Been forging for 15 years now and I still miss the old anvils we used to get

Back in 2010 I picked up a beat up Fisher anvil for $150 at a farm auction. Thing was probably from the 1800s, face was chipped, horn was a little rough. But man that thing rang like a bell and had this rebound that my new cheap anvil just cant touch. My buddy got a brand new cast steel anvil last month cost him $400 and it sounds like hitting a rock. What gives with these newer anvils? Anybody else notice the quality drop or am I just old and cranky?

3 comments

3 Comments

averymartin26d ago

Rang like a bell" is still the best way to describe a good anvil and that Fisher sounds like a steal. I'm surprised you got it for $150 even back then because people where I'm at are asking double that for junk. Those old ones just had something in the steel that they don't put in anymore, it's not just you being old.

mason.brian26d ago

Did it come with a free tetanus shot or did they throw that in for an extra ten bucks? I swear, half the "antique" anvils I see listed now look like they were pulled out of Chernobyl, priced like they're made of gold. You practically need a mortgage to buy a chunk of rusted railroad track these days. Sounds like you found the last honest deal on earth before the internet ruined everything.

lucasjackson26d ago

lol tell me about it. My dad had this old Hay Budden that he got from a retired blacksmith in the 80s, face was worn down but that thing had this sweet spot that just sucked the hammer right into it. I bought a new "pro" anvil a few years back and it's all dead spots, the face is too hard in some places and soft in others. I swear they just don't heat treat them right anymore, they're too hard and brittle or not hard enough. The old ones just had that mojo.