Admanfrd Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I went a-looking in cowboy country and found a man who had a pair of "Shears made for a hardy hole". he wanted $200.00 for them. they were about 2 feet long and VERY tight. Are they actually for an anvil hardy? or for shearing monster sheep with steel wool? if they are, what are they for? Thanks! (sorry for no pictures :/) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinobi Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 There are shears with hardie shanks on the lower lever. Without pics it's impossible to day exactly what's what, but the class of tool is not imaginary :) As to their usage; they are usually metal shears for bigger or tougher stock. The anvil provides a heavy solid support for you to lean into when cutting. If the action is really tight they might just need some TLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy k Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I've used them for cutting corrugated tin for metal buildings, mine works great for that, when I lined the inside of my shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Often a stem mount sheer would be used in a nice heavy thick wood table. The table would have holes to except many different tool shanks. Heavy shears were found in tin smith shops, blacksmith shops, silver and goldsmiths, book binding shops, coppers shops, and any other shop where a craftsman needed to cut stiff material. Using the stem in a firm mounted anvil should work just fine. Many tools that people find that are iron and steel are automatically dreamed "blacksmith" tools. When often they came from some other shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I would love to have a pair. last I saw was over $350 so I like $200. If they are what I imagine they are you scored well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I bought a pair at the Western States Conference a couple years ago- for $20. They are about 5 feet long and heavy as the dickens. I am just gonna hang them on the front of my shop to enjoy looking at :) Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 They are like big, black, heavy tin snips with a very tight, yet workable jaw. no rust, black coating, like they were in a museum or something. will i buy them? no. I don't have any money currently and my birthday money budget was blown on an anvil and stuff. thanks for the info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Not that useful for most smiths; I have two pair the expensive pair ran me US$10 A B3 Beverly shear is a lot more useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Ugggg yes a Beverly shear is so lovely. One day I will spend 1300 for one. I have never used the large bench mount sheers I have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I have seen similar shears used by beesom broom makers so not all are ''blacksmiths shears'' Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evfreek Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 What is the cutting capacity of one of these anvil shears? As good as the Beverly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I have a set maybe 4 feet long, good working condition. I can maybe cut 1/16th mild steel, and it takes a lot of effort. A good Beverly B3 will cut 3/16 mild steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Which Beverly? The B3 will cut WAY thicker than these will even with a cheater on the handle. They might be equivalent to a B1 but the B1 cuts curves much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 One if the books I have shows a set of shears made from dirt sraper blade. Fits the hardy and is used to hot cut material. Reminiscent of a paper shear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I must be mistaken then. I thought he was talking about a variety of a Beverly sheer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Naw he was talking about tinsnips on steroids, we countered with beverly shears as being much superior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinobi Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 sifted through google images for a bit to find a picture of them. There is a different, more drop-forged looking, variety at Adams Forge that I neglected to take a picture of in the past :( is this what you are referring to Admanfrd? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I think he means these. They are not really meant for an anvil, but for a tinsmiths bench, cutting paper thin mild steel. Drat! Beaten to the punch!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Ok I measured my shears today. They are 36 inch long and looks just like the two photos above. The blades are 8 inch long. I was reasonably able to cut 1/16 inch mild steel. I would not want to cut any thicker. Would probably work better to use this tool with two people, one person for power and the other to hold the piece being cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 One if the books I have shows a set of shears made from dirt sraper blade. Fits the hardy and is used to hot cut material. Reminiscent of a paper shear. This type of shear is made to cut metal hot, can cut tough and or thick metal and is operated by hammering directly on the shear blade. Definitely an underused tool which is readily built by almost anyone. Pretty sure Charles Mcraven documents construction in his blacksmith book, The shears this thread are about are sheetmetal shears. I have a big set and they have pretty small capacity, possibly 1/16, maybe less. I almost never use them. I do have a B-3 though, so I really have no use for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 close, but most of the shears are the actual cutting part. maybe about 5 inches of handle and the rest are blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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