Should I buy this anvil?

[Fochops]

195lb, maker unknown. Late 1800's to early 1900's. I've seen it in person and the rebound is still 85-90%. I'm new to blacksmithing and will be making knives on it. Price is $500, or should I save a little more and buy a new anvil? Will only be able to afford 100lb then.

 

[Kentucky]

$500 for a 200# anvil is not that bad "these days"..Good rebound but let me suggest looking closely at that area above the cutting table. Where that big chip of the face plate is missing..Missing chips arnt that big of a deal and can be worked around but make sure the faceplate isn't delaminating right there...tap that area lightly and listen to the ring. It should be sharp and still have the same rebound as the rest of the anvil..If its dull and less rebound then the faceplate could be delamed. Its probably not but id check it just to be safe..
Most likely that chip just came from a big,hard missed hit right on the corner..

 

[Fochops]

$500 for a 200# anvil is not that bad "these days"..Good rebound but let me suggest looking closely at that area above the cutting table. Where that big chip of the face plate is missing..Missing chips arnt that big of a deal and can be worked around but make sure the faceplate isn't delaminating right there...tap that area lightly and listen to the ring. It should be sharp and still have the same rebound as the rest of the anvil..If its dull and less rebound then the faceplate could be delamed. Its probably not but id check it just to be safe..
Most likely that chip just came from a big,hard missed hit right on the corner..

Yeah, I was concerned about delamination. I heard it will have a buzz to the ring if it is cracked or delaminated, is this correct? Thank you for the response!

 

[Lieblad]

Its plenty of life in for making knives & trinket size work. But awfully beat up at that price.

As far as testing delamination.
Tap a hammer over the entire surface, You will easily distinguish a loose spot from whats solid.

 

[Salem Straub]

Providing the faceplate weld is still sound, that's a good deal for a 200# anvil. I'd buy it for sure. Plus, it comes with what looks like a good sturdy stand, a big plus. Old anvils don't really lose rebound, with a wrought body one like that the face may sag a bit in the middle over a long career, and then some idiot might surface most of the top plate off when "fixing" that, but this anvil appears to still be quite sound in that regard.
Hope it's still there... anvils tend to sell quickly when priced reasonably.

 

[JMJones]

Its plenty of life in for making knives & trinket size work. But awfully beat up at that price.

As far as testing delamination.
Tap a hammer over the entire surface, You will easily distinguish a loose spot from whats solid.

Trinket sized work? I 200lb anvil will to anything a single blacksmith working alone could hope to accomplish. A bigger anvil may be needed for strikers with sledges.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

Looks to me like the top plate has some significant delamination going on...

I may be misinterpreting the long gap running down the side of the anvil between the face and the body. I'm no expert or anything but that looks like delamination to me...

I'd hold off and put and add up on your local Craigslist under the tools section. You might be surprised what you find. I got a 155lb Peter Wright for $120 doing that.

 

[David Stifle]

Looks to me like the top plate has some significant delamination going on...

I may be misinterpreting the long gap running down the side of the anvil between the face and the body. I'm no expert or anything but that looks like delamination to me...

I'd hold off and put and add up on your local Craigslist under the tools section. You might be surprised what you find. I got a 155lb Peter Wright for $120 doing that.

I agree with you, it certainly looks like it's starting to delaminate right where that big chip is.

 

[JTknives]

As long as the top is not delaming it's a good price. I'm kicking my self because I'm short the money or I would buy a 500LB bridge anvil that is listed for $600. Anvil prices have gone through the roof and it's getting just about to the point where new ones are cheaper.

 

[Fochops]

I agree with you, it certainly looks like it's starting to delaminate right where that big chip is.

I stopped by and sound tested it with a hammer, it rings on the entire face but is slightly muffled. No buzzing that I can tell. It's secured to the stand very well so this could dull the ring.

 

[BKT]

How was the rebound. The sound can be deadened but the hammer should always bounce back.

 

[Fochops]

How was the rebound. The sound can be deadened but the hammer should always bounce back.

The rebound was nice. Aside of the seams of the face plate I can't find issues really. It doesn't appear deeper than what can be seen. On the chipped portion there is no visible delamination.

 

[Salem Straub]

Sounds good to me. A fair number of anvils with a forge welded face plate will have a pretty delineated seam like that. Not all manufacturers were fastidious about blending that feature to be less visible. Overall the anvil looks like a Peter Wright possibly, although the feet are a bit odd in a way, but PW's usually have a quite blended face seam.

 

[Fochops]

Sounds good to me. A fair number of anvils with a forge welded face plate will have a pretty delineated seam like that. Not all manufacturers were fastidious about blending that feature to be less visible. Overall the anvil looks like a Peter Wright possibly, although the feet are a bit odd in a way, but PW's usually have a quite blended face seam.

Thank you for your response. I can't find any makers mark on it. To me it doesn't really matter. I just want a serviceable anvil for a decent price.

 

[Salem Straub]

Man, you better jump on it quick, if anyone else knows about it too....
Many times a person will ask about an anvil in the forums, only to find it is gone by the time he has returned to buy it on the recommendation of his peers... I've seen it happen repeatedly. Just sayin'.

 

[Lieblad]

No dead spots, Sounds like the face is still tight then. Should handle anything you want to pound on.
Btw, 'Ring' alone is not a be-all indication of good quality/condition.

I still think its steep price, but location plays into anvil price if its seller understands what they have.

 

[Fochops]

No dead spots, Sounds like the face is still tight then. Should handle anything you want to pound on.
Btw, 'Ring' alone is not a be-all indication of good quality/condition.

I still think its steep price, but location plays into anvil price if its seller knows what they have.

It's a better price than anything I've seen in my location. 110lb PW's are $600+ if they can even be found. This thing has 85lb on that weight.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would buy it in a heartbeat. The base is worth a good $100. Just grind the bad spot down with an angle grinder to make the chip look better and have a ball with a really nice anvil. You could sand blast it or just wire brush it well.