New ASO (Anvil Shaped Object)

[Scratch]

So I've been a hobby blacksmith for about 12 years now and have collected a few anvils over the years. I have one Peter Wright that I use a lot, and about 4-5 junk anvils that people have given me since they thought I could use them. I do use them as weights and other various uses around the shop but what I've really always wanted a swage block.

Since I'll probably never find one, I've been telling friends to keep their eye out for "large hardware" like excavator pins, train car wheels, bulldozer bucket teeth, or whatever so I could get some different shapes, holes or textures. I haven't had anyone find anything yet, not surprisingly because who really wants to try to put something like that in the trunk of their car or something.

I have a railroad tracks near my house, but deep in the woods on my property, there's an area that I've always suspected was a super old abandoned set of railroad tracks. I've seen old maps of the area and it looks like they moved the tracks a long time ago. This area looks like a raised road of sorts that eventually, hooks up with the current tracks, but is overgrown with large trees now. I suspect it's an old track bed since I've found a few spikes and some very short pieces of track rail buried there with my metal detector before.

Today, I was walking in my woods near that old possible track bed, and found something sticking out of the ground. It took me a while to dig it up and drag it out of the weeds but I think I just found my new swage block alternative!

Here are some pics I took with a gallon jug of bar oil for scale.

[Ironman]

Look at that, even has a pritchel hole.

[USMCPOP]

Pretty cool!

I have a CAT excavator pin that is about 4" diameter, maybe 2 ft long in more or less new shape. I believe it is chrome-moly. I think I gave $20 for it. Someone on some forum looked the part number up for me and they are like $1,500 new. I need to sell that thing!

[digger doug]

I wonder how well it will ring ?

[Steeveedee]

I'd like to find a chunk of metal like that! I could use an anvil, but the prices are completely out of sight for a guy who is going to use it only occasionally. Guess I could go torch a piece off the tracks here in town, but that'll get me talked about in a way I won't enjoy.

[allessence]

That is SO COOOOOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

I love old finds.. Treasure hunting yippey..

[digger doug]

If you Google around awhile, look up AAR specifications, you might
find out what that is made of, heat treatment (if any)

[allessence]

my guess would be malleable iron or cast steel.. There might be a founders mark somewhere..

[Scratch]

There is a bunch of lettering on it but I'm not too anxious to find out details of it...yet.
It's currently covered in snow outside my shop in the landscape rocks as yard art, alongside an old anvil, and a big barn chain.

It was very hard to move it to the exact position I wanted because of the weight!

[digr]

train car coupler