First anvil

[quint]

Hello everyone, I am new here and have been scouring around this site for a little bit. I got into knife making a little while back and well one thing led to another and found myself picking up a $300 anvil I saw on craigslist. Now what I know so far. I assume the horn is the front for description purposes. On the left side of the body I can see stamped into it "200lbs" and "1928" and below that "4", on the front left foot (think thats what it is called) is also stamped "1928" and what looks like "3" below it. On the right side of the body I can barely make out a stamp marking "SWEDEN" there is something else stamped above that but I cant really make much if any out of it I think one part says O or 0 not sure but other then that its too hard to read. Atleast with all the black paint on the body.

Still planning on cleaning it up and hopefully smoothing out any of the rough spots. Top is pretty flat and doing a hammer drop test it gets what I would consider really good recoil and a nice ring to it. Then again my only real experience with smithing is buying this anvil and making a forge for HT my blades.

Thanks a ton for any info you all may have.

[John McPherson]

You got a DEAL! A fine brand in great shape, a Sodofors 200lb anvil at that price would have me grinning for a week, even in my sleep.

Enjoy, and add your location to your profile. You will find there are blacksmiths and bladesmiths everywhere, if you know how to get in touch.

[Frank Turley]

Beautiful.

[Daniel.85]

Nicest first anvil post Ive seen, congrats!

[quint]

Thanks guys. I was pretty happy once I found out I could use it for my intended purposes.

So it is a Sodofors then, thought it looked similar to one I had scene a pic of but its so hard to tell for me.

[clinton]

Just clean it up with a wire brush, a knotted wire wheel on a 4 inch grinder works well. I use the cupped wheel for this type of work. It looks like you have real good edges. Do not use a grinding wheel on it. I really do not see any, "Rough spots" that need "Smoothing out"

[Loneforge]

Now that my friend is a SCORE! Awesome shape. I'd give the face a quick brushing and use it myself. Shiny tools have no cool stories to tell!....Enjoy!

[quint]

Thanks guys, cleaned it up a little today just took a wire wheel to it and got most of the big rust off. I filed the end of the horn just enough to remove the mushroom that had been pounded on there. There was just a tad of mushrooming effect. Couldnt really make out much more on the lettering and numbering. Did find a 5 stamped in the back of the heel and found that someone had taken a engraver and written "coursG 604..." on the side of the horn. Barely see it though. Looks pretty good overall.

One thing on the top there are a few decent size nicks at the edge of it. Probably just leave these alone I assume. Biggest one is about 1/8" across and the rest are pretty small.

Now cant wait to start making some stuff. Whats the best recommendation for quieting the ring a bit, have heard a chain tied around.

[JimsShip]

Some folks use a large magnet or two attatched to the underside to help quiet the ring. I have just the chain and it doesn't seem to be too loud. (For me at least, the neighbors may think differently!)

[ThomasPowers]

Bedding in silicone caulk on the anvil stump works too---if you don't need to separate them to move them a lot.

[Big Lake Forge]

if im not mistaken it is a Sodofors 200lb'er

[quint]

Just wanted to update that after taking a disk to the sides and getting the old paint off around the stamping I was able to make out that it is a sodofors. Says it on both sides from what I can tell. Thanks again for all the help.