MrQQish

Definitley alot to think about and im more keen than ever to actually see it in person now. I think alot of my problem is impatience and im sure if the seller gets even a whiff of enthusiasm all haggling goes out the windows ahah. Thanks for all the advice and new terms i will keep posting progress as i try and start my harem of anvils

What an awesome reception! Thanks guys for all the advice I must admit now looking back on it my OP could have been more succinct. I am a hobbyist smith in my spare time making blades (knives and swords), brackets and hooks for around the house and i occasionally do commisions mainly for garden art and ornaments. I have had a little less than 1000 hours behind the forge so i dont know how this converts into experience. However, this anvil will be big enough if not to big for some of the things that i do but im assuming that that wouldnt hurt and optimally i would like an anvil that gives me "options". I would have personally "liked" an anvil with a flatter face and neater edges buti may or may not be getting to attached to the look of the anvil (im a bit of a perfectionist) and i know that the functionality of these is debatable. Thanks so much for explain the ring and rebound tests, i think from another post i saw on this forum 80 - 85% return height was optimal???... I will be definitely turning up with some ball bearings and gypsum chalk, taking alot of measurments and pictures and possibly even recording the ring sound. I have a retired blacksmith friend that i will try to drag along with me but it may not be possible. Interesting you mention the mushrooming on the edge could indicate a mistempter or too soft a working face... is this a deal breaker though? particularly since a repair is destined in its future if it is too soft would the Gunther method to reface the anvil be at all an option? This isnt the be all and end all of anvils I hope but seeing one if this size has got me quite enthusiatic ahah. In my experience with other hobbies i definitely understand the perils of "too much, too fast" and i would like to avoid this as too many times has overcommiting killed my enthusiasm especially if they end up all croppping up after my first purchase. At this stage the asking price is 750 usd which looks like a decent ask but dud or not it feel like this anvil will last me out. A major plus is that I will be able to pick up the anvil myself meaning no extra in shipping. Maybe I am overthinking it as im am not a professional blacksmith and really any chunk of steel would probably work. MrQ (Q or Quish)

Hi Guys, New to the forum but have seen a lot of great advice on here in regards to anvil identification and appraisal as to quality. Im a novice smith (hardly can call myself that really) and its really showing as i want to buy my first anvil (see attached... im hoping to get more photos and i am goingto see it in person soon). Up until this point i have been using just a peice of rail and i think its time to uprgade as it is chipped and rutted as anything else. If it is allowed I would like to put a few questions out there. 1. Would anyone be able to identify the anvil? It has T7 marked on it any other identifying features are missing or rusted out. It has an approximate weight of 150 - 200kg (300 - 400#). 2. The heel of the anvil is chipped as you can kind of glean from the image... the seller think that it was previsouly repaired but had broken out as there is evidence of weld. The horn, cutting face and working face are all very worn it has definitely seen some use but in my inexperieced opinion needs some love. Is there any rule of thumb to determine whether the working face is it too beaten up and needs repairing or from the looks of it does it seeem workable as is? 3. im definitely going to have to repair the heel and have been recommended something similar to the Gunther Method (heat up and fill with good welding rod and grind back). Is this the route that you all would recommend? 3. how much would you all be willing to pay for such an anvil in this condition and this size? As far as im concerned the seller is asking a more than fair price for an anvil that that im reasonably happy to pay. The thing i want to avoid at this point is buying something that doesnt suit my purposes or is going to take more money than expected to fix up or maintain in the long run. I will be hopefully getting more picture and measurements soon... Thanks in advance! 3.