JT

Nice !! how heavy is it and how wide are the jaws ??

well not blacksmith ordinated this time, but this pretty cool very good condition 12 Ft. old wood boat from the 30s or 40s begged me to bring it home ... I couldn't resist ... JT

Hello Howling dog forge ! I can't help with the makers marks.. but for those points for and aft of the jaws... I can't say for sure.. but I have a photo of a post vise with what are probably pipe jaws that are attached under them.. could possibly be for this purpose .. its the second vise from the left.. JT

yes it was in wet years with high moisture... pretty crazy to see it !! it didn't completely pop like pop corn but did pop about half way..

thank you , I had no idea of the tapered pivot bolts it very well could have been.. I will take a closer look when I take it all apart.. thank you for the heads up !! JT

yes it was missing the pivot bolt and it does have a boss to hold it from turning . I don't think it is a tapered hole though as the 7/8" bolt went through both holes snuggly and the jaws line up properly.. but when I take it apart to wire wheel it I will defiantly look into it closer. I agree I would like to have the correct type bolt there.. thanks, JT

I have worked in a grain elevator for 40+ years and have seen field corn actually "pop" several times over the years coming out of dryers !! so it can " pop " !!

I don't really know what brand it is. I was just going by what I've seen other earlier Columbians have, with chamfered legs and beveled cheeks that the pivot bolt goes through, and most seem to have a "rounded head " pivot bolt that this one originally had. what are your thoughts as to the maker ?? JT

thank you !!! the light weight one. lol.. does say Columbian hardware, Cleveland on the mount.. I'm not sure on the heavy weight.. thinking possibly Columbian also ... it would have had a rounded head "carriage head type" pivot bolt originally ..

I recently picked up a couple of larger post vises.. ( when it rains it pours ) the second one came along unexpected but these larger ones don't come along around here as often. so the price was right, so I grabbed it... these are how they look now. the first has 7 1/4" jaws and very heavy ( haven't weighted it yet but over 150 lbs. ) the threads are good and have actually been keep well greased .. it came out of a old sugar beet factory, and after a bit of negotiating became mine.. it needed a pivot bolt and I got a square headed 7/8" bolt and nut for it.. the other one has a 6 1/4" Jaw, and is newer and more neglected but still has good threads . its about half as heavy ( or feels like it ) but still heavy enough as to not want to carry it far !! lol I will wire wheel these and oil them then repost photos with the results .. JT

as stated above from 1910 and later ENGLAND was stamped under Peter Wright ... so no older then 1910..

I found this anvil to be interesting but wasn't sure about the story that was given.. I also find all your replies interesting and informative .. I never thought about the possible military aspect of it... that sort of intrigues me even more.. any and all thoughts are appreciated .. I decided I couldn't resist it for $165.00 so I ended up buying it.. JT

thanks !! both a couple interesting observations ... JT

hehehe... will these aren't my anvils just a couple photos I found on the net.. JT

you could just buy one of these really heavy anvils that no one really needs.... and solve the problem of someone walking away with it !! lol or try forging on your knees using your buried anvil that would be a real chore to dig out and lift up and run off with !!! lol JT

I found this anvil that was said to be used with shoeing horses .. looks like a stake anvil. does this look to be home made ?? or foundry made ?? anyone have thoughts on this one ?? JT

there were 180 items auctioned off at this auction almost all were blacksmith items mostly anvils but also forges, and vise's both post vise's and bench vises.. here is another anvil that was sold it was 90 lbs. and sold for $1750.00 + fees and possibly tax's !! there was this Fisher no. 6 double screw vise with 8" jaws that sold for $1650.00 + fees and possible tax's .. I did a online bid on this one but didn't get it.. it was the only item I bid on.. JT

was anyone at this auction yesterday and see this one in person ?? it was listed as a 930 lb. RIS Miller Anvil 1 of 3 made.. sold for $7250.00 + fees and possibly tax's. there were many many anvils auctioned off there yesterday ...

Marc is correct here.. I posted my 573lb. in reply to the op.. JT

well another one of these Clark Trucloader forklifts followed me home on Friday. it was a 4 hour round trip drive. once again these are the smallest ride on forklifts ever made and can drive through a man door. they weigh about 2500 lbs. and have a lifting rate of 1000 lbs. and take up about as much room as 2 trash cans.. these don't pop up often and when they do... they seem to sell quickly.. I bought this one with the idea of having a parts truck, but once I looked it over its actually in pretty good condition..

I just picked up this old Woodward & Rodgers sensitive drill press.. its been converted some what and does work.. but for $43.14 I couldn't pass it up.. probably from around 1903.. here are a few photos of advertising I found... first ad is from 1890, second from 1899 third from 1902 and forth from 1903.. JT

thanks Scrambler82 !! the vise is only reason I bought the lot... not sure just how long they were made.. not much info to be found about it.. very neat little guy though !! possibly a jewelers vise ? but I'm with you on this one.. just for viewing !!

picked up a collection of mini tools. the vise is marked pat. June 16 1885 H&B..

Well I ended up getting this old 7" swivel jaw bench vise today at a small local on line auction for $211.00 its at least 200 lbs. and 31" long closed and 13" tall.. its a monster looking vise in person.. it has no makers mark that can be seen... G-ManBart told me it looks like a Prentiss vise.. thanks for all the info Bart !!

nice anvil !! I don't know how to date them either, I have one like it also, that weighs in at 573lbs.