nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Picked up (hah) this anvil the other day. Estimated weight is 200kg (440lbs) by the guy who sold it to me, but that's just an estimate. Have a hanging scale capable of up to 660lbs on the way to find out for sure. I laid it on my up to 330lbs scale and it threw an error. No legible engraving/embossing I can find anywhere, though it's certainly been left out in the rain for a good while. I know the guy who sold it to me brought it over from Bulgaria. Assuming the estimated weight is accurate, I paid about $1.37/pound. Dimensions: 70cm (27.5") long, 17cm (6.7") wide, height is 36cm (14"). Base is 42cm (16.5") by 24cm (9.6"). Hardy is 2.5cm (1"). Any thoughts on where it's from, what it's made of (forged? cast?) I'm a newbie at this stuff. Wondering when it's from as well, of course. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Well flip it over and do a drill and spark test on the base; that will tell you if it's cast iron or cast steel or wrought iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 I know what a spark test is, but what exactly am I looking for in the sparks? Also, what's a drill test? I'll do both tomorrow... It's evening here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 There are some good threads here on how to do a spark test. You did read the "Read This First" tab at the top of every page, right? That has good advice for how to find information in the forum. A drill test is very simple: steel will produce nice curlicued spiral shavings, while cast iron will produce silvery-gray dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Or black dust in the case of a HF ASO. Doing it on the base so there are no visible "scars" left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 I did actually read the read me first, but I guess I missed that bit. Thanks! Will test tomorrow, as it's already evening here and don't want to make a racket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Good news, I think! I can't do a spark test till tomorrow, but I did a drill test. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 To me it looks like forged WI with a steel face. It should be an excellent anvil! In what part of the world are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 That sounds like the kind of good news I can get behind! Any thoughts on age/make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 There were lots of makers, so without any markings it would be tough to identify maker or age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Chelonian, I'm in Israel. The guy I bought it off of imported it and seems like he may have sold it way under value. I'm really not clear on why, as he's a regular anvil seller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 A lot of folks are wary of "different" anvils as they can't tell how good they are. Me I say if it passes the bounce and ring test; it's a good anvil no matter who made it and if it fails then it's a bad anvil no matter who made it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Any thoughts on age, Thomas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Not as old as the lack of a pritchel hole.would generally indicate; I would *guess* post 1900 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Out if curiosity, why's that? What to you says newer than the lack of a pritchel would indicate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 The absence of a pritchel hole on an English-made anvil usually indicates pre-1830-ish. However, this doesn't look like an English anvil of that period, the absence of a step between horn and face is atypical for the place and period, and the side-exiting hardy hole is more typical of French anvils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Is the hardy hole side-exiting? it kind of looks straight through, just offset from center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Yeah, it's straight through, not side exiting. The square holes on either side of the waist and in the base go in maybe 1.5-2". Also noticed, the base isn't that flat... The four "feet" are very slightly lower. Thought that might hint at manufacturing technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Those are the handling holes for manipulating it around with long bars when it was being forged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Right, yeah, I figured that. I also updated my last comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelonian Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 It's not uncommon for forged anvils to be uneven on the bottom. If it causes rocking you can use shims and something like silicone caulking between the stand and the bottom on the anvil. The silicone also helps reduce the ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 No rocking as far as I can tell, though the stone patio I have it on now is uneven so won't know for sure till I get it on a base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 12 minutes ago, nagumi said: Yeah, it's straight through, not side exiting. My mistake; misread the shadows on the side. That said, I'd still maintain that the overall look is more continental than insular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagumi Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 What does that mean, more continental than insular? The stain is a crushed olive. My olive tree has been littering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatLiner Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Nice anvil, I'm jealous :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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