Anvil Questions

[cajun]

I am trying to set up a small shop and I am ready to purchase my first anvil. Since I am unable to find a used one in my area I am going to buy a new one. I have narrowed my choice to either the JHM Shaper 160# or the Emerson 150#. There is not $100 difference between the two. Can anyone offer any info on the quality of either. Thanks

[Tracy Dotson]

Cajun. i don't have any personal experience with either of those anvils,they are sold by some repeutable company's so they both should be good,maybe somebody with some knowledge of them will see this and give you a opinion, Tracy

[BruceJensky]

Cajun,

I do not have any direct experience with either of those anvils either; however, the JHM is a Farrier’s anvil as evident by the long horn and long heel. These features are advantageous to farriers making shoes, not smiths working heavy steel.

The Emerson is a more compact unit, shorter horn and shorter face, giving you a more solid base to work on. Since you will be working around the heel (near the Hardie/Pritchel Holes), you do not want the anvil having a tendency to lift at the horn…

I recommend the Emerson for bladesmithing.

Hope this helps,

Bruce…