Coleman6488

Well that was all knowledge I did not already have. Thank you! And I know what you mean about anvil competition. I had planned on using it, I just like the old anvils it makes me feel like I'm giving use to something that might have felt abandoned. Actually though to be honest I was hoping to disprove that this particular anvil was a PW with this post because I would've gotten it for cheaper (the antiquity was the vendor's main argument for keeping the price high). I do like to collect and use the old anvils when I can though. And you do have me there, blacksmithing has always been cool, or maybe "hot". Thanks!

I'd say we agree on historical significance, and if I had the means to acquire items such as the ones you've listed (whether it be access to purchase or monetary value) I would probably do so. But for now, I am just trying to gather information on a hobby I've picked up within my own means, and in doing so was just looking for clarification on the identity of an anvil. I apologize if my lack of knowledge on a hobby that I'm new to disagrees with you somehow. It's the reason I'm on this site in the first place. Perhaps you could lend information that might allow my knowledge to better agree with you, as I already understand that an anvil is a tool :). And please don't take that the wrong way as I do appreciate any input from a person with more knowledge on the subject than myself.

Yes, and I'm looking for tools/collecting antiques with historical significance, and thought maybe that for either I could come to this site for aid and information, rather than condescension. I have seen a lot of your posts though Mr. Powers, and I'm fully aware that you liked blacksmithing before it was cool, and we're all very impressed :). Thanks for your input.

I did buy it and got it at a reduced price because of the uncertainty. I will get some new pictures up soon that have close ups of the sides. Its actually not painted, the white flakes are bits of flour from where he was trying to show me the markings. Thanks guys!

Thank you!

Does anybody have any sort of rule of thumb for what size hammer to use for different situations/anvil sizes, etc? Newbie trying to sponge as much info as possible, apologize if the question is stupid or often-asked. Thanks!

Okay got pictures. Took forever. You can't really see it in the picture but there is a handling hole in the center of the foot on the front, and one also underneath the anvil. So this is backwards from what you said 200pounder, the weight is all I see and it is on the side with the horn pointing to the right, so maybe it's not one after all.

Hi all, There is a guy selling an alleged Peter Wright around 150#. I don't have any pictures but I went out to see it. It's got the English weight and the feet and looks right, but the mark stamp is gone and the guy was saying that it was on the opposite side of the anvil as the weight markings and tried to hold it up to the light and say you could faintly see it. I didn't see anything but I've never seen a PW with the mark opposit the weight and I might could haggle him down if it were an unknown maker. Does anybody know if there were Peter Wrights marked this way at any point? Thanks all.

No it's not a huge deal, it's a good sized anvil with a good bounce. I was just curious. That does answer my question though. You've been helpful as usual sir. Thank you!

Well that's good to hear. I've been searching for a few months and doing lots of research I was thinking that was a decent find! Do you happen to know any special distinguishing characteristics that could help me confirm that it's a PW. I'll try sprinkling some flower on it tomorrow see if that helps but I gotta get it all set up in the garage in the morning first.

Yeah I actually found a guy through the Houston area blacksmith association that sells out of Austin I've been in contact with but he was usually around $3.50 a pound for anything worth buying. Is 2.90 per pound not good?

Right yeah like I said less than $3 a pound. It's pretty good compared to the other listings I've seen. In my area anyway, we're not very anvil rich down here.

Went and got it today. $450 cash. I'm still working on a positive Peter wright ID but it bounced a hammer well over half the height of a drop and sounded pretty. I figure even if it's not a PW, a decent anvil at less than $3 a pound is a good deal, at least around here. Any sure-fire ways for a positive ID? I read somewhere there is a hole in the feet of PW's but wasn't sure if that was always the case.

So I found this ebay add and it says there is a 155 pound peter wright that looks to be in pretty good shape for sale about an hour away from me for $450. I am skeptical though because there are only three days left on the auction and nobody has bid on it yet. I'd love to snatch this thing and am hoping the only reason there are no bids is due to local pickup. Can anyone help me either confirm or deny that this is actually a PW and worth the dough? Thanks. ebay link removed, sale ended

Yeah I have been considering just paying $40 for an old hunk of railroad track so that I can get my hands dirty. I'll give the TPAAAP a try for a couple of weeks and see where my luck leads me. Thank you all so much for the advice it was invaluable!

As in the Thomas Powers above? Oh man that's cool. I did put out some feelers online and have asked around a little, but I'll step my game up and start asking everybody. I read a thread on it and that's essentially how to start right? Ask around everywhere always and it will start to hone your instincts?

Sorry for the noobie knowledge level, I'm not sure what the TPAAAT is, though it sounds like a resource I would be interested in! I do also have cash on hand I read that in another thread, I believe it said "a name brand 300 pound anvil for $150 isn't a good deal if you only have $90 in your pocket". Took that one to heart.

Well shoot, it appears I'm not the only guy on the block looking for an anvil. I got there at 8am on the nose and there were already three guys standing around talking about how they were disappointed that it was gone. There is another listing on my local craigslist. I have a tendency of making impulse buys after a disappointment and they generally end up biting me in the butt. craigliste link removed, please follow posting guidelines

Okay awesome thank you guys that is extremely helpful. I'll post an update tomorrow with the final word. Its a pretty big estate sale so maybe I'll get a good deal.

So there is an estate sale very near my house starting tomorrow at 8am. They have an anvil in the garage, looks like a german style from the picture but hard to tell. Anyway I'm looking for my first anvil and I wanted to make sure that I don't waste the money I put back. I don't have a ball peen hammer or anything, can you use a carpenter's hammer for a bounce test? I also included a picture below, you can't really tell anything but I figured somebody that knows more than I do might spot a red flag. Thanks!

I'm looking to get started with some basic forging and blacksmith work. I'm out of Houston Texas and for some reason all of the vintage anvils down here are extremely expensive. I've been checking Craigslist and ebay daily and some of the anvils down here are almost double the price of similar anvils up in Pennsylvania or New York. I'm on a budget of about $200 and I saw a 70 lb. forged steel anvil on ebay for $160. I did some digging and based on threads here and the picture provided on ebay I've come to the conclusion that it is a Fervi C50 steel anvil. They say the rockwell is 52 which doesn't seem all that bad for a beginner, but as I said I'm working on an extremely tight budget and I don't want to blow $200 on an ASO. Has anybody ever used one of these anvils or know somebody who has? I'm not picky if it'll work I can use it. Any feedback would be appreciated. Ebay link has been removed, as per ToS On a last note, if you're in East Texas and know of any good deals or sources to get something better I'd appreciate that too