Looking to buy first anvil... Opinions/Advice needed!

Drew Riley

Drew Riley

Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
4,296
Hey guys,
Wanted to get some opinions on an anvil I'm looking at. Pictures aren't too great, but hopefully they tell enough.

It's an old Peter Wright wraught iron anvil that weights bout 213 lbs.

Guy is asking about $400. Is this a good price? Looks like the corners are a little chewed up in spots, but overall, it could be worse I suppose.

Is the price too high? Should I hold out for a cleaner face?

Any advice for a first time anvil buyer is appreciated...

5O45T05S13kb3o83lebc5c9db75902d7e1e96.jpg

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5Y35U45P63ka3mc3o9bc27c7bfddf331a10a1.jpg
 
Doesn't look swaybacked,that is a fair price.1.50 to 2 bucks a pound is normal.
Stan
 
Guy also has a 150lb Peter Wright that's a little cleaner for about the same price.

I'm gonna look around for a bit, but I just might pull the trigger....
 
Looks like a good deal to me. Don't worry about the edges, there's plenty of good edge there. After you use it for awhile, then think about cleaning them up slightly. I have seen several professional smiths like Hofi, add radiused edges on purpose to brand new anvils. There's a long thread on that in the anvil section of Iforgeiron.
The bigger anvil will have more mass in the sweet spot than the other, but is harder to move if you don't have a dedicated smithy/forge area.
The face looks good and the better edges close to you when the horns on the left are what I use to draw tangs out.
Also, for that price you could easily resell it.
Don't wait too long, unless anvils are everywhere in your area. I see people miss out often because they wait to ask advice on a good deal.
 
Seems pretty good. Without pictures it is hard to say, but the peter wright might be better if cleaner. Be careful on shopping around. Good anvils at good prices go quick.
 
Buy one, or buy both, see which one works best for you and sell the other one. You can always sell an anvil, at least around here. :)

And Allen is right, shop around too long and they'll be gone.

randy
 
That big one is probably bigger than you need. If the 150 is nicer you should get it so you could move it around if you want. If you plan on swinging a big hammer, then get the bigger one. If you got a Xmas bonus, then get both like others suggested.

I recently picked up a 161lb PW that is not as nice as that one you posted.
 
My only reason for waiting is that I'm going out of town for 10 days, and just didn't have time to drive
100 miles to look at them.

I'm hoping that they stick around though. If not, I'll just focus on building my forge while I keep an eye out for more.
Up until now I've been strictly stock removal, and currently have little to no forging tools.
Plenty of time to shop around while I build up my tools and keep making stock removal blades.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
My only reason for waiting is that I'm going out of town for 10 days, and just didn't have time to drive
100 miles to look at them.

I'm hoping that they stick around though. If not, I'll just focus on building my forge while I keep an eye out for more.
Up until now I've been strictly stock removal, and currently have little to no forging tools.
Plenty of time to shop around while I build up my tools and keep making stock removal blades.
Click to expand...

maybe, Maybe MAYBE because of the holidays, they will still be ther ein 10 days, but other than that, I doubt it.


You can go years not finding a decent anvil at at decent price in driving distance.
There are people out there buying them up and selling them as if they were gold.
 
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