Peter Wright or Hay Budden

JTknives

JTknives

Blade Heat Treating www.jarodtodd.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
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I am in the process of wanting a real anvil and have 2 that i'm looking at. first is a Hay Budden in califorina it is $425 and 150 pounds. the other one is a peter wright 132 pounds for 500 from Bill Burke, he says it is nearly immaculate. yes the hay buden one is cheaper but i would have to drive there so there about the same in price as i'm onley 6 or so hrs away from bill and i'm heading up there anyway in 2 weeks. So my question is of these 2 brands which one is one better. i trust bill with his grading of the anvil and a anvil in such great shape is hard to find. he will be sending pictures to me. the other on is on craigs list and i have contacted him and i'm thinking it over. but here is the craigs list post with pictures. thanks.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/1276932119.html
I had him send me a picture showing the face to see if there was any sway back and this is what i got. Thanks
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Jarod, I have forged on quite a few of both, and they are both very well made anvils. Kind of like Mercedes vs. Porsche... both very high quality cars... you just have to find the one you like and can afford. (it's not like you're comparing a Ferrari to a Geo Metro ;) :D ).

Personally, if Bill gave the Peter Wright his thumbs up, then that would mean a lot to me. Not only do I know and trust Bill, but he is a bladesmith that knows what you need in a quality anvil for forging blades. :thumbup: :)
 
JT,
Very good find on either one of them. I have a 100lb Hay Budden and love it. I have also owned a 225lb Peter Wright. I kept the Hay budden because it was easier to move around and demonstrate with. Traded the PW for shop equipment just like I did my Vulcan. Either one of them are very very high quality anvils. From talking to people here in South LA, Hay Budden anvils are highly sought after. Peter Wright seems to be more of a common anvil, but still highly desireable. I would really consider driving for that Hay Budden. But on the other hand, a really nice quality anvil that is almost immaculate is hard to come by. I think in the end, just trust your gut instinct on this. I believe you cannot go wrong with either one. Seems like Bill might have a very good find for you. Hope I have confused you more than you already might be. :D
 
Jarod , I have a Wright and am very happy with it. It is the lightest of the 3 anvils I own but it sees the most use from me and it rings like a bell . I don't think you would be disappointed.
 
J rod here are some pictures of the one I have. It has about the same amount of sway as the other one you are looking at~ 1/8th inch. The face is very thick about 1/2 inch. It appears to have had the face put on in two pieces which accourding to my book "Anvils in America" was a common practice. the rebound is very good, a 1" ball bearing dropped from about 18" will very nearly bounce back into your hand. The edges are crisp and sharp on the near side and slightly rounded on the off side with an area near the horn having a larger radius. As you can see in the pictures it is marked 1 0 22 which puts it at 134 pounds.
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That Peter Wright looks exactly like mine. I believe that series were manufactured from 1860 - 1900 I love mine!

Jason
 
i have a 175 # peter wright it's awsome so much better than the cheap 50 pounder i was using.

you could spend all that money your making off of the scribe that you could just buy both!

jake
 
Bill Burke said:
J rod here are some pictures of the one I have. It has about the same amount of sway as the other one you are looking at~ 1/8th inch. The face is very thick about 1/2 inch. It appears to have had the face put on in two pieces which accourding to my book "Anvils in America" was a common practice. the rebound is very good, a 1" ball bearing dropped from about 18" will very nearly bounce back into your hand. The edges are crisp and sharp on the near side and slightly rounded on the off side with an area near the horn having a larger radius. As you can see in the pictures it is marked 1 0 22 which puts it at 134 pounds.
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So with such a thick face i could surface grind it a bit on the surface grinder to clean it up, but probabley no need. It look's like a very nice anvil, so does the one under it ;) I really like it i will email you.
 
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JTknives said:
So with such a thick face i could surface grind it a bit on the surface grinder to clean it up, but probabley no need. It look's like a very nice anvil, so does the one under it ;) I really like it i will email you.
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A little clean up wouln't hurt but I like having a little sway. it makes straightening a blade much easier but also makes forging a crooked blade easier:confused:

The Hay Budden underneath is what I use at the moment. It is 274 pounds. the face is anything but straight but it works for for me. i have a few other anvils for example a close to four hundred pound trenton a two hundred and fiftyish Peter Wright. A two hundred and something pound Arm and Hammer. An old something with the horn broken off. a few smaller unnamed anvils and the king a 450lb Nimba Gladiator. Not sure how I come to have like ten anvils they just seem to follow me home.:eek:
 
Like Bill said, I little sway is a good thing. My main forging anvil is a 149 lb Peter Wright with about that much sway.Very good anvil! I also have a 350-400 lb Hay Budden that just sits on the floor. And no, it's not for sale :D
 
Don Hanson III said:
Like Bill said, I little sway is a good thing. My main forging anvil is a 149 lb Peter Wright with about that much sway.Very good anvil! I also have a 350-400 lb Hay Budden that just sits on the floor. And no, it's not for sale :D
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ya from what i have been reading most people prefer to use the smaller anvils as you dont really need that much space to forge knives on. bills anvil has a nice body without bad rust piting and the markings are nice and bold.
 
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