Comments please - Anvil available locally

A

Astrowood

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Jan 29, 2011
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Just looking for some comments about this anvil. It is available locally for $100. Currently, I am just starting to think about forging a knife (as opposed to grinding). However the sale is now - Do you think that this is a good deal ?? Here is the wording on the Ad. Comments welcome

Heavy and rings nice. Dimensions: 25"long 11" high, 4 5/8" top surface width 10 5/8" foot width. There are no maker's marks or any markings on this for that matter, I was hoping for "ACME" but no such luck. I've no way to get a weight on it, but it is heavier than me and I cannot carry it alone without excessive strain.
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[/url] anvil by Astrowood, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
I'm not an anvil expert by any remote stretch, but the main thing I notice is the lack of a ?hardy? hole for cutting and wedging and such.
 
Yes, it is..If the face is sound..By those measurements thats a pretty big anvil. Between 150-170 pounds Im guessing.
 
Looking again, really carefully I do see what appears to be one, is the other one at the opposite end from the horn? I see something that COULD be one there, but can't really tell on my screen.
 
I'm still looking for an anvil myself. My experience tells me that if you stopped to think about it, someone else probably already bought it. Good luck, I'd definitely buy it.
 
Thats a lot of anvil for the money. Take a big ball bearing or a 2 or 3 lb hammer and test the surface for rebound. If it bounces nicely buy that baby.

2 or 3 dollars a lb is the going price for decent anvils.

Fred
 
It looks kinda like an old English anvil, Mousehole or Wilkinson. I see a hardy and pritchel hole there, I'm pretty sure. I'd jump all over that, it looks like a good one. In fact, I'd buy it myself if I was there, and I can't afford it/don't need another.
 
Well, does seem rather unanimous ! I will call the seller, and arrange to go see it tomorrow.

Thanks for the many comments......
 
Even broken and repaired anvils that size here go for 3-400.They were cheap a few years ago,but not so any longer.
 
Seein's how, it's priced about a THIRD of what they normally go for, I'd be all over that one, like a fat kid on a box of Krispy Kremes! :D :)
 
Well, now I feel stupid. As "Coleslaw said above..
My experience tells me that if you stopped to think about it, someone else probably already bought it.
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I was 15 minutes to late, after mulling it over for half a day :(

Thanks for you many positive comments - feel free to send as many "I told you so" as you wish (Wife already did)
 
This is one of the few downsides to blacksmithing having such a strong revival in recent years. It became an outdated, "obsolete" craft and tools that were ridiculously common started going to scrap.

Nowadays, that coupled with the fact that VERY FEW manufacturers make any type of blacksmithing tools, and the rare old bird that shows up will sell FAST and usually for 5 times what it should.

That anvil was quite a find! Sorry you missed out on it. It's good you looked into it though, there are a handful of jerks out there who will gladly sell you an ASO (anvil shaped object) for what a good anvil should sell for (those jerks are rare, but they're out there).

Good luck on the next one! :)
 
Yep, use searchtempest.com to search CL a few times everyday. If you find one, buy it and research it afterwards. You can always resell it for what you have in it. Remember, $2 is about average, and always keep an eye out for anvils at garage sales. I had just bought a 68 lb. Jersey for $100 on CL and a couple weeks later picked up a 96 lb. Mousehole for $25 at a garage sale.
 
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