CTaylorJr Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 When I was 15 my grandfather gave me this anvil after I had made a few knives from farm steel. At 26, my grandfather passed away and this extremely possessive uncle decided he wanted it and came and got it. At that point in my life I was getting married and not really making knives and didn't put up much of a fuss. Well, when I got back into making knives 6 years ago, I inquired about the anvil and was told it had been sold many years ago. I was a bit irked, to say the least, but once again dropped out of knife work in late 2014 due to a shop fire Fast forward to December, the uncle passes away and I'm asked by my aunt to come out to his farm and get a few tools. Sitting behind the barn was my anvil... According to my aunt, he put it behind the barn when they moved to the place 10 or so years ago. She had no idea it was mine until I mentioned it in passing when she asked about my getting back into knife and metal work since the insurance company finally settled. Now, the questions, looking at the marks and reading online, am I correct that it's 177 pounds? Also, any idea on age? i have a LOT of clean up and rebuilding to do in the shop, but I'll be here getting back into the swing soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan the blacksmith Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 must feel good to get that back! hope it serves you well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Sometime after 1910, do to the England stamped on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylorJr Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Feels great to have this thing back! I'm just thankful that the only abuse it really got was sitting out in the weather. I did a rebound test on it this afternoon. I used a 1/2" ball bearing and dropped it from 10". Bounced back to 8.5-9" each time. I'm happy. Now, tonight I have to build a stand for it. The footprint for this one (11"x11") is much larger than the 70 pound anvil I have now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many IFI members live within visiting distance. I can't read the side is the picture so I can't venture a guess on it's weight, a bathroom scale will tell you what it is. Those are excellent results on the rebound test. Did you brush the rust off the surface first? If not it will limit the rebound and it might be better than it seems. Regardless it's good to have some of the family heritage back in your possession. I have relatives I wouldn't trust out of my sight, it's sad but all families have a few of "those" members. Glad it came back home. Please don't forget we LOVE pics so we'd love to see what you make on that fine old lady. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Looks like 1 2 9 which I think is 177lbs in hundredweight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I know exactly how you feel. A couple of summers ago, I was back in the old neighborhood visiting a friend, when I spotted my old cross-peen sitting on his workbench. I'd left it behind when I moved away to get married, and he'd picked it up at the yard sale when my dad sold the place. It was like being reunited with a long-lost brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylorJr Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thanks for the words of support folks! I plan to hang out here and POST this time around, been lurking for quite a few years. Well, I've learned a bit more about the abuse this girl suffered. According to a cousin, she laid in the mud for quite a few years, and now that I've wire brushed and hit the top with a sander, I can see that the rust hid a LOT from me upon first inspection. Luckily, I'm right handed and my "side" of the anvil face is in decent shape. It looks like a hatchet was used on the shelf and the horn, but it'll still work for me I have quite a bit more to do to her, but I'll do it a little at a time. Right now I need to get the shop back in shape and finish a good stand. As I progress, I'll post pics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Best way to clean up the face is to USE IT and let the scale polish it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylorJr Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 10 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: Best way to clean up the face is to USE IT and let the scale polish it out. That's the plan. I have a couple of weeks worth of work on the shop, and then it's game on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natenaaron Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 You are very fortunate. enjoy it. All of my grandfather's tools were sorted through by my uncle, What didn't sell was thrown away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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