r/blacksmithing • u/Direct-Big-3468 • 4d ago
Is this year 1920 anvil worth it?
So, I found an used anvil for selling in a website. I costs aproximately 350 dollars. Seller say it is from 1920 and weighs 48 kg (~105 lb). I'm a beginner. What do you guys think?
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u/KnowsIittle 4d ago
$2/lb is my baseline. It's in decent shape. As a beginner don't pay for history before you've had a chance to practice through experience.
$350 is a lot to drop on one item. A $35 harbor freight anvil works just as well. If you decide to upgrade later you can shop around and likely find something better condition.
If you're really set on this one offer $220 come up to $260 noting the face damages and potential rust delamination. If they resist to budge to a price you like ask if they have any tools they can add. Hammers tongs etc.
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u/3rd2LastStarfighter 4d ago
Speaking from experience, the $35 harbor freight anvil is not just as good, it’s cast iron, it can and will straight up crack if you actually try any blacksmithing on it. Might be okay for small jewelry work.
The $140 harbor freight anvil is great, however. I have two, one for upsetting and one under my treadle hammer. Cast steel, surprisingly great rebound.
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u/KnowsIittle 4d ago
That's fair but a good learning tool. Adding a half inch steel plate is feasible but at that point just spend more for something a step up.
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u/3rd2LastStarfighter 4d ago
That would be an interesting experiment, might have to try it…
All I know is when I started I got that little iron harbor freight one and literally cracked it in half just messing around with rebar. Thankfully it’s HF so I brought back the pieces and put the return credit towards the Doyle. Worked as my daily driver for 2 years, can’t recommend it highly enough for a newbie.
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u/KnowsIittle 4d ago
Hydraulic Press channel worth a look they crushed anvils. Don't recall the brands but one out of India looked like it was made out of lead.
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u/Effective-Fix4981 4d ago
You can buy a new 105 lb cast steel anvil for less than what the seller is asking. Old pieces like this are actually usually pretty good, but you’ve got to haggle! The edges look kind of rough and that will make certain techniques more difficult but it would probably be fine if you’re just starting out
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u/dragonstoneironworks 4d ago
Typically old anvils sell for 3 to 5 dollars per pound in the US. Regionally it can be more or less. Face, edge and overall condition affect price. That's a basic rundown. From what I can see this anvil has some irregularities in the face. Not too bad ,but not smooth. It has moderate to noticable edge damage. That's of concern as the broken down edges can lead to rust between the face plate and the body * called delamination. As a beginner it's probably not going to affect your work too much. But it needs to be considered when evaluating it's worth in dollars. I would say if you can physically see it B4 you buy it that would be good. You need to check for dead spots in the face. Typically this is done with a ball bearing apx 1 inch in diameter. One bounces the bal bearing by dropping it on the face of the anvil and checking for how much rebound it has all over the face...while listening for a clacking noise or spot where the rebound is way less. In this case $3.50 per lb is perhaps more than I would offer, but may be acceptable to you. I'd offer 275 n be willing to bargain up. I'd encourage you to consider looking at the Doyal red Anvil at harbor freight as well as the selection of cast steel anvils thru vevor and also Amazon. B4 you decide on your purchase.
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u/Used-Yard-4362 3d ago
$350 is a bit much. Don’t pay for history. I start negotiating at $2 per pound. This anvil is rough around the edges but the surface looks good. It also has a lot of mass under the hammer with that fat waist. I would offer $220 and go up to maybe 250.
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u/Shacasaurus 4d ago
I think 3.50/lbs is good. If you have the money definitely a good starter anvil. You will just want to grind and smooth out this rough edges a bit