Marc1 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 The big blu anvil 260 LB is priced the same s the Centurion (260) Nimba anvil. I buy a Nimba anyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benona blacksmith Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 The one thing I like about a blu over a nimba is the face width. For the work "I" do I would benefit from the narrow face of the blu anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 I once owned a 198# HB swell horned Farrier's anvil with an exceedingly narrow face and exceedingly big horn. My work didn't profit from the narrow face and so I traded it for an anvil that I would use more. Knowing what you need and then getting the anvil that's best for that has been the way to go for centuries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 (edited) I agree with that TP, do you have any recommendations for people who would benefit from a heavy narrow faced anvil? as in modern anvil makers. also, Benona blacksmith and Marc1, without posting a link is there a price list available for these anvils? (BIG BLU) Edited December 5, 2019 by Jonnytait doiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 21 hours ago, Benona blacksmith said: Toronto blacksmith also has cast a batch of anvils. I think we should wait for confirmation before adding him to the list. I'm also wondering what people think about adding folks who do custom or limited-run production, but not as a regular thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Perhaps a subsection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatLiner Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 I can't even find the big Blu anvil on their website. Maybe I'm just blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 They're sold through a company called Meader Supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Yes, of course when buying a new anvil, you have to consider what you intend to forge on it and choose accordingly. Farriers favour narrow anvils, decorative/ architectural work benefits from a wide face possibly with a side shelf. Bladesmiths i suppose would probably benefit from a narrow face, but i don't really know that one. As for prices, to pay ~$2000 for a 260# Blu, or $2000 for a 260 Nimba Centurion or ... to pay $2200 for a the best anvil, spanking new shiny beautiful polished 275# Refflinghaus model 57 .... is a no brainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Bladesmiths like lots of sweet spot face room to work generally; though it can be done very well on a 4"x4" post anvil. Ornamental work likes the later American anvils with long tapering horns and heels---if they can't get a southern german double horn style anvil. Heavy work goes well on the English fat waisted anvils that are almost all sweet spot on the face. Varmint squashing was the preserve of the Sear's catalog anvils. One can but dream of having a different anvil for every facet of the craft.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundryguy Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 It should be noted that a couple of the manufacturers listed as USA import their castings from China or other 3rd world countries. They are sold in the USA but not manufactured here. Hopefully some people still care about domestic manufacturers. Buy American! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 Does anyone have any suggestions for a newly made, narrow faced but still fairly large anvil? Face width around 3 inches and a weight somewhere between 50-150lbs. Anvil configuration is not so important. Just curious to see if anyone has noticed ones available which I have missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 DO you need: horn, heel, pritchel hole, hardy hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 A horn and a hardy hole would be ideal. wouldn't need a pritchel hole and a heel could be a heel or a second horn, either way. Just basically interested in narrow face but still fairly heavy anvils in general. Doesn't seem to be a style of anvil currently made but I could be wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Jonnytait, the NC Tool Knifemakers anvil is 65 pounds with a 3.25" wide face. A reputable brand sold thru many dealers of blacksmith and farrier supplies in the US. A little too heavy to take to the Shetlands in luggage, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 A fine anvil im sure, but you are right, shipping would be terribly expensive. Never mind, not in any hurry for a narrow faced anvil just seeing whats out there for the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Kanca in Turkey makes a 44lb anvil with a 3.15" x 11" face. I have a friend with a larger Kanca, and it has held up well for years. Maybe someone imports them to the UK? You may also want to look for a bickern or stake anvil if narrow is a requirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 I agree with the stake anvil idea, it my actually be what I go for, I will also check out Kanca's smaller anvils though. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I've made a couple of stake anvils using sledge hammer heads for the tops and scrap steel for the shafts: You can hardface the top of the tenon if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 They look good. Did you use mild steel for the shanks? Forged by hand or under a power hammer? Think I may have a shot at making a stake anvil much the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 The tall one's shank started as a piece of 2.5" sq stock, mild I believe, it was mostly worked down at a SWABA, (now NMABA) meeting at a *large* shop---my picture under my name shows me working it under a 200# Chambersburg (one of the 5 powerhammers active in the shop), we welded a piece of 1" round stock onto it for a handle. The smaller one with the twist, was 1.5" A-36 stock. I did at a forging get together down in Southern NM in Pep Gomez's shop. It was also roughed out with a power hammer and twisted with a "wrench" built just for that task and Pep and I on it laughing like loons as we did the twist. I planned to hardface the tenon end; but haven really needed it for the work I do on them---yet. I have a milk crate of sledge hammer heads of various shapes and when I get *my* power hammer running I have some medium carbon steel I can use for shanks and heat treat the whole shebang! The tall one was originally made to accompany my Y1K anvil, that had no horn, when it went to SCA events. The Y1K one is hardened and was made by a smith who gets to play with the *big* toys---the spike was forged down from the original stock, *not* welded on! That first picture was a stand to hold both the tall stake anvil and the Y1K anvil; I was just using it to show both stake anvils together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnytait Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Thanks, some good ideas! May do something similar with the shanks, could be a good project to see how far I can push my 66lb tyre hammer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awrksmokey Posted April 19, 2020 Share Posted April 19, 2020 I'm not sure if this is the right place to say (maybe there's a 2020 thread?), but Alec Steele just announced that he's going to start making anvils. [Mod comment: the thread has been renamed to remove the year.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benona blacksmith Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Alec Steele's anvil is cast at the same foundry as rhino anvils!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk-Jan de Vink Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 Does anyone know the abbreviation RLD on an anvil? (What I make of it, under a lot of paint.) Looks like the monogram of the maker. I bought it recently in Limburg, the Netherlands. Little over 100 kg. Double horn, so most likely European. email removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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