Anvil or ASO
- Thread starter hm6d
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Coolabah
Well-known member
Ahh.. no. The OP is concerned that this anvil is possibly just a lump of metal coincidentally resembling an anvil, but unsuitable for actual smithing use. I cannot answer the original question as I am not an expert in anvils, but totally understand the need to ask....
So - if it looks like an anvil , smells like an anvil , then it might be an anvil. It might equally be an ASO !!!
drivesitfar
Well-known member
i think our OP is asking if it might be an anvil shaped piece of RR track that is being made to pound cold steel on. is that it?
the picture you posted looks like a "REAL" anvil. it isn't a Peter Wright, but with those old straps holding it to that log it does look fairly old. bring a steel ball to check the rebound and report back, from the picture it looks like it's worth checking out. how much?
the picture you posted looks like a "REAL" anvil. it isn't a Peter Wright, but with those old straps holding it to that log it does look fairly old. bring a steel ball to check the rebound and report back, from the picture it looks like it's worth checking out. how much?
MP&C
Well-known member
Is that a weld going across through the middle?
Voi
Well-known member
drivesitfar
Well-known member
it's probably not a weld but it could be. another reason i think it's an anvil and why i'd take a drive to check it out is everything around it in the picture speaks old handy guy's house, shop or farm.
good luck
good luck
Coolabah
Well-known member
Well I personally don't think it looks anything like a piece of modified railroad track ! The term Anvil shaped object is applied to cheap anvils that might be cheap cast iron etc and unsuitable for actual use. Similar to "vise shaped object" ... I agree , from the one photo , it does look like a legit anvil . But , I don't personally know this. It does look like a farriers anvil if I was to see this in Australia
. I agree , if it was me I would drive there for the 1 hour if it is good cond, good rebound , that is all good ! Difficult to tell the size. ..let me know how you go !!
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Could be an optical illusion or wishful thinking, but I think I can see the fusion line where the striking surface was forge-welded onto the body. If so it's a real anvil... but if the line is visible does that mean the weld is coming undone? Maybe an expert will enlighten us. What's the size/weight/price? Nosy minds want to know!
Youngguns
Well-known member
It looks well worth your time (dependent on weight and price of course). The edges on that anvil look to be in great shape which is a sign the anvil hasn't been abused/mistreated. I can see both the lines the others are talking about, but I think it's just an illusion. If it had a different metal top, it would be much more obvious (and that isn't necessarily a bad thing). A picture can only provide so much, go look at it in person and make a call. Don't feel pressured to buy it (although, I understand anvils don't pop up too often in Texas, or at least, when they do, they're not for sale for long).
i've got AIA so if you find some numbers or a makers mark i can help looks worth a drive to me as long as its cheap enough say 1-2 dollars apound buy it anyway cause even a aso is good for pounding when you dont have anything to begin with
Black Frog
Well-known member
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- Sep 27, 2011
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Take a ball bearing for a rebound test that will tell you more than any visuals will. If it has decent rebound around the face, it won't be an ASO, and it won't matter who the maker was.
If you get there and see a mold parting line running down the middle of the top face, run away. There are great cast anvils, but none of them ever have a parting line on the top face. That is the tell-tale sign of a cast iron ASO.
Got any other pictures of the other side? Looks cast, if it is a real anvil, maybe Columbian?
If you get there and see a mold parting line running down the middle of the top face, run away. There are great cast anvils, but none of them ever have a parting line on the top face. That is the tell-tale sign of a cast iron ASO.
Got any other pictures of the other side? Looks cast, if it is a real anvil, maybe Columbian?
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drivesitfar
Well-known member
another tool i like to take along with my steel balls is a framing square so i can see how straight the top is. like i said the patina around that old anvil tells me it's a good possibility that its a real one.
if you think that there might be a crack take some simple green and a nylon brush to clean it up a bit or even a rag with some simple green or WD 40 on it works too.
if you think that there might be a crack take some simple green and a nylon brush to clean it up a bit or even a rag with some simple green or WD 40 on it works too.
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RustnGrease
Well-known member
http://anvilfire.com/FAQs/ This is the site i used when looking to buy my anvil, alot of great info. It looks to be an anvil, not an ASO to me. I would drive an hour to look at it, depending on price of course. General rule of thumb is 1$-3$ per pound for a good solid anvil. Price is dependent upon the face(top) if it's cracked or seperating, also general overall condition. Be sure to report back on your findings!
Coolabah
Well-known member
So - I'm thinking "wham bam , thank you m'am" here...Hey OP , I for one I am happy to try and help , but.... time has gone past etc ... did you get the anvil ?? Not ??
