Anvil firing (also known as ''anvil launching'' or ''anvil shooting'') is the practice of firing an
anvil into the air with
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
.
In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, the term refers to a method of testing anvils. Black powder was poured onto the top of the anvil and ignited. If the anvil did not shatter, it was deemed safe to use.
Method
Typically, two anvils are used: one as a base (placed upside down), and another one (also known as the "flier") as the
projectile (placed right-side up, atop the base).
An alternative method is to place the bottom anvil upright, and fill the
hardy hole with black powder. A torus or
washer, often made from a
playing card, is placed over the hole, with a space for a fuse or powder trail. The top anvil is placed upside down, face to face with the bottom anvil.
A technique for firing a single anvil uses a
stone
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
base. The space formed by the anvil's concave base is filled with
black powder. Modern
double-base powders have much higher energy densities, making them unsuitable. A
fuse is made to project out, then lit, and the resulting
deflagration sends the projectile anvil several feet into the air.
Anvils were traditionally fired on
St. Clement's Day, honoring
Pope Clement I, the
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
of
blacksmiths
A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, gr ...
and metalworkers.
Although its practice has lessened in recent years, enthusiasts still participate in anvil launching events and competitions. On September 5, 2011,
The Science Channel premiered ''
Flying Anvils'', a reality television series about anvil firing.
Dangers
Individuals may be crushed by falling anvils. The black powder can also prematurely ignite when the top anvil is placed. As in any case where an
explosive is confined on all sides by metal,
shrapnel
Shrapnel may refer to:
Military
* Shrapnel shell, explosive artillery munitions, generally for anti-personnel use
* Shrapnel (fragment), a hard loose material
Popular culture
* ''Shrapnel'' (Radical Comics)
* ''Shrapnel'', a game by Adam C ...
presents a hazard. If a damaged or structurally weak anvil is used, the anvil base may shatter upon ignition.
Physics and chemistry
The technique depends on the fact that black powder is a
low explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An expl ...
, which burns more rapidly when under pressure.
Historical uses
A “21-anvil salute” replaced the traditional
21-gun salute on
Victoria Day 1860 in
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capita ...
, after the town's cannon and status as capital of British Columbia was taken away.
On November 7, 1864 during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
, the commander of the Iowa Home Guard militia in
Davis County, Iowa
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,110. The county seat is Bloomfield.
Davis County is included in the Ottumwa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Davis County was ...
, having no artillery piece at his disposal, ordered a local citizen to fire an anvil in the county seat at
Bloomfield to alert militiamen in outlying townships in response to intelligence received of the presence of
Confederate bushwhackers in
Davis County. This was in response to a report of two suspected Confederate guerrillas at a residence in the neighborhood where they had demanded money and food and had terrorized the occupants, a Mr. and Mrs. Gore. The
private citizen
A private citizen is someone who does not have an official or professional role in a given situation.
The same person may be a private citizen in one role, and an official in another. For example, a legislator is an official when voting in the l ...
who carried out the order to fire the anvil was seriously injured.
One noteworthy celebration was held on the day the
State of Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
voted to
secede
Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics l ...
from the
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
. On February 23, 1861,
Texas Ranger and prominent Union supporter
Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr. was held captive and forced to "fire the anvils" in the streets of
Austin.
Sources
*
References
{{Reflist
American folklore
Entertainment events