Anvil Prices - Have People Gone Crazy?

[G-ManBart]

I have a neighbor that's collects anvils, he has over 150 of them. Is this a collection or an obsession? I'm just glad I got mine before the craziness kicked in.
Anyway, before you spend any money on an anvil, test the rebound. I have a steel ball I bought from Harry Epstein. A good anvil will give you almost 100% rebound.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/31-32-chrome-steel-balls.html

I know of collectors who have over 1,000 anvils, so your neighbor isn't too bad.

I've only owned a couple of dozen anvils, but only the very best will give well over 90% rebound, so when people say they're getting nearly 100% rebound, especially from a vintage anvil, it tells me they aren't checking them correctly.

Most really good anvils will realistically be in the 70-80% range if someone actually measures the rebound with a ruler and a drop from exactly 10 inches. Right now I've got fine examples of Peter Wright, Hay-Budden, Trenton, Arm & Hammer, Fisher, Kohlswa and Refflinghaus on hand. I've also owned Mousehole and Vulcan brands in the past, as well as forged on, or tested the rebound on other brands like Columbian, Wilkinson, Soderfors and Pedinghaus.

Out of all of those only the Refflinghaus is clearly over 90%.

What I see people do all the time is drop a ball bearing, catch it and say "yep, almost 100% rebound" because they didn't have to move their hand too much...but have no idea exactly how much their hand moved, or exactly how high they dropped it from, etc.

 

[Maui]

I own a 352 lb Hay Budden anvil that came out of a railroad shop that closed down in the 1970s. Based on these prices, I can only imagine what it would bring if I decided to sell it (which I don't plan to).

Maui

 

[meatsis]

I was looking for a anvil for almost 2 years now. Seeing the prices really turned me off. The cheapest i could find one was $500 here in NY. So when i saw someone selling a haybudden 106lb for $100 i made damn sure i was first in line and there asap. Kind of hard to bang on a oak stump

You *******! You're the one that got to it before me. I was about an hour too late. Good score

 

[Maui]

Speaking of Hay Budden, here's a 410 lb monster for sale locally. The guy is asking $5,000.

https://rochester.craigslist.org/grd/d/410-pound-anvil/6522969034.html

I've attached the photo from the ad in case it sells. At that price, it may take a while.

 

[xin]

Depends on if someone wants quality.

That is where the difference is, in the past one could have easily bought one as most everything was Made in USA.

However, the new model is to import everything from CHINA and pay the Union Price tag.

 

[Augus7us]

Anvil prices have been up for years. In many places you can't find them for under $10/lb. I'm always told its the little old lady's buying them up for yard ornaments but I don't buy that any more.

There is an influx of blacksmiths and bladesmiths thanks to the internet reviving these lost arts and later tv shows that capitalize on the newfound popularity making them even more popular.

All that said, I still think there is more to it. I can't put my finger on it but I just don't think its old ladys and kids picking up a new hobby. I see them for sale all the time and I just watched an auction here in ohio with about 15 anvils and everyone of them in decent shape went for close to $4/lb or more. I have 125lb hay budden and it cost me $300 three years ago. I sold an 80lb no name with no edges, half the face was missing, for $225 last September.

If I had to put my money on it I would say its antique dealers setting the prices. Lookup matchless antiques on ebay. I'm pretty sure that guy isn't helping the prices. Anywhere...

-Clint

 

[Augus7us]

Some chucklehead bought a damaged and repaired early Trenton at auction this past Sunday and immediately put it on eBay saying it was in excellent condition with no issues or faults.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/137-lbs-TR...%3A4fd9797415f0aa4938afee3cfffe38b2%7Ciid%3A2


If you look at my last picture you can still see the scallops from the weld bead in spots. Funny, the guy was told it had damage, told it was made in a different country and he hasn't updated the listing....typical ePray scumbag.

That's actually a nice anvil. I don't see any signs the face was welded. The edges are not bad but would have been better if someone didn't try to clean them up with a flap disk. And trenton's were made right here in Columbus, Ohio if memory serves me right. His sold for about 600 which is about going rate on ebay.

-Clint

 

[Aaron_W]

I realize the OP is a couple years old, but looking at new anvils you will pay $1.25-1.50/lb even for a Harbor Freight anvil. $1200 for a 250lb anvil is $4.80/lb. Paying 3x Harbor Freight prices for a quality vintage anvil doesn't really seem that bad.

Rather than blaming hipsters, maybe people are just starting to value anvils for their use as anvils again. The internet is making it easier for people to find out that hunk of iron in grand dads barn isn't a piece of junk, people will pay good money for it.

Of course people being people, they all think their broken, abused whatever is rare and in mint condition. Recently shopping for vises I saw a lot of that.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

It is demand and supply, old name brand anvils in good shape are getting more scarce every year. There are still several companies making good U.S. made anvils, bought one last year. Some good new anvils are also coming out of Europe. My thoughts are the antique dealers and collectors can have at it on the old anvils that are overpriced.

 

[DadsTools]

If prices are consistently that high everywhere, I'd think that they are actually selling for those kinds of dollars. If that's the case, then that is what they are worth today.

I agree with Augus7us. I don't buy the yard art thing with regard to astronomical prices. Especially not an anvil. They're simply not ornate enough. Folks go more for the older iron and steel that were also made to be works of industrial or decorative art. Anvils are not.

I do believe that part of it is a renewed interest in blacksmithing. I've seen this in other groups of collectibles too. It's been going on for a decade or so. I believe it's part of a grass-roots, almost instinctual rebellion against the modern world and its layers of digital complexity.

What goes hand and hand with this is supply and demand. The population increases so there's more people vying for them. Same thing with the renewed interest in these primitive arts. Yet the supply of old classic anvils is diminishing, and they won't make anymore. The price on the remaining ones go up. Urban sprawl increases--they don't have anvils there. Mom & Pop farms where the anvils were disappear more and more. The next generation could care lees about the old farm, they want to sell off the land and scrap all that old rusty junk in the barn. And again, if no one was paying those prices, they wouldn't be up there like they are.

I also buy into the idea--at least in part--that the antique dealers have a hand in jacking the prices up. They're in it to make money. Period. That's why they'll take a 19th century book with artwork in it and destroy the book to sell each plate framed individually. Mo money mo money mo money mo money. And trust me, I understand--it's a brutal business. They could care less about the intrinsic value of a fine anvil to a blacksmith. It's like dealing in horses. The second you stop looking at them as a lump of animated meat and start looking at them as noble living creatures, you're done. Let the buyer at the end of the rainbow look at them this way--that's the one who will pay the big bucks for that lump of animated meat.

 

[DadsTools]

It is demand and supply, old name brand anvils in good shape are getting more scarce ever year. There are still several companies making good U.S. made anvils, bought one last year. Some good new anvils are also coming out of Europe. My thoughts are the antique dealers and collectors can have at it on the old anvils that are overpriced.

This sounds right.

 

[xin]

I realize the OP is a couple years old, but looking at new anvils you will pay $1.25-1.50/lb even for a Harbor Freight anvil. $1200 for a 250lb anvil is $4.80/lb. Paying 3x Harbor Freight prices for a quality vintage anvil doesn't really seem that bad.

Rather than blaming hipsters, maybe people are just starting to value anvils for their use as anvils again. The internet is making it easier for people to find out that hunk of iron in grand dads barn isn't a piece of junk, people will pay good money for it.

Of course people being people, they all think their broken, abused whatever is rare and in mint condition. Recently shopping for vises I saw a lot of that.

Funny thing is once they find out it is valuable of course the price skyrockets.

I think there is only 1 steel mill left in the USA could be wrong maybe 2 if lucky.

The steel quality today is of very low quality all sorts of impurities and no quality.

 

[F124C]

If I was in the market for an anvil, I'd be looking at Peddinghaus (or Ridgid-Peddinghaus or Pedding-Haus!). Some say these are the Rolls-Royce of anvils.

If the anvil is being bought to use, I don't see the point of paying big bucks for an old anvil in not great condition or with flaws/damage when I could have a new, quality, drop-forged anvil for similar money.

But that's just me. (to each his own).

AL.

 

[F124C]

I'm thinking that maybe an anvil in a home shop is a bit of a waste if you don't have a forge (or something similar to heat metal) ?

Also, if prices go too high and people don't buy, will prices drop or will these over-priced anvils end up in the scrap yard (where many went in the past)?

I remember something similar happening with the old style blacksmiths vices, the type with the leg. Nobody wanted them. Many were scrapped. Then suddenly they became 'collectors items' , therefore a 'must have item' and prices shot up...

I wonder what's next (so I can buy up some of them and make some easy money ).

AL.

 

[Augus7us]

To be honest it hurts an anvil to use it with anything but hot metal unless you use a striking plate on top of it. Dents and marks in the face transfer to your work when forging and your better off without that. Every used anvil has some but the more there are and deeper they are the less the anvil is worth.

I'd say its an influx of people that are driving the prices up. The only problem I have with that is that most of the kids I see trying to blacksmith and forge knives are usually broke. Knifemakers can skip the forging process all together and begginer blacksmiths often start out with rr track anvils.

I'm starting to think part of this is folks being used to them being the price of boat anchors. Once people of all stripes started reviving a lot of these lost arts the prices may have rose to their natural levels. A brand new nimba 260lb is $7/lb. That is on par with a lot of prices I see locally.

-Clint

 

[Aaron_W]

I'm starting to think part of this is folks being used to them being the price of boat anchors. Once people of all stripes started reviving a lot of these lost arts the prices may have rose to their natural levels. A brand new nimba 260lb is $7/lb. That is on par with a lot of prices I see locally.

-Clint

I think you are right.

I really don't know anvil brands but after TN Cattleman's post I googled USA made anvils, and the prices for these seem to run between $5 and $10/lb, compared to less than $2/lb for most box store anvils.

If the old iron in a vintage anvil is truly superior to modern steel, it makes perfect sense to me that they would generate similar prices. Anvils are almost entirely about the material. Its not like a modern anvil is going to come with blue tooth or do the hammering for you.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Watched a pretty nice 150# Peter Wright sell for $260 on a consignment auction a few weeks back.
Best prove I've seen for one in a long time.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Some of the best old anvils are made from cast or forged steel or forged steel from the waist up. Some other old anvils are wrought iron with a hardened steel face plate welded onto them. Some of these old plated anvils are still going strong after more than a hundred years, while others have not fared so well. Over time this plate can be beat down leaving a saddle shape anvil face, other times this plate will separate from the anvil body or a piece will break off leaving the anvil of little value for blacksmithing. Most modern american anvils are made out of ductile iron, with a one or two brands being cast or forged from steel. Cast iron anvils are simply anvil shaped objects, a piece of railroad track or a steel block is better suited to use as a anvil than the big box store cast iron anvil. Just a few thing to keep in mind before buying a tool that should outlast the buyer by decades.

 

[byoungblood]

Certainly the yard art folks and hoarders aren't making the situation any better.

I've gotten back into working on vacuum tube amps and the prices on tubes has just gotten stupid in the past 10-12 years. Then you run across some folks who own (by their own estimation) 200k+ tubes, with no intention of ever selling any of them. I understand keeping a good variety of them around if you're in the repair business, but some of these guys just sit on them. I just see it as the same mentality as the folks who hoard the vises and anvils, their mentality is that they'll sell them off one day when they're the "go to" person when the supply gets really tight.

But with some of these folks in their 50s and 60s, makes you wonder how long they'll sit on them or just end up being sold off at an estate sale.

Kinda wish I had grabbed my grandfather's anvil when he had passed. I'm guessing it was probably something that was either passed down to him from his father or he picked up cheap somewhere over time, I can't recall him ever using it.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Anvil prices are going through the roof here in Australia so when theses off cuts of I Beam came up I grabbed them.

View media item 81238

 

[Jim c]

If you would like a TOP QUALITY anvil at realistic pricing, please visit North Carolina tool co. And look at their Calvary anvil weighs 112 lbs and is SUPER strong made for horseshoeing costs about $400 shipping is ups and is pretty cheap. NC tools.com

 

[Jim c]

Cost is $465. NC tool.com

 

[M_George]

I've talked to people that collect anvils. I know a guy that lives locally that has over 100 anvils and still grabs them up every chance he gets. Seems more like an obsession to me. It's a shame though as I've met a number of young guys that would love to have a good anvil to learn the art.

 

[leg17]

I've talked to people that collect anvils. I know a guy that lives locally that has over 100 anvils and still grabs them up every chance he gets. Seems more like an obsession to me. It's a shame though as I've met a number of young guys that would love to have a good anvil to learn the art.

Yeah its funny.
Some guys wait for an anvil to walk up and ring their doorbell and complain about the other guy that has managed to gather up a 100 anvils or more.
Which one is REALLY looking?

 

[DadsTools]

I'm thinking that maybe an anvil in a home shop is a bit of a waste if you don't have a forge (or something similar to heat metal) ?

Also, if prices go too high and people don't buy, will prices drop or will these over-priced anvils end up in the scrap yard (where many went in the past)?

I remember something similar happening with the old style blacksmiths vices, the type with the leg. Nobody wanted them. Many were scrapped. Then suddenly they became 'collectors items' , therefore a 'must have item' and prices shot up...

I wonder what's next (so I can buy up some of them and make some easy money ).

AL.

Yes, I think the old vise prices are outrageous too. Crazy.

 

[DadsTools]

I've talked to people that collect anvils. I know a guy that lives locally that has over 100 anvils and still grabs them up every chance he gets. Seems more like an obsession to me. It's a shame though as I've met a number of young guys that would love to have a good anvil to learn the art.

We have a name for that.....it's called hoarding.

 

[meatsis]

We have a name for that.....it's called hoarding.

So anybody that collects a certain item, whether it be Anvil’s, coins, baseball cards etc, are hoarders?

Or are you just one of those guys who complains that they can’t find an anvil because of these collectors?

 

[M_George]

Play nice... I collect all sorts of tools, I also take care of people that can't find what the need. As for anvil prices, how many young guys can afford up to $1000 for an anvil while their trying to earn a living. This stifles creativity.

 

[Bob P1]

Well, like anything else when you don't have one and are looking they are as rare as hens teeth. Once you buy one of the over priced ones you will be tripping over $100 ones at yard sales.

 

[M_George]

Well, like anything else when you don't have one and are looking they are as rare as hens teeth. Once you buy one of the over priced ones you will be tripping over $100 ones at yard sales.

Been there... done that!

 

[On-Wheel]

That Trenton isn't worth nearly that, but I don't believe the bidders know it's been repaired. Typically a repaired anvil that size would top out well under $5/lb...more like $3-3.5 from what I've seen. That is an early one, so that helps the price, but still, it's been damaged and repaired, so it's a tossup.

eBay prices are inflated compared to local/CL type prices, but they still give you a ballpark idea.

I have a solid 166lb Hay-Budden for sale and I'm not planning to take less than $750 for it. I doubt it will sell quickly, but when someone serious looks at it, they'll probably buy it....dead flat, perfect edges and just needs a touch of cleanup. Yours could easily get close to $1K depending upon condition and exact vintage. The later two-piece models seem to command a premium and the handful of solid steel H-B draw crazy money.

Yours sounds like a deal.https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/tls/d/old-hay-budden-blacksmith/6531324862.html

 

[bigb56]

I was very lucky (and patient) and found a 1916 Arm & Hammer, 149 lbs, wrought, steel face, in beautiful condition for $375. No swayback at all and just a few minor chips along the edge of the face. I got it from a retiring blacksmith along with a pile of other stuff. It really is nice to buy something from the owner/user rather than a dealer. I was the first one there and several minutes later two dealers showed up. Sorry guys!

I still have a 65 lb Swedish anvil as well, paid $150 about two years ago. Both the Swedish anvil and the A & H have a 90% rebound.

I have a 112 lb Mouse Hole that is rough. Paid $150 several years ago. Dates to about 1830, rebound about 60-70% depending on where you drop the ball.

Looking at the local CL around here I did really well, there's a lot of junk for $3 to $4 per lb.