Nicemibs Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Hello, I just got 2 new anvils that my father purchased, I dont know much about them, they are very interesting pieces any info on uses rarity and value?? Thanks Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Lap anvils are often used for leather work and setting light rivets. Very nice looking anvils. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Nice bickiron they seem to go from 75 to 150 depending on size and condition. larger ones go for even more. I would but that one on the higher end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 That is a nice stake anvil, bickiron, beakiron, bickern. I guess bickern derives from a bird's beak and 'ern' is contracted from 'iron.' I'm told that they show up at Quadstate, and that most of them were to be found in the area of Pennsylvania and Ohio. I suggest that the English (London) pattern anvil could not be used easily for some forging techniques. Therefore, some shops kept the bickern handy. For example, a smith might have wanted a small, sharp U-shaped bend on the end of a bar; the pyramidal horn would be helpful. Or he might want a small right angle bend on a short piece, but the tongs are in the way, sitting on the anvil face. Again, the pyramidal horn. I have two bickerns, one purchased years ago in Arizona. Another I got in trade, and it was used in Texas. The Texas bickern is probably made of wrought iron, as both horns droop, and the small, central face is mushroomed. I find that my bickern is often useful when I forge branding iron letters and characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 A bickern is also useful when you have your main anvil being a pretty much hornless block of steel. I made my own to go with my Y1k Travel Anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicemibs Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hello again and thanks for the replys guys, This bick has a pritchel hole in the top and a small hardy hole, I didnt get any pictures of them, but it is really clean and nice shape! I was wondering, if I can use this bickiron/anvil in the hardy hole on my 250lber soderfers, it has 1 1/4" hardy hole. Will it damage the hardy hole or split the tail off of the anvil? Is it meant to be used in the top on an actual stump by itself? And I was curiuos about value/worth, because of what my dad paid for them, he just buys when he finds me tools!! thanks again Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 The bickiron was ment to be mounted in a wood block or log. The tapered shank will get scored up if placed in a hardie hole and it will not be stable when struck on with a hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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