Vendarien Brunnbar Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Ok I am trying to get my first real anvil and have finily found one nearby. Its is a fisher navy 1939 anvil the owner says it has #23 marked on it and weighs around 200lbs he is asking 1250$ for it. Is this price worth it or should i try and talk him down. pics he provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalanton Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 that anvil looks to be in great condition but 6 dollars a pound is new anvil prices.. get a 250lb rhino anvil for that price. I am still looking for my first anvil and have looked for over a year. I have seen fishers as nice as that one go for 6-800 in other parts of the country., if I could get one for that price range I would jump on it here in Montana, but if I am going to pay more than that I am going for a new anvil. I have seen people ask that much for 200 lb fisher anvils on craigslist and ebay and they just sit there and don't sell, so I would definitely talk him way down... really nice anvil though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vendarien Brunnbar Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 That is what i figured but his listing seems to indicate that he seems it has a large antique value so I am not sure how far down he will go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 As much as I love fishers that's too much..You can find a much bigger and equally as nice of an anvil for that price even on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakesshop Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 I have two Fishers that I love working on, but that price is way north of what I would pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 That '23' looks like a '25' to me. Fisher marked the weight like that, so I would expect the weight to be somewhere between 230 and 250lbs. Is it worth the money he's asking? Well, that depends. I am a huge proponent of the Fisher anvils and I will gladly say that, all things being equal, Fisher anvils are as good (or better) any anvils being made today. People are paying similar money for a brand-new anvil, so why not pay that same money for an 'almost-new' Fisher? You cannot get that quiet Fisher quality in any new anvils. If I had the choice between a Fisher and Rhino, same size and condition, I'd choose the Fisher every time. Having said that, though, you can get a good Fisher off of ebay and have it shipped to your door for less than he's asking. I had mine shipped halfway across the country for only $200, making the total cost almost half what he wants for that thing. And mine is bigger by at least fifty pounds! Unless you're absolutely needing an anvil for production work right now, I'd shop around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 I have to agree, $3-$4 a lb is a good price. I have a nearly identical Fisher, same date and logo, but none of the other markings, but this ones edges are in much better shape. I love the closed anchor cleats. I paid $2.5 a lb for mine, but that was back when God was a little boy :lol: . Even with shipping a new anvil would be less. Try to talk him down, but be prepared to walk if he won't budge. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 nope....wayyyy too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 There is no such thing as a "NAVY" Fisher. That is the logo they had used is one incarnation or another since 1870. The weight # are 25, indicating weight of about 250 lbs +/-. The anvil is in nice shape. The price is at the high end of realistic pricing. And 1939 does not really make it an antique. Fisher's were produced since the early 1850's. Bring 100 dollar bills, and offer about $800. Worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 For 1250 I would buy a brand new ALL STEEL anvil, Fishers a great anvil, But a forged solid steel anvil would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Antique is over 100 years old for most things, 1939 doesn't cut it. I don't know where you live but even here in anvil poor New Mexico USA that price is excessively excessive. Now if that is Australian dollars or Singapore dollars it might make a difference as LOCATION can double an anvil's price. Let him wait for all those antique anvil collectors to come batter his door down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 There's a big difference in asking price and getting price. A thing is NOT worth what a person asks, it's worth what someone will pay for it. I'm with NJ, I'd take 8 $100 bills and the intent to say good day. You can't effectively bargain if you let the seller know you REALLY want a thing, you have to have your mind made up that it just isn't really all THAT important to have. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I agree. Offer $800 and walk if he won't budge. Let us know how it goes. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glamuzina Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I say 600 tops. I bought my 250# fisher for .80 lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 There's a big difference in asking price and getting price. A thing is NOT worth what a person asks, it's worth what someone will pay for it. I'm with NJ, I'd take 8 $100 bills and the intent to say good day. You can't effectively bargain if you let the seller know you REALLY want a thing, you have to have your mind made up that it just isn't really all THAT important to have. Frosty The Lucky. I run inot that all the time.."Well Ive been looking online" right then I know Im gonna hear some ridiculous number.."Well I saw them on ebay priced for $1100" but they don't realize that same anvil has been relisted a dozen times.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I thought Rhino's were now being cast in the PNW? Pretty sure I read that he was having trouble getting consistent quality from the chinese foundry and then found a local caster that could meet the pricepoint he needed. That's been about a year ago or better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Geist Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I think I have you all beat. I bought one like that 200# for $125 (the guy was asking $150) back in 1980-something. Granted that was a while ago but they haven't appreciated that much. I'll agree with everybody else and say too much money. Hey Josh, I know there is no specific "Navy" model. However, didn't Fisher have the government contracts to produce anvils for the Navy? I thought so anyway and that does look like deck gray paint on it. Interesting. George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiack Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I run inot that all the time.."Well Ive been looking online" right then I know Im gonna hear some ridiculous number.."Well I saw them on ebay priced for $1100" but they don't realize that same anvil has been relisted a dozen times.. I do hate that also especially when they are comparing an anvil or powehammer that is in disuse and in need of major repairs to a specimen that is in pristine condition. However Matchless did sell a 200lb Fisher in slightly better condition for over $1000 plus freight shipping so the asking price was not completely unjustified. It was too high for a local sale without cleaning it up and taking pretty pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I think I have you all beat. I bought one like that 200# for $125 (the guy was asking $150) back in 1980-something. Granted that was a while ago but they haven't appreciated that much. I'll agree with everybody else and say too much money. Hey Josh, I know there is no specific "Navy" model. However, didn't Fisher have the government contracts to produce anvils for the Navy? I thought so anyway and that does look like deck gray paint on it. Interesting. George Yes, Fisher produced anvils for the US government for about a hundred years. They went to all branches of service. Clark Fisher wrote the specifications for anvils when he left the Navy in 1870. Guess who's anvil best met the specs! The GSA is the government group that did the ordering. Their orders kept Fisher going in many lean times. Their orders were for 50 to 150 at a time. Mostly 50/100/150 lb anvils. There is no "Navy" model. The logo with the anchor was used when Clark Fisher took over in 1870, after the death of Mark Fisher. Probably to signify his time as a Naval Engineer. That logo in various shapes continued as long as Fisher used logos on the anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMac Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 It looks as if you're correct. However, do you really want to support someone that's only using US workers because he can't get it done in China. I don't, I support those that support us. I am American, my company is American, and Rhino Anvils are made in America. My objective in designing and making Rhino anvils is to provide the very best anvil I can provide. Aside from the design features which are exactly what I want in an anvil, I want Rhinos to be made using the best available alloy and heat treatment process. As it turns out, making Rhino anvils at a modern, high-tech foundry 5 miles from my shop in Spokane is the best way to do that and keep the anvils affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Whatever you get, remember the Rhino is a Chinese import. This is no longer true. I bought one of the last Chinese imports that Incandescent Ironworks made four years ago. They are all made in the USA out of an " alloy (that) has a very large proportion of chrome and nickel, with smaller proportions of molybdenum and manganese. This same alloy was originally designed specifically to tolerate the extreme shock and abrasion experienced by the liner plates in rock crushers. It is an air-hardening steel, and does not require quenching. Heat treatment involves only tempering, so the hardness (HRC 52) extends through the full thickness of the anvil." From their website. Even though I have one of The Chinese versions I'm very happy with it. I would recommend this anvil to anyone. The company is very good to work with and more than willing to arrange shipping. Which for someone who lives in Alaska is a must have. They did a great job and saved me a bundle on shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMac Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Rhino anvils are made in America, Incandescent Ironworks is an American company, and I am American. I designed Rhinos to have the combination of features I wanted in an anvil, then went looking for a foundry that could make them and guarantee top quality while keeping the costs down. It was interesting to discover that some of the top-name anvils are made in China. I tried that and found the logistics too complicated. The reason I get Rhinos made at a local high-tech American foundry is because that's the best way to ensure excellent quality and keep the costs down. I like being able to inspect each anvil at the foundry before it's loaded onto my truck, then drive just five miles to my shop to unload. I dress each anvil myself before shipping: grind a tapered radius on the edge, and polish the edge and face. Dressing these anvils is not an easy process because the alloy is extremely tough. lt was designed originally for the liners of rock crushers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 It's very hard to keep companies in the US when the US customers want the product for pennies. It's the customer that dictates the selling price of a product, and the company has to dance to their tune. To "pricey" and the customer doesn't buy. To cheap and the company doesn't cover expenses and turn a profit. Throw in all the taxes and government regulations and it's a miracle that anyone can stay in business around these parts! Steve, you're doing a good thing and turning out a good product. Keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMac Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Thanks Vaughn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Curious how this topic when from talk of value of a 250 lb Fisher, to a discussion of Rhino anvils. Perhaps this topic could be split into two different threads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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