George Geist

Don't break it up. Add to it. Get as many anvils as you can. The fun that comes with aggravating people by doing that is priceless George

Maybe so, I don't look at the trades as separate like a lot of people do. Not every Blacksmith shoes horses but every Horseshoer is a Blacksmith. Is a specialty within the trade. Many innovative ideas and inventions we take for granted came from the brains of Blacksmiths over the centuries. In many cases they invented themselves out of work. Horseshoers..... well, not quite so much. Why does everybody use side clips on front shoes? Why does everybody use Kerkhart shoes? The list goes on and on with the same answer. Cause it's what everybody else is doing. Even the word, The word "Farrier" didn't come into common American parlance before the 1970's Why do you guys all call yourselves that? Come on guys, I know I'm poking a hornets nest. Who wants to play? George

Don't worry, I'll stir the pot for you. You stumbled upon something about horseshoers. They're copycats. Biggest ones I know. The whole so called "Rugged Individualist" and " Independent" labels they wear with pride are a myth. Truth is most of them have never had an original idea in their lives and will copy one another right down to the style of business cards. Go ahead guys, fire away George

Interesting piece, I've never seen one before. Wasn't aware PW ever made them in that style. Looks like a real nice score George

Anybody read this story out of Wisconsin? https://www.americanfarriers.com/articles/9798-highway-damage-caused-by-horseshoes-prompts-wisconsin-bill?utm_source=omail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=deu&utm_content=afj&ajs_uid=5578C0141245D5Z Crying out loud what will they think of next?

Good deal. Not just on the anvil but on all the other stuff too. Should serve you well George

There are plenty of decent American made anvils out there. NC is a poor excuse for a Horseshoers anvil and just barely out of the ASO class. Rather than be redundant I'll refer you to this thread: George

Nice job. Is it working out good for you? George

That place has been around for a long time. Was an old railroad shop if I remember correctly. They've been trying to figure out what to do with it for at least 20 years now as yours truly looked into the place back in the '90s. Biggest problem is the location. Johnstown is an impoverished, depressed, rust belt town that died with the steel mill. It has no real hope of recovery. If somebody out there wants to try a school while there are already plenty of them in better places, best of luck to them. George

9. To run roughshod

8. Cut to the quick

It was often done deliberately. I don't think there was any need to overdo but perhaps from stabbing themselves, or tearing their pants or whatever reason, smiths of yesteryear often blunted their horns. George

Majority of them are usually 7/8" George

From this vantage point it looks like a Multi Products anvil. They were at their manufacturing high water mark in the 1960's. If not that then I'd guess maybe a Little Tex. George

First, in the name of St Dunstan and all that is holy get those grinders and weld stingers away from it!!!!!

You selling the swage block with it? I'd bet if a horseshoer buys that anvil he'd like to get that too. George

Good job, I like them George

Good job on the block. Should work good for you. George

I think it's stuff like this that keeps the alcoholism rate in this trade very high George

I'd say commemoratives are really a world unto themselves. Like any other form of art, investing in them is hit and miss. Sometimes they appreciate. Sometimes they don't. The Blacksmith rifle is one that I'd wager most folks engaged in the trade would probably buy to keep so future value isn't really a high priority to most of them. George

To a large extent I think so for this reason. I can't remember the name of it but I saw some years ago a movie about Beethoven. In one scene he was giving a piano lesson to a student. After the student finished playing a piece Beethoven told him I think you need to find another occupation. Music is not for you. The student got angry and asked how he could say that especially being deaf and unable to even hear what he played? Beethoven then said what I thought the best line in the film. He said " I can't hear but i CAN see, and I see you have no passion"! "If you have no passion for what you do you'll never be good at it and you're wasting your time"! I think this applies to the trade as well. You gotta love it. It's a lifestyle first and foremost. It's not what you do it's what you are. If you don't have that connection or see it as a business with a buck to be made, definitely find something else. You won't last regardless of talent level. LOL! Only in America! George

Here's another neat one. I think it might be sold out unfortunately https://www.americanlegacyfirearms.com/_cms/product/the-american-farriers-rifle/

Anybody see this yet? https://www.americanlegacyfirearms.com/_cms/product/american-blacksmith-rifle/ Is a bit pricey but in my opinion they couldn't have come up with a more cool commemorative. Love it!!!! George

True that Yeah the natural BS folks do. Comes from a "more is better" mindset that inevitably gets people into trouble.

Looks like a sawyers anvil isn't it? George