Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Had an old farmer up on the mountain GIVE me an anvil and a leg vise 2 days ago. The anvil weighs around 110 pounds. (I weighed it) it doesn't show many markings except there is what looks to be a 3 on one side and a K on the other. Any advice will help. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 If you really want help please post some pictures. What you are asking is I have a truck it has 4 tires what kind is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Oh sorry. I'll get pictures as soon as I head to the shop today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Also like asking about a car the answers will probably differ if you are in Russia as compared to Australia. Over 150 different countries participate in these forums; please list a general location as many blacksmithing questions have a location factor in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Alright so here are some of the best pictures I took. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Does it ring? Are you in the USA? To me it looks like the knock offs being cast in Mexico using real anvils as the pattern. They range from being quite good to not very depending on what's in the ladle at the end of the day.. What does the ball bearing test say? The thin heel is odd as it looks to be a cast anvil and the cast steel anvils often have a thicker heel for strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 And I live in the southwestern Virginia area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 If it has a good ring and a good bounce then it's a good anvil doesn't matter how/who it was made! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 I got it from a family friend who's grandfather used it. And she is 77. So it's a pretty old one. It does have a great ring and an even better bounce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Then it's by definition a good anvil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Can you identify it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Columbian anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 39 minutes ago, Black Frog said: Columbian anvil. That's the brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 BF are you basing that on the "raised foundry pattern mark" as the inset triangle with the C in it is definitely not there, (nor with a W either...) Columbian did use a thin heel and a high grade steel... And yes columbian is the brand name; though I'd like more proof before accepting it for that anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 2 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: BF are you basing that on the "raised foundry pattern mark" as the inset triangle with the C in it is definitely not there, (nor with a W either...) Columbian did use a thin heel and a high grade steel... And yes columbian is the brand name; though I'd like more proof before accepting it for that anvil. As you can see on the pictures, there is a K on one side and a 3 on the other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 No, I'm basing it on that it is a Columbian anvil pattern. Besides the overall profile look that says Columbian, the chamfers on the waist corners going down into the feet are trademarks of Columbian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I think that a Columbian was used for the pattern, but the object in question is a knock-off or ASO from another foundry. I have never seen a real Columbian with that much porosity, it never would have been allowed out the door. Here is one from our Boy Scout camp shop. Prominent logo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I've seen some reeeally rough Columbians, surprisingly rough and also poorly matched form halves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 But well marked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Yes, typical triangle -C logo. I could post lots of examples of the varying casting quality of Columbians. Not all were made in Cleveland. And Soderfors was not the only Swedish company casting Columbians at times. This one was amazingly far off on the center seam. They ground the face and bottom smooth, out the door it went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladeguy15 Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 How long have they made said "Knock offs" ? Because like I said before. I got it off of a family friend who is 77 and her grandfather used it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Before the EPA put them most of them out of business in the 1980's, every large town, and even most large companies, had a foundry as well as a blacksmith shop. Certainly every railroad repair shop had a foundry. Starting in the early 1800's, cast iron was widely used for pipes, machinery, toys, and all sorts of things in between. Like a modern welding and machine shop, some places would do custom orders for the public. Not a huge problem to get a buddy that worked in a big shop to slip in a personal project at the end of a run. The problem was never knowing what you were getting in the ladle that day. Now getting a solid cast steel anvil, or a cast iron anvil with a steel face securely attached, is a different matter. There are still a few around, like Laurel Machine and Foundry, that occasionally make limited runs of swage blocks, cones, etc. from high grade iron, but they are the exception. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I agree with Black Frog who is very knowledgeable about anvils - Its a columbian. They often used the raised letters on the opposite side of the triangle/C to indicate a weight range. it would be nice if someone compiled a list of those letters and corresponding weights. For example I have a 100lb Columbian with an M on the back side and a 90lb one with IV on the backside. So a K, as on this anvil could indicate a 110lb columbian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 John Mc, here's just a few examples of what did go out the door from Columbian with lots of porosity and rough castings. As I mentioned, some were VERY rough. Great anvil nonetheless, but definitely not the prettiest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 18 hours ago, Bladeguy15 said: Can you identify it? Good Morning, The real question, What did it have for Breakfast?? I can Identify the Anvil, precisely. It is YOUR ANVIL!!!! Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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