Questions about an old Peter Wright passed down to me

[BradMcHatton]

Hi all,

I've lurked a little bit here but this is my first post so of course I'm here to ask for help for the experts. Sorry for that!

So a few years back I got the idea to start making knives but I had no idea where to start so I kind of let it go. Flash forward a little bit and my uncle called me asking if I was interested in having the anvil that came from my great-grandfather's farm in Nebraska. My uncle thought I might be interested and it seemed kind of destined to be I guess. Anyway from his and my father's recollections of stories from the family this one had spent a ton of time on the homestead and MAY have been brought out originally by covered wagon (of course) by my great-great grandmother's family. A few generations later and here it is in central Florida. I've recently made a few knives via stock removal and I'd like to start some forging. 

I'm really interested in anything you can tell me about this. I believe it's 127 lbs if I've read correctly and I believe from what I researched a while back that it was made somewhere in the 1890s-1910s. Any clarification is appreciated but I'm also really interested in your opinion of the condition. The edges are pretty rough. Please excuse the scale on the face. I tried hammering on some rebar tongs yesterday for a first attempt and didn't wipe it off before the pics. 

Thanks in advance.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

4 minutes ago, BradMcHatton said:

here it is in central Florida

Welcome aboard... If you put your general location in your profile, we won't have to ask when answers require knowing where you are. Along with that you may be surprised how many members are near enough to visit or lend a hand.

The stamped weight is 128 pounds but sometimes that's a little off due to wear and differences in scales. It's a fine looking Peter Wright and the edge wear is of no consequence. I can't help with the mfg dating and I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened face. A ring & rebound test will tell you what shape the face plate is in.

[BradMcHatton]

Thank you so much and I'll be sure to fill in my profile a little better. If you think I'm good to work on this anvil I'm really excited to get started. There's no way I'll do any kind of alteration on the face and I'll be sure to research the ring and rebound test. Thanks again for the great news!

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

You're welcome... Hammering hot steel on it will shine the face right up.

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard Brad, glad to have you. Normally I don't encourage spending much time over the age of old tools. However a family heirloom is a whole different kettle of gerkins. Don't worry about wire brushing it, a right angle grinder and cup brush work a treat but are VERY dangerous. I won't go into the basic safety rules but there's a recent thread where we go on including our various accidents using the things.

A wire brush won't remove enough metal to notice unless you go meat bat nuts with it. Putting a finish on it to prevent further rust will preserve that beautiful old lady for many more generations. Brushing will bring out details hidden by the dusty rusty surface now. Look on the feet for serial numbers, etc. someone here with Anvils In America will be able to fill you in on what info is available. Boiled linseed oil is a good finish or my favorite carnuba paste wax applied to a warm anvil. 

One thing though I'm shocked to see scale on your anvil! SHOCKED  I SAY!! <GASP!>  My advice on that score is, DO IT MORE! Hot steel and hammering will put a healthy shine of that beautiful old lady's face in no time. 

Frosty The Lucky.

[BradMcHatton]

You guys are incredible! I mean it IronDragon and Frosty! This is quicly becoming a must-do for me and your help is really appreciated. I hope to have plenty of additional posts of the things I can scrape together on the "old lady". Means a lot!

[ThomasPowers]

Central Florida is sort of Rust Central so going over the anvil with a wire brush and then coating the body with Boiled Linseed Oil will help keep it from rusting---as much, the face can be waxed or a simple oil wiped on for in between forging sessions.

[Frosty]

You're welcome Brad, it's our pleasure to encourage folks addicting themselves to the craft. 

Frosty The Lucky.

[Deimos]

yes, 1 0 16 is 128 pound/58kg in weight, mine is a 1 3 5. But since yours only says "Peter Wright Patent" it should be made between 1860 and 1890, later models had "England" underneath the "Peter Wright Patent". So all and all a very old and very nice anvil.

[BradMcHatton]

Thank you again everyone.  Thomas, you're absolutely right about the rust issues here so I'll heed the suggestions about brushing and oil. Deimos, I really appreciate that information and it led to a pretty interesting discussion today with my dad. He's pretty sure it came into the family just prior to my great grandfather being born in 1890. Really cool to have that information! Lastly, Frosty you're spot on with that. I've just started and I can see how addictive it can be.  Take care fellas and I look forward to updating once I produce something.