Jeff myers

Great suggestions thank you.

I am not saying that making knifes is a beginning skill to forge. I watch a lot of shows where they make incredible products with incredible skills that I’m sure I will never possess at my age. To clarify I’m going to start by forging spent files and tinker with them for awhile study the trade. 

Thanks for that info Iron Dragon. That’s what I thought Early 1940s.

My late father was in the Navy during World War II. I didn’t get the anvil from him but he was one hell of a machinist. I quest I better get to work building a history wth this anvil. 

Thank you for all your input. I agree leave the gray lady gray. I’m looking forward to using it to play with making knifes and other beginner stuff. Before that it was in my horse barn and my farrier used it when he came to shoe the hay burners. I almost sold it once or twice.

The paint was a question. I see a lot of anvils on line look like a cast iron skillet. Is this a good option to make an anvil look nicer?

I have an old trenton 200 lb anvil ser#215547. Can anyone tell me how old it is? Or is it a good one to start out with?