ComesOutSwingin

Thank you, ThomasPowers! I greatly appreciate the input. I wanted to make sure the issues I was seeing were typical on an anvil of this age, and have no desire to take power tools or abrasives to this anvil. In all of the buying guides I read about not buying anvils that had a lot of chipping or delaminations. I didn't see any big delaminations, just a lot of chipping which had me concerned, which is where my condition related concerns and questions came from. I'm relieved to hear this isn't an issue. I am planning on picking up a bearing this week so I can test out it's rebound and have used a small hammer to make sure it rang, which it did just like a bell. The rebound with that hammer was also nice. I don't think the fourth to last photo shows it well, but in the very center of the bottom of the Enville it looked like a crack at formed on either side of the hole. Is this an improper weld or an actual crack? Would additional photos help or can you identify it from what I've already provided? Thank you for dating it, based on the serial number on the front foot. Thank you, Frosty! I will make sure to add my location in the future (Eastern Washington). I'm looking forward to beating some steel on her as soon as I can scrounge up the parts to make a forge or finding An assembled gas or charcoal forge.

I have a friend who forges on one. Much like myself, he appreciated local craftsmanship and lives close to where they are made. After walking through the facility and talking with them, he decided to buy one and hasn't regretted it. If I was in the market for a new one, I would probably buy the Papa Rhino also.

Hello, All: I will I'll start by saying I'm a long-time reader but I haven't posted a thread until now. I picked up this blackjack anvil the other day and was hoping someone with more knowledge than I could help me with a few things. Mainly: I've read in other threads that Hay Budden is the only manufacturer that puts serial numbers on the waist of the anvil. So is this blackjack a piece that was made by Hay Budden for a small shop back in the day? From the serial number, approximately when was this anvil crafted? The serial number listed is 138625. Also, I'm curious about condition and whether or not this will be a serviceable anvil and/or whether it's worth it from a cost perspective to repair it. From my untrained eye, the face appears to be flat, the sides are not straight/flat; most have been damaged over the years. The hardie hole appears to be in good shape as does the horn. When I turn the anvil over, there appears to be a crack in the bottom. I'm not sure if that indentation in the bottom was a part of HB manufacturing or if it was adder later to attempt to stabilize the crack. There are also a few areas around the base where the metal doesn't look right. It looks as if some gum welds were done. I've tried to photograph that also (visible on the third to last photo on the back of the anvil) Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated: