Off Topic Buying my first anvil

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Skiller1nc

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I've been trying to find a good anvil for years now. The only options around me (NC) have been beat up junk or very overpriced anvils. I found 2 for sale and am wondering how much you all would pay for them. I know a lot of people say anvil prices are simply you pay what the seller asks but for negotiation purposes what do you think these are worth.

#1 is a 93# fisher
https://imgur.com/a/TrUPVEB

#2 is a 126# Peter Wright
https://imgur.com/a/nsu1O3U
 
Of the two, I'd take the Fisher, just because it's edges look better.
I am prejudiced though, I just bought a awesome new Fontanini anvil. New anvils are great!
 
Which one of the faces is the flattest?
It looks like the Fisher.
But it also depends on what your forging plans are, and/or how big of material do you want to work? The PW is 1/3 again heavier than the Fisher is, so you can forge harder/larger material on it, from a general blacksmithing POV that is.
 
I'm also leaning towards the fisher but the seller wants $7.5/# which I think is excessive. I dont think a Fisher in this condition is worth that much, is it?
 
weo said:
Which one of the faces is the flattest?
Click to expand...
from pictures the fisher looks flatter, I also know Peter Wrights had a tendency to sag due to the softer wrought body, my bigger concern though is what these are really worth
 
Skiller1nc said:
what these are really worth
Click to expand...
not trying to be a smart-alec, but they're worth what you're willing to pay for them. Back when I started blacksmithing, I'd have paid a lot more than I'm willing to now.
My first anvil was an 85# Fisher, and it worked well for a while but I was lucky to be able to upgrade to a 150# PW and the FIsher quickly started gathering dust.

Can you test the rebound on both/either?
 
The one I bought was 250lbs and cost 1800. That's 7.20/lb....
And it's brand new.
 
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weo said:
not trying to be a smart-alec, but they're worth what you're willing to pay for them. Back when I started blacksmithing, I'd have paid a lot more than I'm willing to now.
My first anvil was an 85# Fisher, and it worked well for a while but I was lucky to be able to upgrade to a 150# PW and the FIsher quickly started gathering dust.

Can you test the rebound on both/either?
Click to expand...
In my original post, I noted that "I know a lot of people say anvil prices are simply you pay what the seller asks." I think he is asking more than I am willing to pay, but maybe I am being too picky and just need to nut up and pay, I'm asking if, people who have bought anvils, would you have paid this for that?

A.McPherson said:
The one I bought was 250lbs and cost 1800. That's 7.20/lb....
And it's brand new.
Click to expand...
see, if you paid less for brand new, an old, used, cast iron fisher doesnt command the same price. at least I don't think it should.
 
Say they ask for $5/#. That’s $630 for the 126. You can get a brand new h13 Holland anvil 125# for 975. That’s $7.8/#. No swayback, edges are great etc. to buy an anvil that has chipped edges swayback, possibly too rounded edges you need a discount. If you could get it for say $3/# that’s probably worth it. The bigger the anvil usually the cheaper per pound they are. If they want more than that it’s much better to just buy the new one
 
I bought an Atlas Graham a while back. There is a new batch coming with an ETA of 9/7.

» Graham Anvil – 117 Lbs 4150 steel – ETA 6-1-23

Named after Graham, Atlas' big brother, this is everything I could think to put in an anvil. Cast AISI 4140 steel Medium frequency induction heated for a surface hardening to 6mm Round and S...
www.atlasknife.com www.atlasknife.com
I like the anvil, but I don't really forge much and don't really have anything to compare it to.
 
My Graham anvils are priced at $5 / LB shipped, and the Atlas anvils are $5.38 / LB shipped. Designed for making knives with lots of input from this forum years ago, these act like much heavier anvils because of their design. While other anvils you posted have about 40% of their mass in the horn and heel, the Graham only has about 14% there, meaning the "sweet spot" is similar to a much bigger anvil in the 180lb range. The Atlas doesn't have a horn, meaning it has the same size "sweet spot" as a 120LB anvil, at a 65lb price.
 
I can attest to the fact that the Atlas/Graham anvils are great for knifemakers. As small as the Atlas looks, it works better for knives than my 75# Vulcan did. A good solidly built base increases this even more. If I needed another anvil, I would not hesitate to buy a Graham.
 
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