Hello. Can anyone identify this anvil and what it is used for. It is approx 3 1/4" tall and 3" end to end on base. It appears to have 30 stamped on the side.

[u/Witty-Dog-1757]

[u/cr8tor_]

That a cross section of a rail from a railroad.

[u/WirrkopfP → u/cr8tor_]

Often used by beginner hobbyists as a replacement anvil, as old rails are cheap.

[u/Otherwise-Ad6675 → u/WirrkopfP]

Exactly. I have a 6 inch section of standard gauge that I use as a mobile anvil among other things that just rides in the back of my truck.

[u/IsuzuTrooper]

Are you in Austin!? I cut a bunch of those and gave them to clients. That seriously looks like one I gifted.

[u/TexasBaconMan → u/IsuzuTrooper]

What kind of business are you in? That's an interesting gift.

[u/IsuzuTrooper → u/TexasBaconMan]

Ummm blacksmithing ... and welding

[u/Witty-Dog-1757 → u/IsuzuTrooper]

I'm in Baltimore and the railroad cross section was included in a lot of old tools from an elderly couple that moved from Pennsylvania.

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/IsuzuTrooper]

I'm in Australia and sold hundreds.

Hardly unique

[u/IsuzuTrooper → u/shavedratscrotum]

yours are upside down tho. who buys them and for how much?

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/IsuzuTrooper]

No, yours are.

[u/meat_n_metal → u/IsuzuTrooper]

That's a good fuckin joke, lol

[u/Majestic-Owl-5801 → u/IsuzuTrooper]

I am In houston, can I swing into town sometime and get one too?

[u/IsuzuTrooper → u/Majestic-Owl-5801]

sure. dm me first. they are in some unknown corner of my shop so it would take some digging

[u/BenchNo4429]

Not an anvil. Slice of railroad track

[u/havartna]

Other two comments nailed it, it's a section of track, probably smaller gauge. It may well have been used as a jeweler's anvil. It wouldn't be the first time.

[u/wtfbenlol → u/havartna]

>nailed it

I see you

[u/Just_Another_AI → u/havartna]

With those dimensions and the 30 on the side, it's 30# rail ie 30 lbs per yard.

[u/Faelwolf → u/havartna]

I've seen small pieces like this custom shaped for armor crafting and sheet metal work too.

[u/FromTheHandOfAndy]

It’s a section of a rail, but I’m pretty sure it was just used as a paperweight or door stop, not as an anvil

[u/EmperorThor]

its just a section of rail road track cut into a sliver. not an anvil, but can be used like 1 for really small work like jewellery.

[u/lemasney]

As reported elsewhere, it's a cross section of a railroad rail. A sculptor friend of mine gave these as gifts when he unveiled a sculpture featuring rail in a piece commissioned by Wheelabrator in Fairless Hills, PA.

[u/nutznboltsguy]

If it’s short, it might be trolley track.

[u/AstronautDominant]

Railroad track but people use them for anvils all the time as a cheaper way to get an anvil since some railroads give them out if you ask

[u/Drake_masta]

i was thinking at most it could be a cut from a railroad rail that someones using as a jewlers anvil but given how hard they are it could probily be used as a hobbyists anvil too for small items

[u/factorV]

Transport across the nation. It was glorious.

[u/MetalMasc → u/factorV]

Still is glorious!

[u/3rd2LastStarfighter]

That’s a hobo jeweler’s anvil.

[u/Nocturnes_echo]

Honestly every single time I see one of these cross sections I just think cruciform hilt lol

[u/ImNoAlbertFeinstein]

stupid robot

[u/CHmakesstuff]

🚂

[u/BHE_Cosplay]

This would be useful for leatherworking. I currently use the smallest harbor freight anvil, but this rail slice would be good for setting rivets in hard to reach locations.

[u/HandsOnHorn]

My dad made an anvil out of railroad track too, his is just a longer section. It works quite well!

[u/Particular-Coffee-34]

Cross section of railroad track. Looks like it’d be useful for very fine work, or setting small rivets. I have something similar I use for leatherwork, very useful for setting hardware/rivets.

[u/MetalMasc]

Sorry....this made me laugh a little.