Luna

While I am definitely a fan of the homemade anvil nothing performs like a commercially made anvil, it's purpose made for the job. I work now on my homemade anvil as a preference but it is kinda funny how things turn out. If you give up hunting for the perfect anvil and get something to get you started it seems like it opens a door. I know it did for me, once I made that step it seemed like anvils were everywhere. If you want to give smithing a try find something and give it a go. I will warn you though this is habit forming if not down right addictive. Look on youtube at smiths in third world countries, look at the anvils and tools that they use to provide for their families. I had preconceived ideas of what I had to have to do this, that just weren't true. Those videos will wake you up to the possibilities. Here in America it is pretty easy to scrounge together a pretty good start, especially with the info on this forum without a newb breaking the bank. This forum has been a wonderful resource for me, I always learn something new. But nothing will teach you as much as putting that info to use with your own two hands, make a start today. Bye the way thanks, in case people don't say it enough.

one of the many advantages of a homemade anvil is you never have to worry about ruining it if you repair it

Great condition too, I'm a bit jealous myself

If you are reading this and struggling to get your first anvil, my beginner model is just 1" X 8" flat bar welded together, this makes it easy to put in a hardie hole. I just had to put a horn on my anvil, nothin dooin, turns out for me that square hole was alot more usefull. I really like that ya'll encourage beginners to use what they have access to and work their way up. Maybe this will inspire somebody to think about what they have around them, I know this site has gave me ideas.

I prolly left the lid up and them goats was lookin fer something to drink

I'm surprised I can find anything in there myself, the darn goats got in the shop while I was gone and destroyed the forge area. I am gona have to re-build the JABOD (they decided the top of the forge was a good place to lay down) and scattered stuff everywhere. Knocked over the quench oil and quench bucket, made a big ole mess. Will have to admit shootin goats was on my mind for a few minutes. I was planning a re-build on the JABOD this summer but they have forced my hand. As to the hammer. I will loan you my lawn mower anytime, my children sometimes, my hammer - negative ghostrider.

This is the anvil I use now, made it myself and still use it whenever I am home. 180lbs and works a treat. I was inspired to keep making anvils and now I make one a year, this pattern was inspired by Brian Breazale's mild steel anvils, comes in at 80lbs, 1" hardie hole, great for beginners. George I couldn't agree more about old tools but then again I am the fellow who names his hammers

Ok men I finally made it back home and dug the old man out in the light. Tried to do a bit of a rubbing with soapstone but didn't have much luck. Best I could figure based on Mr Postman's work is somewhere in the late 1700's. Take a gander and give me the benefit of your experience, I will appreciate any help I can get. I am not an Anvil collector so my estimates are suspect, I figure he is over 200yrs old, and probably an Alsop. I do need to weigh him that may shed some light on the markings but I will have to get my sons to help with that project. Thanks in advance

I am out of town and can't go look till this coming weekend, but there the remnants of some numbers on it. The sort where they center punch the starts and stops then cut the lines, most of it is lost and I have been reluctant to use more aggressive methods. If it had been stamped acid might reveal something but with the remains of cut lines I didn't know how likely that would be. I prolly will use him at some point he deserves that but as you put it "just enough to know he is still loved".

This is my first post here but I have been a wall flower for a while. Learned a lot just hanging around listening. I could use a bit of help with this old man here, not sure what the maker is(looks like a Alsop) not sure myself. I would like to know approx manufacture date (marks are pretty much gone) and maker if possible. No stampings visible, the old man was used hard, and I am now his current keeper. I already have an anvil that I love and use, I am just going to keep him safe for the next generation.

I already have a forge or two or three or four, and what do I want to make, well everything of course. I tend towards things people can use and that will out-live me. I forged my first knife over a corncob fire as a teen but never really got serious till lately. Been mostly make-do for years with the most serious lack being a real anvil so last Christmas I gave up and made myself one and wouldn't you know it now the darn things are falling out of the sky. Four months ago I found a colonial anvil looks like a Alsop, shortly after another anvil only says warranted on the side without the horn and a couple more homemades to add to my collection of track anvils. Right now I am playing with the JABOD ideas and love the darn things it really apeals to my "do wit what you got" upbringing. Mr Stevens it is far far tooo late to run

JHCC, I read that first Glen, The meeting place for the MFC is a two hour drive for me, I have also looked at the GCBA which is closer. I will go where I need to, but was looking for someone in the Gulfport or Hattisburg areas if possible. Like everyone else job and life do get in the way and someone closer means I can attend more often.

Hello my name is Luna Baker and I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself in hopes of finding others near my home in Wiggins, Mississippi who are interested in learning as I am. I have been lurking in the shadows for a while reading and learning and I would like to move forward with that more formally. I am a certified shade tree engineer, born into a financially embarrassed family, so I am comfortable making my tools and making do. I am a borderline hoarder who has sworn not to sell his junk iron pile ever again ( you will need the very thing you sold the very next day ) so I gots stuff to work with. I am self taught and I can turn my hand to most anything which just means I prolly got lots to un-learn. A born knife nut but as I have got older I like to build things people can use from the scrap I find ( we waste so much these days ) I stand ready to learn or un-learn as the case may be.