Mert

Thank-You to everyone that has responded. Njanvilman thanks for the historic background information. Some day I would love to see your collection! The reasoning for my specific questions is to possibly determine the monetary value and the historic value. This anvil was recently given to me by an elderly man here in southern NH. It has been in his family a very long time and when he learned that I was collecting the tools needed to begin learning blacksmithing he offered it to me. I need an anvil to use and if this one has historic or $ value I will offer it back to him. I would rather spend money for a more common anvil that way if I damage it I haven't ruined a piece of history. If it is one of the less common ones and he insists I keep it, I won't pound on it. I'll dislpay it in my house. I have great respect for craftsmen of olden times and the tools they utilized.

Yup. It was $8 and the head is just set on the handle- no wedges. So I figured I'd buy it for the handle (I have several heads in need of handles) and if the head turned out to be something I could use in blacksmithing then that would just be a bonus. Thanks for the tool-lingo info. Mert.

Bought this cheap at a antique store. Got it to use the handle (handle never had wedges in it) for another tool. Have no idea what the head would be used for, although it certainly looks like it's held in place by one person as someone else strikes it with a sledge. I figured it was used in ship building because of the anchor marking on it, then I saw someone posted a picture of a top swage with the same makers mark (Y P with an anchor between the letters). Anyone have any ideas? Thanks. Mert.

Newbie here looking for any info about my newly acquired anvil. Maker? Age? Collectible value? Should I get the damage fixed? Very interested to hear your responses! It weighs in at just under 200 lbs., height 12", length 24", width (top) 4 1/2", the face is 15 1/2" L, table is 2 1/4" x 4", horn is 6 1/2" but probably 1" to 1 1/2" has been blunted, waist is 9", the base or feet is 12 1/2" x 10 1/2". It has a hole in the bottom that goes 8 1/2" up towards the face. It appears that the hardened steel surface goes the length of the top and continues out to end of the horn. Only mark on it is a raised 5-pointed star on one side. Hardy hole is 1" x 1", pritchel hole is 1/2". Damage includes a chunk missing from one side of the face, curious drill holes in the side of the face and the blunted horn. Looks quite primitive. Appears to be an old-style shaped anvil? Thanks for any help you can provide. Mert.