Just scored a good anvil, any info???

J. Doyle

J. Doyle

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
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I just got a good anvil, I think. I've actually had it for a while but the guy just agreed to trade it to me for two knives.

It will return a dropped hammer to almost the same height it dropped from, it has a really nice clear ring, and if you just let the hammer fall and keep some weight on it, it bounces several times before it comes to a stop.

The anvil says 'Fisher' on it. Also says 1892 which I'm guessing is the date of manufacture and 150 which is the weight but in pounds or some other scale I'm not sure.

The main face is in extremely good shape. Flat with no pitting and good solid corners only slightly rounded. Main face is 4" x 15"

It has a horn then a smaller horn coming off the big horn 90 degrees. I have no idea what that is for.

Does anyone have any info on this anvil? Just curious.
 
According to the book Anvils in America, Fisher anvils are cast iron bodies with a steel face, compared to the more popular wrought iron bodies. The advantage of the Fisher is they are less likely to sag in the face due to the cast iron. They are also known for not having a "ring" when struck. The company produced more than 400,000 anvils in their 136 years in business in Trenton NJ. These anvils were fully warranted against defects and breakage.

The small horn on the side is found on the farrier model. I think it was used for the clip on the front of a horseshoe.

I'm sure it will serve you well and last a long long time.
 
Thanks for the reply, Mike. I googled fisher anvils and didn't find much info.

You're right about the 'ring'. I guess I probably should have said that it's at least not a dull sound. It is much quieter than the anvil in my shop right now, a fine anvil too though pretty beat up on the face and edges. The one in my shop is a wrought iron one, forged I believe. It has the square holes in the waist area that were used to hold the anvil in the forging process?

The fisher doesn't have those holes so must be cast as you said. It has a horseshoe stamped on it too so the ferriers model makes sense.

I appreciate the info.:thumbup:
 
Fisher anvils are my favorite that I have used. Hey-Bud and PW are great but the Fisher has even better rebound IMHO and is not hard on the ears. The only real fault I'm aware of in Fishers (and mine reflected this) was a tendency to sometimes chip along the edges due to overhardening. My first real anvil was a 150 lb. Fisher. Fisher-Norris made the largest cast anvil ever in the late 1800's, it weighed 1400 lbs. I think the larest forged anvils only ever got to be < 800 lbs. That monster is still in existence, in the archives of the New Jersey Historical Society. A blacksmith in NJ named Josh Cavett has a Fisher-Norris museum with many tons of anvils, some over 800 lbs. Oh, and the numbers on the anvil will be actual weight, Fisher was made in America and so did not use the hundredweight system.
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what you have is a cheap Chinese cast anvil. Don't bother using it. If you will send it to me at PO box 133. Jealoustown, NC, I will dispose of it properly. I'd hate for anyone to know you ever had it.

Really though... That's a good score. Congratulations Senor!
 
I think you got a pretty good score! I have an 1886 Fisher and Norris 156#'er... I'm still pretty new to forging, but I think it's a pretty sweet anvil. It's quiet for sure... keeps the neighbors from nagging me. I know there are more than a few makers that seek them out just for that reason.. I've heard the term "city anvils" before, and these definitely fall in to that group. Mine does have the holes in the waist like you described on your other anvils. I just wish I could have traded two knives for mine too....
 
I have a 1926 Fisher anvil....150 pounds or so and I love it! Like many I was confused by the "ring" when pounding steel, as it sounded dead. I later learned that was due to the construction. It will return a ball bearing to 90% of its dropped height so I am thrilled with it. Like others have said, it sure is quieter than the others.
 
I have a Fisher 250#. It is great. It will also rebound to 90%+ I can drop a bearing and it will return to my hand without moving it. Just have to close my fingers to catch it. I also love the fact that it does not RING. When I worked on a ringer the first time I wondered why I had such a horrible headache, the I realized the noise was causing it. Great find. Good luck, get it hot and hit it hard....
 
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