Craigs list anvil, thoughts?

O

Ordenrahl

Joined
Oct 16, 2015
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I saw this 200# $650 anvil on craigs list. There isn't much information on it and I don't recognize the style of anvil. I don't see any similar styles on google. I was hoping to stay around $300-400 or so for a 100# anvil as this will be my first one, but a 200# anvil would be great.

What do you guys think? I know it's not much to go on, but your input helps. For the price it looks like it could be a bit of a gamble
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/tls/6066960145.html
 
Looks to me like another example of how absolutely out of control anvil prices have gotten. Everybody seems to think their ASO (anvil shaped object) is worth top dollar.
While I'm certainly not an expert, that anvil to me looks like a homemade job. It doesn't have a mfg mark, likely because it was made in somebody's garage somewhere. I'm not saying it's not a usable anvil, but I wouldn't hold my breath that the top is hardened, and I doubt it's worth more than scrap price. If it happened to have a decent rebound, I might consider around $1.00/lb just to have something to beat on, but I'd definitely be leary.
 
Thank you Andrew. Yes the prices are a little discouraging but I keep looking every few days. I found a metal/steel shop that I may just purchase a 100# drop of stainless for $1.30 a pound. He's looking for some tool steel or even a mild steel to bring the price down a bit but no luck yet.
 
I agree with Andrew. Definitely not a London pattern, but a garage pattern. You can get a brand new TFS 100# Blacksmith anvil for less. Check if there is a farrier supply store in your area you can at least go look at, or just keep looking. Even your thought of cut-off or scrap would serve you well. $650 a lot for a homemade aso.
 
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Shamefully I laughed as I first saw it !! Its unique for sure. Asking price is outrageous.
Since large-ish tapers like that are very handy but uncommon to come by unless one outright buys or makes conemandrel, I might pay 1.00$ Lb.
 
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00I0I_jfrMUJwCPID_1200x900.jpg
That's somebody's home made hodge podge

The weight includes the wood stump

I suspect that square below is hollow tube.


They should be beaten with it for asking six hundred bucks.
 
Looking at it a little more closely, I'm thinking that the ball is less for metal forming, and more for locking up your trailer when you take it off the truck. :D

Also, if you look closely, there appears to be a small pipe protruding out of the left side of the base at approximately a 45 degree angle. Perfect for mounting your flag of choice for all the neighbors to see. It probably once held a "don't tread on me" flag, or a banner that said something like "my other truck is a john deere" :D
 
I don't think even with the stump and it green it would weigh 200# my 125 is bigger than that and it is solid.
 
It looks like some sort of home-brew wheelwrights anvil for shaping tires/rims and riveting them. Clearly, the large bick is the primary feature. The rest looks like welded up pieces of steel plate. I suppose some sort of ornamental work could have been done with it, but most of it is of no real use for knifemaking. I wouldn't pay more tan $200 for it, and that wouldn't be likely, because it is not of any use to me.
 
You guys crack me up. I appreciate the humor, this search for an anvil has been frustrating and at least this anvil was worth a good laugh. I've had trouble finding any good buys (I'd even take fair) in my area of Florida.

The search continues...

John.
 
I feel your frustration, and I'm kicking myself for thinking anvils were over priced at $2 bucks/lb a while back. I'm pretty well resigned to the fact that I'm going to have to spend at least $600 to $700 for an anvil that I'd want. If one pops up for cheaper somewhere, all the better, but between the antique dealers, forged in fire fans, and those darned hipsters, a good anvil is like hen's teeth around here.
 
The days of dollar a pound anvils are mostly gone now,even two bucks a pound is rare. It seems three to four dollars a pound for a decent anvil is getting very common these days.
 
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