Ober51 Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Hi everyone! This is my first time here posting as I am an avid collector of cast iron cookware and related items. Recently, I was able to pick up a large amount of primitive items from an estate with documented items from the 1700s. I also picked up this swage block and forming cone (bickhorn?). A seemingly knowledgeable individual said it was much older than he has seen before, leading me to wonder how old it might be? Do the old ones have makers marks? How can he tell it’s much older than typical? Any information you can provide would be very much appreciated! https://imgur.com/gallery/yT7zR4b MC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. It would probably help to know where in the world you are located. If you edit your profile and add your general location it will show with every post so we won't have to ask you when the answer is location dependent. We have members located world wide. Most cast swage blocks and cone mandrels made in the U.S. that I have seen or read about do not have any manufacture info cast into them. The swage block looks to be in very good condition with very little use. The cone mandrel does look older to me but I wouldn't want to venture a guess as to how much older it is, could be just weathering from it was kept. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s.~ Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Welcome aboard MC, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you'll have a much better chance of meeting up with members who live within visiting distance. There's no telling what kind of trading might be involved. Eh? Your "knowledgeable" individual was just guessing. I seriously doubt a swage block that lasted since the 18th century would look that good or have such a generalized pattern. A swage block that old would probably be a bit more specific according the the smithy product. The cone strikes me about the same, the blunt end could well be the result of a missing point. The surface texture is a result of corrosion, they probably lay or stood in the weather for decades or less in a salty environment, no way to tell. I don't recognize the swage block pattern though I love the faces I see in pics 1&2. Mandrel cones were generally for truing up products with round inside curves, rings, hooks, etc. Some have a tong groove full length so tongs can grab or hold the product. Bickerns are typically small versions of the anvil horn (bick or beak) for working on small products. Say a key fob ring, etc. bickerns are very desirable if you have one of the "new" cast anvils with short fat blunt horns. OR perhaps the smith who specialize in small watering cans, funnels, etc. When I need a horn smaller than the one on my Soderfors I use an alignment stake which is used to align bolt rivet, etc. holes. Pretty nice score for a collector though as mentioned already the swage block could be cleaned up and put back to work. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ober51 Posted September 1 Author Share Posted September 1 Thank you both! I in Northern NJ, right outside NYC. These items were pulled from an estate close by but likely come from Pennsylvania. I also found an interesting stump anvil, which I thought was neat. I didn’t take the crank forge that was there, but I am thinking about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 1 Share Posted September 1 You're welcome, it's my genuine pleasure but in return I expect more pictures! Nice little stake / stump anvil. It has everything, round horn, square horn, 2 swages a round and a square pritchel. I'd look for something like that in a traveling smith's kit. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ober51 Posted September 1 Author Share Posted September 1 33 minutes ago, Frosty said: You're welcome, it's my genuine pleasure but in return I expect more pictures! Nice little stake / stump anvil. It has everything, round horn, square horn, 2 swages a round and a square pritchel. I'd look for something like that in a traveling smith's kit. Frosty The Lucky. You will forget more knowledge than I’ll ever know. Thank you! Does this site do values? I don’t want to break rules but I’d like to have an idea of what I’ve picked up since I’m out of my element here. If not, no problemo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted September 1 Share Posted September 1 Value to some extent depends on location. Being in the NE, you are in a fairly active smithing region and equipment is more readily available than some other locations. In my opinion, none of the items is all that valuable as an "antique", though they might fit the technical definition of being 100+ years old. However, there are still anvil and swage block collectors, who might pay more than the going rate for such tools. As a hobby blacksmith, I'd prefer to see these go to someone who would use them for what they were intended. That being said, as tools (and making assumptions regarding size as there is no scale in you photos), I would expect the following: Swage Block: $400-$800 Cone Mandrel: $200 - $400 Stake Anvil: $$100 - $250 Note that I'm not a professional evaluator, this is just from what I've seen at different gatherings and online. With the apparent cancelation of Forged in Fire, it seems that the bubble may have finally burst, and blacksmith tool prices are starting to go back down. That being said, there is a great blacksmith gathering relatively near you at Ashokan in NY in early October. If you are looking to sell, that would be a good place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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