Opinions on this eBay anvil?

Khukuri Monster · Feb 5, 2005

Hi everyone,

I have been wanting to buy an anvil for some time now, currently, I'm using a piece of railroad track that's welded to some steel plates, and it's not too great.

I've been continually checking eBay, and today I noticed this item:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13869&item=6151283935&rd=1

It seems to me to be pretty decent sized for the price. In addition, I live near the seller so I would not have to pay any shipping costs.

Can anyone give me any opinions on the quality of this anvil? I read online that the Columbia anvils were made of cast electric furnace melt steel. The eBay person said they were made of Swedish tool steel, and I've read that the swedish cast steel anvils are excellent.

The only other resource I could find mentioning this company is : http://www.fholder.com/Blacksmithing/anvil.htm
and they do say that they were cast steel, similar to swedish anvils.

The face looks like it is in really good shape. However, the seller listed that this anvil has been "reground". Would this have ruined the hardness of the anvil?

Thanks for any advice.

Mike Hull · Feb 5, 2005

The price seems high, to me.You can get good new ones for what's already bid on that one, probably less.

http://www.euroanvils.net/

http://www.jhmanvils.com/

http://www.anvils.nimbaforge.com/

http://www.oldworldanvils.com/anvils/index.html

Trick · Feb 5, 2005

...........

Khukuri Monster · Feb 5, 2005

This eBay one is $600 for 360 lbs. (assuming noone else bids)

I priced the Nimba anvils, they seem to be more expensive, even the smallest one ($750, 120 lb).

The Euro anvils are about the same price, or slightly more ($600 for 224 lb) but I would have to pay in shipping, so they would be costing me more.

Also, I've heard that the machining on the Euro anvils is not too great. On the one link I found regarding the Columbia Hardware Co. anvils, it says they were machined before hardening, and then ground afterwards. Also, isn't the Swedish tool steel better than the cast steel in Euro anvils?

So it seems like the price is better, considering that the condition seems to be quite good. I'm worried about the reground surface, though.

Raymond Richard · Feb 5, 2005

The price is kind of high but it looks and sounds like an excellent anvil. Does it come with a small crane to move it around? I've got 3 anvils, the largest is 150 and the other two are 120 pounders. One of the 120's has MADE IN SWEDEN on it. If I had to get along with one anvil that would be it. Bigger is nice but really not necessory.

Mike Hull · Feb 6, 2005

Raymond Richard said:
Does it come with a small crane to move it around? I've got 3 anvils, the largest is 150 and the other two are 120 pounders. One of the 120's has MADE IN SWEDEN on it. If I had to get along with one anvil that would be it. Bigger is nice but really not necessory.

That being my unsaid point, above.

There are many anvils in the practical range, weight wise that will be less money than the ebay item.

ysforge · Feb 7, 2005

I don't believe that it is a columbia anvil.

My reason for this is that I've seen several "good anvils" that turned out to be anvils made of cast iron cast from molds made from older anvils.

This is just a hunch, and I might be wrong, but I'm definitly suspiscioius about this anvil and wouldn't even think about it without seeing it yourself and testing it for rebound.

I might be totally off-base, but it looks exactly like really crappy anvil I looked at a little before buying my trenton.

Tony

anvilring · Feb 8, 2005

as he says above, I don't think it's an original Colombia either. Look at all the mold lines along the side where the logo is; looks rather unfinished. The hardie hole doesn't look all that square either. I wonder though where the value is in faking an old anvil?? Are you sure the "C" on the side was one of Columbia's trademarks?? Lastly I'd call these people. I'll bet they don't get the starting bid. You could offer whatever you like and stipulate a visit and bounce/ring test before you paid the money.... Columbias should have excellent bounce AND ring. It was only the Fisher anvils that didn't ring and that was a selling point for them!

regards, mitch

Reg ELLERY · Feb 10, 2005

If you do a search on odwyer or o'dwyer anvils in Australia there new anvils are cheaper. I have used a 45kg (a bit over 100 Lb) for years with a mate. whe have used 10 lb sledge hamers on it to make damascus it holds up well and is light enough to carry. Our low Aus dollar may make it worth the cost of freight. They have larger size than 45 kg.