I was thinking of parting with this or trading for a swage block, I was wondering if any one had an idea what it may be worth?

Just bought almost the same thing a few months ago.
I paid $75, but "value" is whatever someone is willing to pay for an item.

I would easily trade it for a swage block!

this one has 1" 1.25 1.5 1.625. 2 and 2.5 stake holes if that helps. Wow black frog I hope you got a very very very good deal! LOL. I thought it would be worth more.

It seems to me they go for 150 to 200 on ebay if they are in good shape.  That one seems to be in good shape.  If you put out the effort you get the price. 

New: very expensive indeed!

 

used on the "open market": several hundred dollars.

 

"Found": well I paid under US$10 for mine at the local scrapyard.

 

You might offer it over at the armourarchive.org as armourers like them for their stakes.

I agree you can find them cheep but you may wait years before you find one for 10 bucks.  I got given 2 in a trade for a swage block with some stakes.  Tire kickers and cheep people will not help you horse-trade your way into better tooling.

You're right; I had to pay $25 to another smith for my first one!

Oh boy not going to get rich on this! LOL. Thank you folks I appreciate the input!

Oh boy not going to get rich on this! LOL. Thank you folks I appreciate the input!

You really should be able to get $150 for it though.  Some people need them and will pay, 25 bucks is below market value.  If I needed one I would pay that.  Not many people have the time or ability to root around the scrap yard looking for anything of value.  I did my share of that in years past and actually made a few bucks doing it.

A lot depends on your location in the country too. In the tool rich eastern half of the country $150 may be cheap on the other hand in the tool poor western half of the country $150 could be a steal. It all depends on your local amount of used tools for sale.

I have to say that I paid towards the top end of the scale this year, when I finally found one. Unlike Thomas, I am not naturally lucky, so this was the first one in 15 years of looking that I had the cash for.  I ain't getting any younger looking for "deals".

 

Here in the "tool rich" eastern United States, I would have to say they about twice as rare as swage blocks or cones. I see one about every 5 years.

Indiana prices hover right around $200, have seen several in the last year, but they were all within $25 of each other. Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places...

I went to school auctions in Columbus OH and they sold a lot of them mounted in workbenches from their shop programs they were shutting down back in the 90's.

 

Might see if any silversmithing programs near you which might have folks hankering for a stake plate and may even have a swageblock they don't need.

I got excited at first because the only price I could find was for a new plate and as stated above that one was $1300, and knowing I couldn't afford the stakes I thought I may be able to trade for a swage block. Wich I could put to use! But since I probably can't swing a trade I may just hold onto it. I will however check into some of the suggestions you folks provided! I really appreciate all your very knowledgeable information! Thank you very much!