Jonnytait

that makes me feel old... and im only 25

The smell of burned hair will be with you for a few days im sure lucky there was no injury

true, he does look a little concerned!

Photos of the cone mandrel I keep forgetting to take

Dog supervised whilst I oiled the anvil

I agree with that TP, do you have any recommendations for people who would benefit from a heavy narrow faced anvil? as in modern anvil makers. also, Benona blacksmith and Marc1, without posting a link is there a price list available for these anvils? (BIG BLU)

I would like see one of these anvils in person and try it out. Am I right in thinking they come in 3 different weights? dogblazer9598 I did look into the BLU anvils for the list, but it seems BLU don't sell them anymore? There's nothing listed on the anvil section on their website. I'm fairly sure that they were the Czech Branco anvils, imported and sold by BIG BLU. Again, not 100% certain on that though

I had a look at the princess Auto 60lb ones, again they look good and are affordable, although I doubt that they are forged, could be wrong though. Something I cant understand about these Chinese (assuming they are) anvils is that they are so close to making a brilliant anvil. so close.. I mean why not just make the hardy hole right the way through? Surely it wouldn't be that much more expensive to produce? Same with the cast steel Accaciao anvils with the oddly place pritchel hole on the horn. Fine serviceable anvils Im sure, just some very small changes could make them better

Good to know Benona blacksmith. Do you know if any info about those anvils can be found online? I would be interested to know more about them. Whilst searching for info on those anvils I found a website of a blacksmith in Perth Ontario who makes anvils. His company name is Forged In Canada. Says his name is Don Mackay on the about section. See below - this newly created 155 pd anvil is designed to make it the only anvil you will ever need. Using the best aspects of the well known London Pattern, it is created for working everything from small hooks to swords. It is made out of cast 4140 tool steel that has been heated treated creating an extremely hard face around RC 58. The 9.5" horn is round as opposed to the traditional style which is upturned. The heel of the anvil gradually moves towards the face allowing the blacksmith to work different dimensions in the heel area. Included in the heel, is a 45 degree anvil to help with angles while smithing. A 2.5" x 2" shelf has been added extending out from the ½" step of the anvil allowing for extra work area. Mounting holes have been added to help mount the anvil. Anvil Dimensions: Overall length: 26" Width: 4.25" Hardie Hole: 1" Pitchard: ½" Heel of anvil has a 45 designed in it. Step out: 2.5" x 2" True round horn: 9.5" Face length: 10"

Its no bother, I started the list but Mod34 has improved it a lot. You make very nice tools foundryguy, I would certainly be tempted to buy from you if I was in the US. If anyone is aware of any other anvil makers please share that information in this thread

Totally forgot about this, I will take some photos tomorrow

Good point about the writing, shame there aren't better quality photos on the website so we could see for sure

Hi Benona blacksmith. The Mathewson Metals anvils look good but I have concerns about them. From what I can make out from the small photos on their website, it looks as if the base is welded on with an electric welder, which is ok if done properly. They also claim that that the anvils have a Fully hardened and heat treated tool steel face. Does this mean face plate? If so, do they mean it has a welded on face plate? I doubt it would be forge welded on and if its welded on with an electric welder it would need to be done properly, full penetration right to the middle of the anvil. Maybe im wrong and its a quality hardened cast steel anvil, has anyone here had any experience with them?

Thanks! even better. Plenty of companies making modern good quality anvils, something to consider if anyone is struggling to find a sensibly priced second hand one.

Thanks Judson and BGD. I will update the list with claimed alloy and harness later on, and include those brands. I also heard kohlswa no longer made anvils, but they still seem to have a FB page? can anyone confirm this? maybe a Swedish user? Edit: I Just phoned Kohlswa Sweden, the man I spoke to was helpful but confirmed that Kohlswa anvils are no longer made.

This is a list of manufacturers currently making anvils for blacksmiths and farriers: Accaciao - China, cast 1045 steel, hardness unknown Atlas Anvil - USA, cast 1050 steel, 60 RC B&W - China, cast 6150 steel, 58-60 RC [William] Barnhart - USA, cast 50MN steel, 57 RC Big Blu - USA, cast steel, 54 RC, alloy unknown Branco - Czech Republic, cast steel, 44 RC (minimum), alloy unknown BSL - Australia, cast 1050 steel, 57 RC (NB: the company is Australian, but the anvils are cast in China) Cliff Carrol - USA, cast steel(?), alloy and hardness unknown Doyle (Harbor Freight) - China(?), cast steel, 63 RC, alloy unknown DTX Anvils - China, cast steel(?), alloy unknown, 58-61 RC Emerson - USA, cast 4140 steel, 48-50 RC Fontanini Anvil - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-56 RC Forged in Canada - Canada, cast 4140 steel, 58 58 Frontstep Forge - Canada, cast steel, 53-54 RC, alloy unknown [Jymm] Hoffman Anvils - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-54 RC Holland Anvil - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-55 RC (NB: also makes swage blocks) JHM - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown Kanca - Turkey, forged steel, 54-62 RC, alloy unknown Lyon Blade & Anvil - USA, cast S5 steel, 58-60 RC Mathewson Metals - USA, steel, alloy and hardness unknown (listed as "Fully hardened and heat treated tool steel face") NC Tool - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown Nimba - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-52 RC Peddinghaus Ridgid - Germany, forged steel, 58 RC, alloy unknown Perun - Poland, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 54-58 RC [Ernst] Refflinghaus - Germany , cast steel (proprietary alloy), 59 RC (minimum) Rhino - USA, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 54 RC Scott Anvils - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown [Alec] Steele - USA, cast CM40 steel, 52 RC Swan Anvil - England, cast steel, hardness unknown, alloy unknown TFS - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown Vaughans (formerly Brooks) - England, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 60-64 RC Alloys and hardness numbers are as provided by the manufacturers. Thought id make a list if anyone is interested. Let me know if any of this is incorrect. Im sure there are a few other makers of quality anvils out there but these are just some I could think of or find. Also, does anyone know if Kohlswa are still producing anvils? Thanks MOD NOTE: the above list has been edited to include makers mentioned in subsequent comments. Feel free to let us know in the comments about other makers, and we'll add them to the list as well. Thank you. Last updated on 7/13/23.

I got lucky and someone gave me a fairly big cone mandrel for free. I was grateful! I Can take better photos of it if anyone is interested

I would be interested to see photos of your anvil Willie

I just had a look on ebay for used anvil prices to see how bad it is. I found a used 51 kg Brooks anvil with a 'buy it now' price of £750. A brand new Brooks anvil the exact same weight.. New.. from Brooks costs £606.43

It seems as though Soderfors possibly made anvils for Blacker power hammers too?

Thanks, will try that next time it makes sense. Working with a striker is still new to us so still trying to figure it out. First few tries were not very smooth at all

Thank you! I posted a video of me and my friend striking in the tongs section. Makes making tongs a lot faster for sure

Made a new pair of tongs with a striker a few weeks back, makes drawing out a lot more fun Tong Making.mp4

Finished a pair of tongs today, with scarf welded rains - the bottom ones. The top pair I made a few weeks ago with a friend striking for me

Theres an anvil for sale on a website that sells blacksmiths tools that weighs 1121 lbs