Subject: swage block & little giant values

From: [email-masked] (Roger Olsen)
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 19:06:29 -0800

>Thanks to all for the info posted here, I have learned alot.

>I have been in contact with a local "antique" dealer who from time to
>time aquires blacksmithing tools. he called me last night to ask what
>swage blocks are worth, or should I say what our members would pay for them.
>I would appreciate your input.  The one he has right now is 4in.
>thickx12in.sq. one corner is broken off (about 3in.) I was also wondering
>what kind of price range for trip hammers? 25 & 50lb. especialy
>on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being in top condition.

>Thanks,  Rob Sadowski Pres.(not cuz I'm an able smith because I wasn't at
>that meeting) South Alberta Chapter  Western Canadian Blacksmiths' Guild

it is my opinion that the price of blacksmithing equipment varies alot
around the country, and i am only able to give you examples of costs im the
pacific northwest.

the prices on swage blocks are pretty much in line with anvil prices; a
used swage block showing some use but not to much abuse____a dollar a
pound, with a corner broke off the price would drop dramatically just the
same as an anvil with the heel broke off.

as for little giants that is a wild market, 10 years ago a 25 or 50 was
easy to find for $500. but not anymore. demand far exceeds supply, i just
heard today about a recently rebuilt 25 for $2,500. that seems high but i
bet he will sell it for that amount.

it is also my opinion that if you own a power hammer it is hard to make a
living as a blacksmith, but if you are trying to make a living as a
blacksmith without one it is next to impossible. in other words_________two
or three or four thousand dollars may seem like a lot for a hammer but they
are worth every penny if blacksmithing is your vocation and not your
avocation.

for the weekend hobby blacksmith, a coal forge with a hand crank, a post
vise, an anvil, and a hammer should be adequate to provide all the therapy
one could need at a resonable outlay of dollars.

from the cascade mountains in north central washington
roger olsen

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From: Jim McCarty <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 09:06:34 -0500

> from the cascade mountains in north central washington

I used to feel this way but a couple of days ago Tom Clark let me play 
with his 250-pound Little Giant. This thing really scared me the first 
time I saw it in use but he has it set up so well that I really 
enjoyed it. I After working on this monster I switched to his 100 
pounder which seemed like a toy.

Then I went home and did some work with my 2-pound cross pein. I kept 
thinking how fast this would be on the trip hammer. Boy, you really 
get spoiled in a hurry.