March 25, 20179 yr I just got this anvil for our blacksmith school and its a 588lb anvil with 2 separate 2 inch hardy holes. I have read in AIA that some peter wrights do not have any markings and the feet and other characteristics on this anvil fit that of a Peter Wright. I come to you all as a relatively new member for your expertise and to see if this size anvil is common and to learn more. I am hoping to see if you all think this is a good anvil and what your thoughts are. Thank you again.
March 25, 20179 yr I am sorry I have no expertise to offer other than it does "look" like a Peter Wright.. Mainly I just wanted to say...beautiful..that is just beautiful
March 25, 20179 yr Author Thank you so much DC...just trying to figure out what we have here and what folks think about it
March 26, 20179 yr Author Thank you all for your comments just trying to make sure its a peter wright. Just putting it to work now and its been impressive on its degree of rebound. We feel very fortunate to have found a "stout" specimen.
March 26, 20179 yr Great score. Congratulations. It has the Mose hole forge look, the layered construction and the handling holes. The feet are clearly of manufacturing style typical to that time. Has the NJ anvil guy chimed in. He has a good handle on all things anvil. Enjoy.
March 26, 20179 yr I doubt it is a PW. Weight is stamped horn left. Maybe a later Nash or Wilkinson....
March 27, 20179 yr Author that's an excellent catch...just got a PM that suggests it is not a Nash or Wilkinson...he suggests it is a Peter Wright...
March 27, 20179 yr It looks PWish to me But much more important it is a jolly good anvil and should be hard at work.
March 27, 20179 yr Author Please see this link...clearly PW can have markings on either side...must be an unusual anvil we have here...hmmmm...
March 27, 20179 yr Cool, that is a very early one with pointed feet tops. If the one you first mentioned is a PW, it would be two generations later.... which I still doubt it being PW.
March 27, 20179 yr Quote I don't think I've seen in real life or in pictures a Peter Wright anvil with squarish feet as viewed from the side. Ones I've seen all had "pointed feet tops" as Black Frog described them; the feet are a rough triangular shape. That is also true of most early forged anvils in England. American anvils had the squarish feet. That is not to say your anvil is American. It has English weight markings and the "ledge" or "step" fore and aft on the base. It could be a PW, but the square feet throw me a curve.
March 27, 20179 yr While it's fun to track down a tool's history, it really has zero effect on it's utility. What you have is in excellent shape, excellent rebound and is huge. Perfect shop or school anvil. However if being a PW is critical for your use please feel free to store it here. I'll PM my shipping address on request. Frosty The Lucky.
March 27, 20179 yr Author I've had a blast here and thank everyone for their insight...Frosty...very true...its been interesting to see what folks have to say...clearly its all over the map. Seems like its always an anvil-by-anvil process of discovering history. Ive included some other PW square feet to address Frank's insight.
March 27, 20179 yr One issue is that over the several hundred years they have been exporting anvils from England there have been several hundred different manufacturers of anvils and *MANY* of them started out learning anvil forging at one of the big manufacturers like Mousehole or Peter Wright and then went off to open their own place making anvils very much like what they learned on. So if no good markings are available then it is a real guess!
October 23, 20223 yr I exported this anvil to the US a few years back, I’d say made by Isaac Nash using the equipment acquired from PW after their takeover.
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