consider building a propane forge. It sure makes life easier.

Where are you located? I'm one of the SWABA officers and I can give you an idea of who to call in your local. I don't use coal, I have enough problems with my next door neighbor, but several members of our group do. If you are headed to Moriarty call some of the fuel suppliers in Edgewood, a lot of the farriers around here get their coal from a supplier out there.

This auction was may have been driven by collectors( I really don't know that for sure). However if you consider that Centaur Forge only had Kohlswa make them anvils for a short time and some of those were too soft so they stopped importing them. If your argument is that its cheaper than a new one well that doesn't work since this anvil went for $1250+ with shipping. - http://www.nimbaanvils.com/titan.php If you look at really nice old anvils check out Matchless antiques on Ebay heres an example- http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEAR-MINT-150-lb-KOHLSWA-CAST-STEEL-SWEDISH-ANVIL-Blacksmith-Forge-/110960894576?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d5c8e270

Just to put some emphasis on how much collectors are willing to drive the cost of anvils check this out- http://www.ebay.com/itm/190771631938?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

During the summer I wander around to garage sales in the country and always ask if they have any scrap metal. If they do they ether give it away or only ask a small amount for it. I also know of a few metal pickers that resale things like farm equipment they break down. The other places I hit are the ornamental iron manufacturers and buy their scrape at scrape prices.

I've had an on-going problem with my next door neighbor even tho we live in the country. When she moved in and I initially asked her if my blacksmithing was a problem she said "no - of course not". Then I applied for a business license and the trouble started. She tried to start a big campaign to try to stop my license from being granted by the village. Its not just my pounding that bothered her, it was everything I did including using my leaf blower, she complained about that too. All of the other neighbors thought she was being petty and testified on my behalf at the license hearing. It was a very unusual hearing since there were many folks speaking on my behalf and only her and her poor husband in opposition. Now she is sort of the outcast of the area and her reputation is known throughout the village. The license was granted and we have been living in a kind awkward relationship. Her poor husband disagrees with her (and was embarrassed over the whole deal.) However, I always try to be conscientious about noise and try to limit my activity to periods when she won't be bothered, to the extent I can. He texts or emails me every day about when she is going out or is inside and won't hear me. In all honestly he probably has a much worse time living with her then I do. Recommended reading is a fairly new book entitled The Sociopath Next Door. If by chance you should ever read it the case study of Tillie is similar what I'm living with. Tillie isn't my neighbor by the way only acts enough like her to be her twin.

I had the same problem as Macbruce of getting the tip to stay in a black pipe. I finally found that the neck of a 257 Roberts rifle cartridge case would serve as filler in between the tip and a brass pipe for a pressed fit. I silver soldered it in for good measure. I've made 3 or 4 burners that way.

Try using a heat gun and scraper but as Clinton suggested plain old paint stripper will work fine, You'll need a hand powered wire brush too. It'll take a while but its the only way that will be totally safe, just really messy.

Macbruce, I wouldn't spend that much either, I was just saying it seems like a better deal when you can also get a stand with it. My budget keeps me in the $1.50/lb or less range.

Here's another big PW actually seems like a better deal- http://medford.craigslist.org/tls/3471004259.html

Excellent deal!

Its a Colombian anvil, one of the few all cast steel anvils made in America and an excellent anvil. For a time the had Sodofors make smaller anvils for them. Anywho, it would be a fine anvil to own and work on. If you can get it for reasonable price, I'd jump on it. It looks to be in fine condition.

For me Its hard to say what something like that anvil is worth. I admit I have paid more than I should have because I wanted something and I knew I'd never see another one. If I were a PW collector I'd be drooling over that anvil and be trying to figure out how to get it. You'll probably never see another 500 lb. NOS. Compare it to this one which has been for sale for a while and would also be nice to own. http://reno.craigslist.org/tls/3351120044.html

1st one 80 kg or 176 lbs 2nd one 70 kg or 154 lbs