Your assessment on this Craigslist Anvil

[apittmanii]

A guy is selling the anvil depicted in the photos for asking price of $600. Says it is a 200 pound anvil. Says there are no markings on it.

Any thoughts on how to tell the anvil manufacturer, or is it truly possible there are no markings?

What's a fair price for this unmarked anvil (assuming it rings correctly and no surprises)?

Thank you

 

[sandmann]

That is a Farriers anvil, you can tell by the extra long face. $600 seems a little steep, IMHO. Also, that doesn't look like a 200 lb Farrier to me. It might be hard to tell due to scale from the pics.

Not sure if you know this of not, but this anvil is for horse shoeing. ie; The Farrier is the guy who shoes horses. Meaning it is a lighter duty anvil. It will still take a good beating but not a heavy duty and generally thinner than a "regular" anvil.

As for Price, do some interweb searching for new ones, and make your decision accordingly.

Where are you? That anvil is for sale in Hutto, near Austin! You can edit your location in your user Control Panel... edit details, then location!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I would be hard pressed to say that that anvil was 200 lbs.
3 dollars a pound is a little high at least in my part of the country.

 

[plumbing101mike]

I am in agreement. Seems small. $600 is premium.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Zeke]

Ah, shucks, that's a purdy little thang, ain't it. 50-60 lbs. tops.

Here's a 200 pounder sitting on Jack Olsen's bench:

 

[isb cornbinder]

About 28 years ago, I bought an anvil at the auction of Pacific International Trucks, in Vancouver. I think I paid around $200 and the anvil is a VULCAN 225 pound. I have been offered $600 for my VULCAN and I turned the offer down without hesitation. I cannot find a picture on my computer, but, I will have one tomorrow and post a picture.
Just for reference, The Vulcan base is about 12 inches square.
My advice, for what it is worth, buy the anvil if you like it and can afford it. These great lumps are an investment.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I must be missing something because that doesn't really look like a farriers anvil to me. I don't think it even has a pritchel hole and two are not unusual for farriers. Also no clip on the horn and it isn't swollen like most farriers anvils are. It does have an extended heel though. Here is a pic of a typical farriers anvil, this one a Peter Wright. Ed.

 

[metalmagpie]

You don't say where you are located. (Why not?) Around western Washington $3/lb is not excessive for an anvil that doesn't need restoration.

Of course, you may not live here.

metalmagpie

 

[jumbojak]

I must be missing something because that doesn't really look like a farriers anvil to me. I don't think it even has a pritchel hole and two are not unusual for farriers. Also no clip on the horn and it isn't swollen like most farriers anvils are. It does have an extended heel though. Here is a pic of a typical farriers anvil, this one a Peter Wright. Ed.

Yup, the anvil in the OP doesn't look like a farrier's anvil to me either. I can't see very well on my phone but there might be some light markings. Very light, but a little flour might make them visible. I don't know why exactly but I'm thinking Soderfors... just a hunch as I don't see the tong holes you would find on a forged wrought anvil. Then again, bad eyes on a small screen...

Also, don't bother testing the ring OP. What you want to test is REBOUND and the best way to do that is with a 1" ball bearing dropped from a height of ten inches or so. Check the rebound with a ruler by seeing how high the bearing bounces in several places on the face.

 

[D45]

It is insane how much people are paying for vintage anvils

INSANE

 

[holdover]

retired farrier, here is a link to my anvil http://nctoolco.com/proddetail.php?prod=0207 it only weighs 70LBS but over the last 30 years or so it has been hit with everything from a 2 lb hammer to a 10 pounder. Be a cold day in hell before I would pay 600 for the one in the pic, now if I was pounding heavy metal everyday a heavier one would be nice for less movement

 

[555]

$3.00-3.50 per pound in the Atlanta area. Most of them end up as yard art.

 

[jimgood]

Definitely not a Farrier's anvil. Horn profile is wrong. And farrier's don't usually use 200 lb anvils unless they're shoeing draft horses on a regular basis. But looks identical to the one Zeke posted. Wonder if Jack knows the maker of his.

 

[TractorJeff]

I agree, no clip! Looks like a general duty shop anvil! My brother is a Farrier, over the years he or I acquired various anvils. The last of which was a true 200 + pound shop anvil. I was never so glad as the day he asked for it in a trade! The one I would have taken from my Uncle looked like the OP's. Not too big, but not too heavy! My brother got that one too! Which didn't hurt my feelings any!

 

[BD1]

It looks in nice shape. Anvils can be crazy money these days and you really need to know your prices . That would be too rich for me. Price varies on location. Check new prices out here at a local place by me.
http://www.centaurforge.com/Anvils/departments/141/

I have a Vulcan anvil which isn't the best but works. Mine is old and it has a tool steel plate on top and the rest is cast. It doesn't ring like the all forged steel ones but works.
Zoro tools sells anvils too. I was thinking of upgrading to one when they have their 30% off sales and free shipping.
https://www.zoro.com/anvils/c/9537/

You could post here too and do a search, http://www.iforgeiron.com/

 

[Ironhorse74]

You don't say where you are located. (Why not?) Around western Washington $3/lb is not excessive for an anvil that doesn't need restoration.

Of course, you may not live here.

metalmagpie

Agreed. I just paid 3 dollars a pound in Olympia.

 

[Pathfinders]

Found this in my area.
http://greenville.craigslist.org/atq/5895449647.html

 

[slip knot]

I'm betting that if the anvil is for sale in the Austin area it will sell for $600. Lots of folks around there with more money than sense.

 

[DpSyChO]

$2-$4 lb around here depending on condition and weight.

 

[MoparTrucks]

Makes me sick, I found a 200 lb anvil in great shape at a yard sale down in Arkansas a couple years ago for $50 but another guy literally beat me by a minute or less and snapped it up. And no I didn't do the douche move and offer the seller more for it.

I am still looking for an anvil and that one looks like its in good shape but I too question the weight but if it checked out and I had the scratch I think I would be inclined to grab it. Too many times I have passed up things only to seriously regret it later and prices do not seem to be going down.

 

[Z2V]

I'm betting that if the anvil is for sale in the Austin area it will sell for $600. Lots of folks around there with more money than sense.

Wow, that's harsh. LOL

 

[Farrier]

Early style farrier anvil. Over priced. If you want it, buy it.

 

[bubinga]

Sort of OT, But the equipment garage for the State road I worked there for a while,
Has a Nice big one sitting in the welders shop with an inch of dust on it.
Never in 6 years saw him, or anyone else use it.
sitting there going to waste.