Hello, I have a question about an anvil that has been in our family for years. My great, great grandfather was a blacksmith who was born in Ireland and came to the United states during the potato famine. His son was also a blacksmith, and of his two sons one was my grandfather, a farmer and carpenter, and his brother who was a blacksmith until he was kicked by a horse and died in 1941. My father and I were both tool makers, and I am pretty sure the anvil was at least my grand uncle's. It weighs 125.5#, and the pictures tell the rest. My question is about the base, as it looks like the anvil was hollow cast and filled. Was this the way they were made? Also since stamping numbers and letters doesn't seem to be a refined art back then, :-), I wonder about the serial #. It appears to be 8369, but that seems too low. If there was a "1" there, it would make it about 1895 from other members posts. If there was a "4" there, it would seem too young, and there is a "4" stamped under the horn above the serial # that doesn't match the same style, but the upper "4" could be an inspectors mark from different stamps. Anyway, I lightly wire brushed it, and coated it with linseed oil. It will stay in the family, but I sure would appreciate any comment any one has, as I have no experience in the art.