Anvil choice??

K

KenH

Well-Known Member
Hello ya'll. I'm looking at purchasing an anvil. Both are in the 100 lb range. The left is what's called Italy style, notice how long the rear portion with the holes is? Pretty thin which doesn't seem like that would be good for hammering on. BUT - most of the hammering/forging would take place forward of the holes - wouldn't it? If that is the case, the rear portion being thin would put more of the mass toward the center where most of the forging would take place, away from the holes in the anvil. The right hand anvil has more metal around the holes - is that better?

Looking for some guidance here.
Ken H>

1762484266698.png 1762484329391.png
 
Im no anvil expert im gonna throw this in the mix. Check out the J Nielson Knife Makers anvil. Has some knife builder features built into it. Seems like a decent anvil and last I knew it was about $1100. Black Bear Forge did a review on it on YouTube. It's 110 pounds.
 
Last edited:
I seldom used the hardy or pritchel holes for making knives. The best knive anvil that I ever had was a 90lb block of H-13. If I absolutely needed something to hold a hardy tool I used a leg vice. I don't have the block of H-13 anymore but I do have the satifaction of knowing that the theaf who stole it gave himself a hernia stealing it and the leg vice. Sometimes you just have to be satified with karma.

Doug
 
That J Nielson anvil (Made in Texas, USA) sure is a nice anvil, but at $1154 (not sure if free shipping or not) it's a tad pricey for me. I could "get by" with my existing 70 lb anvil, but it's in sorta rough shape. The two anvils I show above are in the $200 range shipped, and have decent reviews. There is also a Vevor 110 lb anvil that looks good in the same range.

In the last couple of years (more?) these Chinese anvils have knocked anvil prices way down.
 
KenH said:
That J Nielson anvil (Made in Texas, USA) sure is a nice anvil, but at $1154 (not sure if free shipping or not) it's a tad pricey for me. I could "get by" with my existing 70 lb anvil, but it's in sorta rough shape. The two anvils I show above are in the $200 range shipped, and have decent reviews. There is also a Vevor 110 lb anvil that looks good in the same range.

In the last couple of years (more?) these Chinese anvils have knocked anvil prices way down.
Click to expand...
Italics mine. I have the Vevor 110 lb anvil that I bought for like $120? on sale. It's OK..but if I had to do it again, I would get a better anvil. The hardness in several spots is iffy. I've been using it to make pickets for a Bannister, which is fairly light stuff and it works OK for that. I haven't used it for knife-making yet.
 
$120? WOW - that was a deal. I just placed an order for the 110 lb Vevor anvil, hopefully it will be ok. It seems most all of those Chinese anvils perhaps come out the same factory, so it's either a $200 range Chinese anvil, or a $1,000 for a USA made anvil. "IF" I were a really serious forger perhaps it'd be worth the money, but I do mostly stock removal. I mostly "play around" with Damascus and forging.
 
I have and old 128LB Peter Wright and I bought a Bauer 66LB cast steel one. A little lighter than you wanted but not a bad anvil for the price IMO! I think i bought it for $89 on sale?? It was a steal for what i paid! I got it manly to go to shows so I could move it easily. Never did any shows so I just use it. Ive been real happy with it!
 
You use the 66 lb anvil more than the 128 lb Peter Wright? I thought the PW anvils where the best of the best, and more weight was better? Who knows, I might find I like my old 70 lb anvil ok. This is it, and it's not really all that bad. Perhaps for my use it's all I need?
1762635024835.jpeg
 
I took stock of what I use the anvil for, so I cancelled the Vevor order. I'll just fasten the old 70 lb anvil down and use what I've got, it should be OK.
 
My Peter Wright belonged to my Dad he gave it to me about 5 years ago. I have it in my basement mainly because a few years back someone was breaking into garages and stealing whatever they could. I didn't want to risk loosing it. I would bring it up forge put it back a real PITA. When I got the 66 pounder I just kept it in my garage and now im to lazy to move the other one. Plus I have a 12T press I built. that will out squish or hammer any anvil no matter how big or heavy!! LOL!!
 
KenH said:
$120? WOW - that was a deal. I just placed an order for the 110 lb Vevor anvil, hopefully it will be ok. It seems most all of those Chinese anvils perhaps come out the same factory, so it's either a $200 range Chinese anvil, or a $1,000 for a USA made anvil. "IF" I were a really serious forger perhaps it'd be worth the money, but I do mostly stock removal. I mostly "play around" with Damascus and forging.
Click to expand...
I understand. That was my dilemma as well. USA made anvils are quite expensive. Blacksmith Supply carries some Kanka anvils which are Turkish made, and a fairly decent price. I almost bought one. That was before I realized I was going to be forging banisters for my deck.
 
Ive been thinking a lot about this thread. I know that as far as an anvil goes bigger is better, but obviously budget trumps that!! We are making knives for the most part a cast steel smaller anvil with a good base would work fine. Look at Bosses anvil he makes or the Atlas anvil more or less big blocks of steel! The little Bauers Top is almost as wide as my Peter Wright definitely shorter. I like it as much as my PW only because I got to profile all the edges and its actually flatter than the PW. If your doing large pieces than knives than I would think the larger one be mandatory. Just some of my thoughts, not that anyone cares!! LOL!!
 
Gliden07 said:
Ive been thinking a lot about this thread. I know that as far as an anvil goes bigger is better, but obviously budget trumps that!! We are making knives for the most part a cast steel smaller anvil with a good base would work fine. Look at Bosses anvil he makes or the Atlas anvil more or less big blocks of steel! The little Bauers Top is almost as wide as my Peter Wright definitely shorter. I like it as much as my PW only because I got to profile all the edges and its actually flatter than the PW. If your doing large pieces than knives than I would think the larger one be mandatory. Just some of my thoughts, not that anyone cares!! LOL!!
Click to expand...
That makes sense...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top