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So I have this anvil, and I can't figure out the brand. I know these aren't the best pictures as it was getting dark out. The closeup of what I'm guessing is a logo of some sort is the only marking that is cast in the anvil. No serial number, no company name, nothing. Has anyone seen any markings like this one before?

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I had a little extra time today so I did as suggested and cleaned up my anvil and took some better pictures. Here you can see the cast date and the word fisher. Can't decide if the date is 1922 or 1822.... I think 1922. Any ideas on the 15 or the markings on the base in the 4th picture? 

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no idea from me on that one. I'm more on the side of you have a good tool. how hit some hot steel on it :) sooner you start the sooner you will learn more. it's one thing to read and research. it's another to do.  

I do understant the want of learning the history of your tools since they were inherited tho. I'm sure someone will shed more light on it.

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Great. also S hooks are fun and you can find many ways to embellish them to make em fancier. sometimes if I'm just starting the forge or dont have anything else in mind I make em. That and leaves. once you know what your doing they are a great warm up.

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23 minutes ago, fireater said:

I watched a smith make several of them this past weekend, can they be made easily without a nail header?

No, but a nail header is a fairly easy project. Do a site search on "nail header" for ideas and instructions. You'll start by making a thin square punch if you don't have one already, so that will put another tool in your rack. (You may have noticed this already, but a blacksmith is a person who makes the tool to make the tool to...wait, what was I making?)

Here's the header I made last week from a RR spike, along with a couple of nails:

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Just now, JHCC said:

No, but a nail header is a fairly easy project. Do a site search on "nail header" for ideas and instructions. You'll start by making a thin square punch if you don't have one already, so that will put another tool in your rack. (You may have noticed this already, but a blacksmith is a person who makes the tool to make the tool to...wait, what was I making?)

Perfect! I'll need a square punch as it is. I was thinking of possibly using nails that I make to hang hooks on a coat rack or something. Kind of a way to bring my woodworking and blacksmithing hobbies together.

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(Speaking of site searches, did I tell you the pro tip for searching on IFI? Our search function isn't great, so if you do a google search and include "iforgeiron" as a search term, you'll get more and better results. Use this power only for good.)

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Fireater, I believe there are detailed instructions here on making a nail header. Or atleast on the interwebs. As JHCC said its way easier with one and another tool in the shop. Tools to make tools to make tools lol. It happens. And I think it's fun and rewarding. 

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9 minutes ago, JHCC said:

No, but a nail header is a fairly easy project. Do a site search on "nail header" for ideas and instructions. You'll start by making a thin square punch if you don't have one already, so that will put another tool in your rack. (You may have noticed this already, but a blacksmith is a person who makes the tool to make the tool to...wait, what was I making?)

Perfect! I'll need a square punch as it is. I was thinking of possibly using nails that I make to hang hooks on a coat rack or something. Kind of a way to bring my woodworking and blacksmithing hobbies together. And it just so happens that your tip JHCC led right to a set of nicely detailed instructions on IFI.

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On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 8:01 PM, fireater said:

Absolutely! I am beginni.tg my isirst project this weekend. I have picked some simple "J" hooks to start with as they require the use of some basic skills and will be good practice. plus I have enough stock to make dozens of them.

From whst I gather on the INternet

Most folks begin their smithing exploits by forging swords and knives. And the argument IS that basic skills are bunk a waste IF time and needless.

Thanks for choosing common sense.

Sorry for the format. My ohone will not operate correctly on this forum. It hates IT. Thus misspelled wirds.

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On 10/19/2016 at 7:52 PM, fireater said:

Yea I kinda cut the F off but that is what it says. What about the picture before it with the 4 vertical lines then the U shape and 1 vertical line?

The date is 1922.  Fisher did not exist in 1822.

The other markings are codes used in the foundry by the moldmaker to identify who did the mold.  Sort of an early quality control system.   They do not mean anything in terms of anvil quality or anything else.

 

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On 10/19/2016 at 9:28 PM, JHCC said:

No, but a nail header is a fairly easy project. Do a site search on "nail header" for ideas and instructions. You'll start by making a thin square punch if you don't have one already, so that will put another tool in your rack. (You may have noticed this already, but a blacksmith is a person who makes the tool to make the tool to...wait, what was I making?)

Perfect! I'll need a square punch as it is. I was thinking of possibly using nails that I make to hang hooks on a coat rack or something. Kind of a way to bring my woodworking and blacksmithing hobbies together. And it just so happens that your tip JHCC led right to a set of nicely detailed instructions on IFI.

3 hours ago, SReynolds said:

From whst I gather on the INternet

Most folks begin their smithing exploits by forging swords and knives. And the argument IS that basic skills are bunk a waste IF time and needless.

Thanks for choosing common sense.

Sorry for the format. My ohone will not operate correctly on this forum. It hates IT. Thus misspelled wirds.

In my humble newbie opinion bladesmithing is an art. The idea that one could pick up a hammer and pound out a sword with no previous  knowledge of how metal moves under the hammer, or the craftsmanship required to make a simple hook is hilarious. you don't build a house without know how to drive a nail, why would you attempt to forge a sword without knowing how draw out stock 

Correction "Blacksmithing" is an art and a perquisite to bladesmithing.

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