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This is a Cutler's Stiddy (Steady), also called a Steady Rest. It is an anvil used for making & repairing slipjoint knives. The peening horn on the front is used to peen the backs of scale pins. This allows the cutler to change the handles of a knife without taking the knife completely apart. The peening horn is bolted on and can be removed to modify it or it can be replaced with a horn of a different design. The top of the peening horn is offset above the top of the stiddy to allow for crinking of blades. One side is slightly higher than the other to give a greater height for more severe crinking. This is also used to put more strength in a weak backspring. The hole in the top of the stiddy is for tapping pins out of a knife.
The base of the stiddy is 3-1/4 inches by 3 inches. Height is approximate 4-1/4 inches at the highest point of the peening horn. Approximate weight 4 lbs. The stiddy is serial numbered (#1008) and marked with my name and the year made, 2009 in this case. <br />
I make these from railroad track. They are carbon steel and can be welded if you have the right type of welding rod. Each stiddy is handmade and take from 6 to 12 hours of grinding and polishing. The top of the stiddy is polished to a near mirror polish so that nicks in the stiddy are not transferred into the bolster of the knife you are working on.
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