Help needed !! Grand grand father Bladesmith anvil advise needed.

[Nuno Jorge]

Can someone help me on how to set up a newly found grand grand father anvil.
It is 47 inch long, weight 67 lb.
Has anyon seen such?
How should I set it up? Weld it to a beam cut or straight on a log ... 60% supported on the log ?
Kind regards
https://pin.it/42D7ZLz
https://pin.it/2O4hThq
https://pin.it/4IEy0wd
https://pin.it/MwUCshR

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welcome Nuno. I think it is great that you have your Nunnus' anvil. I wouldn't do much to the actual metal piece.
Looks like sometime he forged from a big bar of steel. Creative thinking to use something he found. No way to tell from the photos if he hardened it, but that doesn't really matter for your family antique.

I would suggest making a sturdier base (the current base is newer and doesn't look sufficient) and replacing the wood with a new block of oak or other hardwood. Just enjoy it for what it is. Maybe groove the wood block to keep the anvil in place. I would start with a block around 75% of the anvil. Taper the ends of the block to meet the anvil. If that seems to long, you can shorten it.

If you wanted more mass under it, you could visit a place that makes monuments and gravestones and see if they can give you a 36" piece of 4" to 6" wide granite to use as a base.

 

[Nuno Jorge]

Stacy, thank you very much for your reply.
It is hardened ping and bounce are perfect.
It was manufactured, since it has fade engravings of some numbers.
I couldn't find any similar anvils to serve as a reference on how is it supposed to be setup.
It is 2.5x2.5 inch thick.
I will follow your advise on the setup to a long log. Granite heheh this area in Portugal is a granite area and I own some pretty nice chunks...
Kind regards
Nuno