Wroughton

Sounds like we need to find out if your wife has any sisters, their predilection for spoiling blacksmiths, if any, and so forth. Last time I ran down the hill to buy an anvil (it was a couple of blocks) I received the "look" and a head shake from the wife.

A thumpin beat for production. Sometimes it's the PH. When things are really busy it's fascinating to hear how hammer blow timing can unconsciously sync with the beat and provide an internal pace. The slaves rowed to the beat of the drum No slaves here. Happy 4th

I have a PW that has pockmarks from center punches. I'm not going to suggest that the intended purpose was to take some of the ring out of the anvil but compared to another PW I have that's close to the same size, the ring is reduced. Most punch marks are on the labeled side of the anvil towards and on the base with just a few on the other side above the waist.

Racine Hydraulic shear cut. 12" x 16"? I'm pretty sure I could have done without but I just can't bear to see a machine like this head to the scrapyard.

Ian! less teasing, more showing! The charcoal retort please.

August?! Smallmouth on poppers! :D Not as hot as Rapid City in July....on fresh blacktop?

Tim, It is a little different with a production shop with forges running or the ability to hit the induction heater whenever you want. I seem to remember you waxing poetic about your love of the metal lathe. Some (most) of the people here don't have the wherewithal to keep a forge running 24/7 until they figure out how to get every step done hot. You're making me feel inadequate ;) and I feel your pain. I operate a "Forge" but some days there might not be a forge lit in the shop. It's loud, sparks fly, work gets done. Even my best clients won't pay for "full forge" most of the time on bigger items, and forge kwan do moves aside for fab fu. :ph34r:

Trying-it, September archery hunting is the reason I don't make it to many fall hammer-ins. Yours sounds like a fun one though.

Dale, Agreed the merits of said material as certifiable antique or any other historical connotation are nil but that's not "junk", that's usable scrap stock. I have large and small fire sprinkler hangers from 100 year old buildings. They are in 1/4", 5/16",3/8", and 1/2" round stock. They are a joy to grab and forge a stem or hook out of. Probably the same mild steel. Nothing hard to use about this stock. The decision to kick the clients ideas about using the old stock down the road is dismissive without some serious "splanin" to them. And I often use old stock from a client that they want turned into something. I do have to talk them down when it ends up being cast. Sometimes these items don't resemble the stock or item at all in the end but the client is more than happy knowing that what they have now is made from that piece that they cherished and thought so much of.

Multitasking last night (tv,pc,work,laundry,book) and the tube is squawking about the tower of London. Don't know what was on before but the TV was unattended. "Blah, Blah, Blah, ......and we've actually found a blacksmith, Owen Bush, to tell us more about the executioners blade." I can be rather "zoned out" at times but I'm pretty sure I heard that from another room. The subconscious smith takes in all. Not enough to hold my attention after the technical stuff was over but interesting none the less. Why is it that I can't understand what my wife is saying from 3 ft away but I can hear "blacksmith, forge, anvil, hammer, iron" from behind closed doors and down the block?

Loyd, You're going to have your lady buried in roses before too long. Are they being offered for sale anywhere?

Hellgate Forge We're located in the Hellgate Canyon, just east of Missoula, MT, the Hellgate Valley. The Blackfeet tribe used to take umbrage with other tribes heading over to hunt buffalo so they would lie in wait and attack them in the canyon just east of Missoula. Some of the first french trappers named the canyon entrance "Port de l'Enfer" for the dead and decayed carnage laying about. The Hell Gate.

Bentiron, The difference of hot cutting over the mass of the anvil is tangible.

Howdy neighbor, Stop on by if you're in the area.

Blacksmith Depot shows a discontinued single horn that can be ordered with a square hardie but comes stock with a round hole. Excepting that while models #2 and #11 are also made with a single horn and rectangular heel, those models along with #5 have been discontinued since 2006. Seems like some editing needs to happen on their page.

Frosty, I checked out the Rigid website. They show 3 models for sale, none of which are the size of my anvil and all are described as having a double horn though I can only find photos on their website for the model 12. The face width, at 4 1/2", is almost as big as the 165lber they advertise.

the fabled Unicorn? Thanks Matei. Great cutters by the way. Any Peddinghaus aficionados dare to time stamp that anvil? 50's,60's? When did they go to the double horn or do they still make this pattern?

I think it says Original P.F.F and then Made in W&^$*&^&$ Looks forged around the waist but the bottom looks like it has a seam from casting or flash. approximately 110 - 115 lbs. Stout

The pivot sure looks like it was cast. Could it be a two part head? It looks like a substantial key holding the head on. Could there be a dovetail in the head holding some steel?

Yeeesh, I squish you. Looks like they liked a little shape in the arm....err. hammer handle.

The firsts in the Medici line in Italy used to call Niccolo Grosso (aka Niccolò di Noferi del Sodo) "Il Caparra" Nick forged some classic and famous lighting forms in Florence for the elite. Caparra translates to "down payment" or "part payment". Certainly not the first blacksmith but definitely one of the greats was essentially called "ol 50%" by some of the worlds first bankers. I didn't get the sense it was a term of affection either. All this in the 1490's. I think there's some precedence for getting your money up front. Personally, I'm going to start employing Mr. Coke's strategy. 50% to start and 50% at the end leaves me a little dry if they decide they don't want to pay the last.

Howdy Daniel, Great work and detail. Nice to see mixed metal.

I too searched for french clip on the googles, and then french clip with "patent". It still didn't come up. I salute your grumpy old man status John, rail away, or don't, but would you like to give us "plebes" some help on your search techniques? Or is that help on IGOOGLEIRON? Sorry to bother.

I have some stock I'm willing to part with but it's thicker than you probably want to start with. 1/4" - 3/4" x 4"x8" . I also have other stock sizes but the bulk is 5/8" to 3/4" round in 18" to 24" lengths This is fairly coarse wrought. Ebay searches for wrought iron work best if you put "stock" or "lb"s in the header. wrapped and forge welded bolt heads.

edit