# Exploding anvils

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 10, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995 "2013-05-10T13:59:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nadreck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@Nadreck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadreck)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995/1 "2013-05-10T13:59:27Z")

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Regarding the mystery of exploding anvils, I refer you to this:

> **[Anvil firing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anvil_firing)**
>
> Anvil firing (also known as anvil launching or anvil shooting) is the practice of firing an anvil into the air with gunpowder.
> It is a traditional event held in New Westminster to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday.
> In the United Kingdom, the term refers to a method of testing anvils.\[citation needed\] Black powder was poured onto the top of the anvil and ignited. If the anvil did not shatter, it was deemed safe to use.
> Typically, two anvils are used: one as a base (placed upside down), and an...

And this:

[http://www.youtube.com/results?pws=0&search\_query=anvil%20shooting](http://www.youtube.com/results?pws=0&search_query=anvil%20shooting)

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NOTE FROM MODERATOR:  
“Exploding anvils” were referenced in today’s column: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3105/followup](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3105/followup)  
… and described in the prior column of 12-Apr-2013: [Has anyone ever been killed by a falling piano or anvil? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3101/has-anyone-ever-been-killed-by-a-falling-piano-or-anvil) – CKDH

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**Author:** ![waddlingeagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@waddlingeagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddlingeagle)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995/2 "2013-05-10T14:07:12Z")

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I wonder if anvils could explode from being exposed to high temperature differentials and constant hammering, particularly if the anvil had defects or impurities in its construction.

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**Author:** ![Archaic\_Entity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@Archaic\_Entity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archaic_Entity)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995/3 "2013-05-10T18:17:45Z")

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> [@waddlingeagle](#):
>
> I wonder if anvils could explode from being exposed to high temperature differentials and constant hammering, particularly if the anvil had defects or impurities in its construction.

Well, anvils can certainly crack. If the powder is loaded into a cracked anvil and ignites, it could potentially blow up the anvil.

Cecil did mention “anvil shooting” which I assume is anvil firing.

That wikipedia article also references an account of anvil firing dating back to the 1861, reference number 4.

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**Author:** ![manitou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@manitou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manitou)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995/4 "2013-05-12T11:05:52Z")

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Exploding anvils, falling safes and pianos? This sounds like a full Mythbuster’s/Straight Dope crossover episode!

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995/5 "2013-05-12T12:39:21Z")

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> [@Archaic\_Entity](#):
>
> That wikipedia article also references an account of anvil firing dating back to the 1861, reference number 4.

My grandfather was born in 1883, and he told me he saw anvil shooting as a boy, presumably in the late 1880’s or early 1890’s.