abbutsaust Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Hi all, While having a shed clean out I found this old anvil. I was hoping I might be able to get some history on it and what it's approx worth may be. I have been told that it is only scrap value as the Hardy hole end is broken. Not sure whether it's worth holding on to or not. The words HARDWEAR 1/2 are on the side however I cannot see any other makers marks or a weight. Any advice is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartW Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Question; how hard is the foot ? I've seen "fake" top plates before in cast steel anvils; and the crack seems to me to be a one piece anvil .. That's probably also why the hardy hole half broke off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbutsaust Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 Thanks for the reply BartW. I wouldn't know where to start to answer your question though. Saying I have any knowledge of anvil's would be an understatement. It weighs a tonne and I'm not sure how to tell if it is made from cast steel or cast iron. When hit with a hammer it does still make a nice ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartW Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Well, you can try with a small file, see if you can file into the top plate material near the crack, since if you're going to use this anvil, you might as well remove the cracked part. You could leave the corner (corner of the hardy hole to the start of the crack) to have something like a mini flat horn You shouldn't or barely be able to file the top plate since it should be hardened steel. But then run down the crack and do the same every inch or so. I think this is a one piece cast anvil. You'll either notice the same all over, or it reducing slightly in hardness going to the feet. This makes a very good anvil that your grandchildren can teach their grandchildren on how to forge. Unless you find a clear difference in the body and the top plate, those are very good anvils too (hardened faceplate). But than at least you know. I'd simply put her to use. Some minor grinding on the crack , face and horn, some wirewheeling all over, if you want to go fancy, you can even polish the face. Last, a couple good coats in linseed oil and you're good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerrogerD Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Looking carefully at the third picture, it does look to me like a hard steel plate has been properly forge welded on the top, so it doesn't look “fake” to me. Just poor quality body perhaps. A hardy is nice to have, but not essential, perhaps. If you have a use for it, keep it, if not some beginner blacksmith would probably take it off your hands. I think the brand is Australian... if you google back you’ll see an identical anvil with an identical flaw here from 2015, amd reference to an earlier post with again a broken heel on the same brand. Looks like they were simply a poor make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Not forge welded; but cast onto, like Fishers and Vulcans and a few other brands. The break does seem to show a plate than then the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Hardwear, from Australia, they pop up from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 How are they constructed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Frog Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 cast steel, if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbutsaust Posted March 24, 2019 Author Share Posted March 24, 2019 Thanks for the replies everyone. We’ve decided to hold on to it for now and see if it gets some use. I have another quick question though... I have also found this item hidden deep in the back of the shed and not sure if it is also used in metal work. Has anyone seen anything like it? Also very heavy like the anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Please show us photos from a 6 sides so we can have a better idea what we are looking at. A ruler for dimensions or size is also helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbutsaust Posted March 24, 2019 Author Share Posted March 24, 2019 Thanks Glenn, please see photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbutsaust Posted March 24, 2019 Author Share Posted March 24, 2019 I have had some feedback from another forum and I’m being told it could be a Dillon Precision ingot mould. From what I can see they predominantly make ammunition though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 My vote would also be for an ingot mould. The DP stamping is Dillon Precision which started out making more than ammunition reloading equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.