Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Any Anvil Experts On Here?

I don't know anything about anvils except the obvious, but my grandad used to tell me I could tear one up with a rubber hammer.

here's an old anvil that came from my Step Grandads house on the Bowie plantation near Winnsboro, La. Couple of Homemade from RR track anvils also.

The huge vise is one my Dad bought used in Roswell NM. Maybe it has alien origins. Grin.

Wow! That’s in great shape. Fishers are a highly valued anvil.

Are you keeping it?

Probably get information on
Iforgeiron.com

I think my wife carries one in her purse, and a forge.

I've been looking for a "reasonably priced" anvil for quite some time just to have around. I'm surprised at all the times I need something to shape metal or pound on for other chores and wish I had one around. Seems like the going price for an old anvil is around $5 -$7 a pound and possibly a bit more if it is a recognized name and in good shape. Some of these in this thread might cost more than that to rehabilitate and probably don't have any rebound left in them so aren't worth the trouble.

There are a lot of good videos on youtube concerning anvils if you really want to do a deep dive into them. Keep in mind that you can still buy brand new anvils for around $5-$6 a lb. I saw some at the Eugene Knife show a few years ago and they were beautiful and had a ring to them like a church bell. I'd love to have one in about 90-120 lb size...

That poor anvil has been abused far beyond it's usefulness. The hard plate has separated, making it pretty much useless for anything but an anchor. But I bet at one time it got more use than any tool around and it could tell some stories for sure...

I have one that belonged to my great grandfather. I’m going to have to take a closer look at it after that video. I can remember it sitting on a stump by their u-shaped driveway in Sebastapol. . My father eventually ended up with it and over the years it’s gotten pretty rusty.

We had it sitting out on our front porch but several years ago there was a lot of metal items like cast iron lawn chairs, etc. being stolen and sold for scrap so I bought it in and set it on the hearth.

My Dad just passed away at 87. he said it was old when he was a little boy.

I own a Ridgid Peddinghaus 77lbs anvil.. Single / One piece drop forged anvil.

Great anvil for my use, which is not work or farm related.
Good enough to make knives on and other projects.


I would do everything I could to dampen the ringing!!!

Agree... That's in very good condition. Difficult to find with nice sharp corners like that.

As far as buying an anvil to use in the shop, they NEVER go for less than a dollar a pound. Two is more realistic. Then if they have any collector value, like that one very well might, it's the buyer's decision from there. Typically, the BIG ones have more collector value, but a sub-200# in that kind of condition with some good age and a known name, it's very possibly got some value.

Dampen the ringing?

Just have your husband use his anvil away from your trailer.

Why would you dampen the ringing? Ringing is the sound of a great anvil- once the ringing is gone the anvil is dead for most blacksmith type purposes...

We was poor, just always used a piece of railroad track for beatin on chit

All I have is this. Landlady I had back in the early 90's had this one sitting out back. Either was her deceased husband's or some boyfriend's who ended up locked up. When I moved up the hill when my wife and I got together, she gave it to me as she had no use for it. When I moved back east I gave it to my shootin' and bs'n buddy as he had a forge and could always use another anvil. He passed a few years back, and I was out this way, so I drove over to the coast to get it from his widow.

Only marking I have ever found was an "L" or "7" depending on which way I looked at it, as I recall





While I was picking it up, his widow asked if I'd like the vice on a stand also:



Cole Tool Mfg



I should get after restoring them one day.

Mine is a Peter Wright, although in much better shape than wabi's.
108 stamped in the side. May be the weight, at least similar to actual weight.

No , but I’ve known some people that could wreck an anvil in sandbox.

3 dollars a lb and up

Because I am fond of my hearing... and like to listen to music.
Hammering on an anvil that rings for hours and hours and hours will ruin it.

It doesn't reduce the efficiency of the anvil to dampen the ringing.

All of the dipwads who watch “Forged in Fire” have contributed to the escalation in price of anvils.

You can’t find anything for under a grand around here.

I had to make mine out of an old forklift tine. It looks more like a pregnant pelican than an anvil, but it works for my needs.