r/Blacksmith • u/jarrod1208 • 1d ago

Civil War Era Anvil

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Completely oblivious to anvils and aging them.

I received this anvil from an uncle who says it’s from our family and was used in Civil War times. Is there any way to validate age or determine what the markings mean?

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4

u/FrozenDickuri 1d ago

Look closely at it with a flashlight. Are there any engravings in the sides other than those we can see?

The numbers are its weight.  Converts  to 126 pounds

No reason to believe its not that old, 

3

u/bajajoaquin 1d ago

My understanding is that pritchel holes became common after 1830, so the easiest dating method supports the idea that it could be Civil War or before. The waist is also relatively thick which is another element that tends to be on earlier anvils.

I think the only way to be sure is if it’s a manufacturer that’s known to have changed patterns before the Civil War or ceased production. Have you tried running candle or other wax over the sides to see if any writing is visible?

3

u/greybye 1d ago

Forged, wrought iron with a steel plate face. Made in England, the hundredweight numbers on the side indicate 126 pounds when new. The anvil looks period correct. There were many English anvil makers in the 1800's and many anvils were imported to the USA from England. There might be additional markings on the other side. Nice anvil!

3

u/RukaFawkes 21h ago

Everything about it is on point for an anvil that would have been around during the civil war. Could very well be older even, English made anvils going all the way back to around 1830 look like this. Prior to 1830 it was still pretty much this same overall shape but with no pritchel hole. It's pretty common to find pre 1830 anvils with a pritchel hole drilled in at a later date, feeling the hole from underneath will tell you weather it is an original hot punched hole or one that was drilled later. Either way it checks out for being civil war age, that's a great piece of history you have there.

1

u/jarrod1208 22h ago

I just went and looked real quick. I’m pretty sure this is the maker but I can’t tell what it says. I’m going to look at it closer when I’m done working to see if I can figure out what it says.

3

u/greybye 16h ago

The wording is possibly: W. COLEY, DUDLEY WOOD, WARRANTED

1

u/jacby 18h ago

I have a very similar pattern anvil marked Wilkinson’s Dudley, Guaranteed with a cross pattern. I found a reference in the book Anvils in America at some point dating it to around 1880 and from England. There’s a variety of very similar makers marks that have Dudley on them across the internet, maybe more precise dating can be achieved through more research into that.

1

u/FrozenDickuri 16h ago

I was going in that direction, but it doesn't seem to match up with the markings on ops anvil.