The Chukster Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I could really use the experts out there to help me identify this anvil, hope someone can help. I just picked up a 75 pound forged iron anvil from an old farm that has pretty good rebound and it rings, something I have not had to hear with my Fisher anvil. It has a somewhat convex (yes, not concaved) face on it, not sure if someone has welded on it or not, but the base is somewhat convex as well. In fact, it almost looks as if the anvil was forged in two pieces as the Heel, Horn, and Base have a small ridge shape to them in the middle as if it was joined in two sections and then ground slightly. It does not have a Pritchel hole, I thought this was odd or is it? The base measures 7 1/4" x 7 1/4", the face is 4" wide by 10 1/2" long, and it stands 8" high. There are no markings whatsoever on this. I have attached some pictures, hope someone has an idea what year and/or manufacturer is was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 It looks like a modern Wang Chung to me...... :ph34r: ..... The line down the middle is a parting line from the mould it was cast in. If it rings, rebounds and isn't real soft count yourself lucky. Hope you didn't pay allot for it and I'd grind down that parting line if I were going to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 It is cast, not forged. Looks like the cheep cast iron anvils coming out of Mexico. Maybe it is steel? I believe anvils like that were made at the end of the work day with what ever remaining material was in the crucible after all the other items were cast. I second Macbruce, grind the parting line flat and use the anvil. I have picked up a cast iron anvil like this for 20$ and gave it to family, my brother uses it from time to time in his shop to hammer on metal trinkets he needs to bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Door stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Whoooo Tim.... Frosty made me the administrator of door stops... Yes this one does qualify LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chukster Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Guys, thank for the input. I am new to blacksmithing and this info helps. I paid $40.00 for it because the rebound was good, but this anvil has to be over 60 years old because the grandfather of the farmhouse owner bought it from another farmer in the area when they first got there. Not sure how long he had it, but the farmer I bought it from thought it should be 60 years plus easily. Was Mexico punching out anvils like this? I took some more photos, it does look as if it did have a name on it at one time. One side of the anvil looks typical but the other side looks as if something was ground off, or is this just the bad casting that makes these marks? Here I was hoping I had a 75 pound Peter Wright, only to suspect I now have a cheap, cast iron, made in Mexico anvil. That's a bummer. Do the additional pics change anyone's mind or do I still have a $40.00 door step?! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 It does look like something was ground off the one side, but that doesn't imply anything. It's definitely cast, and no common anvil makers would have cast it and then left that parting line on the face. If the anvil rings like a church bell and bounces a hammer back at you, you've got a decent anvil. Could be cast tool steel and not cast iron. Does the face dent at all when you tap it with a hammer? If not, definitely lucky and you should use it happily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Welcome board, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you may be happy to find out how many IFI gang live within visiting distance, guys just need to know you're around to lend a hand. The important thing to think about an anvil isn't who made it, how long ago, nor how it's made. The true core issue is how it works. If it has good rebound and doesn't dent under a rap from a ball pein it's a good working anvil. A 75lb. anvil for $40 is a darned decent deal, even if it needs some cleaning up with a grinding disk. The logo/touch mark(?) looks like a bull/bison maybe to me. Is there a maker who uses that as a logo? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chukster Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Just went out there and smacked it quite a few times really good, it does dent slightly but man, you need to dodge that hammer flying backwards. It looks as if I keep hammering the dent until it is flat, it doesn't seem to dent in that location again, but maybe that is me being more hopeful. One thing for sure, it has serious rebound. Oh well. I have a 70 pound Fisher anvil from 1903 that I like, I was just hoping I had picked up something here with this one that made it special. I guess in some way it is special, it may just go out in my wife's garden! Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chukster Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Thanks Frosty, I will do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 You may be lucky, and whatever was leftover in the crucible that day was good stuff from tool production or even manhole covers. Maybe cast steel, maybe good ductile iron, and not grey iron leftover from garden "objets de art". The USA made "seconds" from 60 years ago tend to be better quality than most of the so-called "firsts" imported in the last 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Please remember to accept all stories about anvils with a grain of salt. I've seen anvils that came over with people's great great great great grandfather from the old country that were American made in the 1920's... Anvils just seem to collect stories. As said, looks extremely like the Mexican anvils cast from a "real" anvil as the pattern. Someone casting them for real wouldn't put the parting line down the face! Might do a spark test on it while grinding it flat. Could be you got a good alloy just not heat treated. If it works USE IT, drill your own pritchel and make up your own logo stamp XX would work just like the Mexican beer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chukster Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 Thanks Tom for your comments. Right now I have been using it over my Fisher anvil because it has a wider face and also since I am new to Blacksmithing, I don't want to damage my Fisher anvil. I figure I can learn on this "no brand" anvil for now, and it seems to be fine except for that ringing. My Fisher doesn't have this attribute so it takes a little bit to get adjusted to it. What ever this thing is, at least my wife thinks it look pretty good sitting on the Oak log i have for it. Now I just have to figure out a reply to her question of why do I need (2) anvils? Haven't quite figured out an answer to that one yet so this may end up in the garden one of these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Why do you NEED two anvils!?!?! <SHOCKED GASP> You could ask her why the kitchen stove has so many burners. Of course using both and showing her is a better (safer) answer. I use both of mine on one project all the time. Keep the hardy or a bending fork, cutting saddle, hold fast or such in one anvil with the attendant tools while the hammer work is done on the other. I do this all the time, it's just so MUCH faster and easier to lean left or right rather than change out tools. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chukster Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Frosty, what a great response, especially the part of the many burners on her stove. I forwarded your response to her at work, now there should not be any more negative feedback or additional questions why I need two anvils. I appreciate the feedback, because one of these days I will find me a big anvil ( I have a 70# and a 75# one) and I don't think I will want to part with my first two. When that day comes, I am sure her next question will be why do I now have three anvils? I'll use your killer response of why does she have four burners on her stove?. Now I am in the hunt for my big anvil! You gave me some great ammunition, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Smith Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 Willie Nelson answered that question. "Why do I have to chose?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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