JJ Simon Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 My Friend Bryan gave me these two wonderful tools. I am trying to find out if this is an English Anvil. The only mark I can find is the number 16 stamped in it. I looked online and the waist and feet look like English anvils that are not Peter Wrights. I would guess its over 200# and less than 300 because I was able to pick it up and put it in the back of the truck. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Green Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 It looks just like mine JJ. Not sure what it is though. Mark Mark Green I have a way? Is that better then a plan? (cptn. Mal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Ah, a double mystery. I haven't even dropped a hammer on it, how's yours sound, rebound etc.? We will see if any anvil-philes will know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Green Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Mine works great. Very solid. I have it on a big stump, and it doesn't ring much, but it will move some steel. And I don't use very heavy hammers. That is what my press is for. The guy told me what he thought mine was, I will see if I can remember. Didn't worry about it much. It just didn't matter. It was just nice to have a 'real' anvil. Mark Mark Green I have a way? Is that better then a plan? (cptn. Mal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'm looking forward to cleaning it up. Maybe there will be more writing visible once I clean it. I think I'm going to put it on the mill and level the face. The one side has a big dent/chip that will have to be filled if I want the whole thing square. How much does your's weigh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 It's a Mouse Hole anvil. Very old, English made, pretty good anvils. Doesn't look like 200+ lbs based on it proportions. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hey Don, thanks for the heads up. If I put the proportion up would there be a way to calculate how much it weighs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Yes get the dimensions up here. I could probably get close comparing it to my anvils. I have a 149, 248 and a 400. I also have an anvil book that might have the weights, info, etc. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe pierre Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hey Don, thanks for the heads up. If I put the proportion up would there be a way to calculate how much it weighs? looks like a 130# or 180# mousehole. light enough to put on the bathroom scale! Joe Pierre, Tengu Forge https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/299987930107058/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hey Joe, No bathroom scale. They make me sad. I will take the measurements and post them soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Don, the anvil is 27" Long 11.5" Tall the hardy hole is just shy of 1.25" The base is 12.5"X11.5" The face is 17" from the table to the heel and 4.25" wide. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Christianson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 JJ. It is almost the same size as my Peter Wright which weighs 178 lbs. Troy Allen Christianson is NOT a "Licensed Bladesmith" so you may treat his posts with the contempt they deserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Thanks Troy. That helps. I'm going to clean it ans see if the other #'s are visible. I'm very happy to have it and can't wait to get it on a stand and use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 JJ, I'll need to check my book and anvils tomorrow, all are out in the shop. Will let you know asap. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) I had to go look. :)/>/>/> It's larger then my 148 lb Peter Wright by about 20%, so that should put it around 180 lbs. There are some other old English anvils that look similar, but Mousehole was the most common. Good size anvil. Let us know if you fine any numbers or name on it. Edited January 6, 2013 by Don Hanson Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'd be slow about doing too much to it. Beat on it for a while. You may find that the broken edge is not so bad, it might even be useful. It's easy (ish) to remove metal, lots harder to put it back. Nice gifts, BTW. Geoff "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'm with Geoff on "fixing" the anvil. Remember the steel face plate is only about 3/8" to 1/2" thick, and is only hard for about 1/8" of that. Could easily be (and most likely is indeed) a Mousehole, but there were at least twenty different makers of the period (1830-1880-ish) in the Sheffield vicinity making that exact pattern. I bet there's some faint marks on the sides that will come out when you clean it up. Cool score and a seriously good friend! How big is the vise acroass the jaws? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 @Alan, the vice jaws are 4.25" approximately. I cleaned a little more on the anvil and traced with soapstone what I could see from the stamps. If my math is correct its 240LBS That numeral 2 could be something else but unless the numeral 1 had a downward curve on the top of the stamp I can't figure it as anything else. What do you guys think? I know Troy's anvil is about the same size, maybe my girl just got a bigger booty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Your math is correct! Big ol' anvil booty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Your math is correct, but are the numbers correct? I have a picture of a 184 lb Mousehole with the numbers 1 - 2 - 16. Your dimensions fit anvils in the 180 lb range. But you could have an odd ball. It's nice anyway! Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Don my numbers could be off. Its the best I could figure off the body. Either way I'm very happy. If I get a chance I'll put it on a scale. If its 240, I'm proud of my ability to pick it up and carry it. If its 180 I'm a little crestfallen. Now to finish cleaning it and build a stand. Thanks for the help gentlemen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Oh and it rings wonderfully. Not piercing, just sweet and strong. Makes me smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe pierre Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 @Alan, the vice jaws are 4.25" approximately. I cleaned a little more on the anvil and traced with soapstone what I could see from the stamps. If my math is correct its 240LBS That numeral 2 could be something else but unless the numeral 1 had a downward curve on the top of the stamp I can't figure it as anything else. What do you guys think? I know Troy's anvil is about the same size, maybe my girl just got a bigger booty. ;)/> wow, nice clean-up job! how did you do it? Joe Pierre, Tengu Forge https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/299987930107058/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 @Joe, I really haven't done anything to it yet. I sprayed it repeatedly with Liquid Wrench kinda like PB Blaster. Then I rubbed it down with steel wool. The patina is fantastic. I will hit it with a wire brush on a angle grinder to really clean it. I am going to take the guys advice and use it a bit and if I do need to reface it I think I will build the face up with hard facing welding electrodes and then mill it down. That way I don't take too much of the original face off. @Don, I found a British anvil on Ebay almost the same dimensions as this one weighing in at a hefty 239LBS. I will post pics as I clean it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 @Joe, I really haven't done anything to it yet. I sprayed it repeatedly with Liquid Wrench kinda like PB Blaster. Then I rubbed it down with steel wool. The patina is fantastic. I will hit it with a wire brush on a angle grinder to really clean it. I am going to take the guys advice and use it a bit and if I do need to reface it I think I will build the face up with hard facing welding electrodes and then mill it down. That way I don't take too much of the original face off. @Don, I found a British anvil on Ebay almost the same dimensions as this one weighing in at a hefty 239LBS. I will post pics as I clean it. Well the body of that mousehole is chunkier than the Peter Wrights we are comparing it to. So it could be a big-un. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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