Anvil shooting might not be on the roster of events
at the Olympics, but it does have one thing going
for it:
It's loud.
Known by various names (anvil launching, anvil
firing, anvil flying, anvil ringing,) anvil shooting
involves packing black powder between two stacked
anvils and blowing the top anvil as close to the
clouds as possible.
Spectators can be seen clutching their chests to
make sure their lungs are still intact.
How it Started
As for how anvil shooting got its start, that depends
on who you talk to.
One story says the practice dates back to the 1700's
when people would shoot an anvil as part of a celebration.
Another theory is that the sound of an anvil being blown
up mimicked the loud blast from a cannon, hence, American
settlers would shoot an anvil to intimidate Indians.
In fact, no one is sure how, where, or why anvil shooting
got started.
How it's Done
The method of today is to place one anvil upside down
on a solid surface. The bottom of the anvil (which is
facing upward) has an opening where black powder is packed.
A fuse is placed into an opening and a second anvil is
placed upright on the bottom anvil.
Has Anyone Ever Been Injured or Killed?
We know of one person who was the victim of a premature
ignition at an event in Farmington. Read about him here.
