New Member, buying and installing 1st stove

It is generally illegal/against code to install a old stove (PRE-EPA before circa 1989) into any home.
What does that mean ? Well for example home owners insurance probably would deny any claims. There's much more to it so I don't want to take this thread down a road already traveled in other threads.
The bottom stove maybe a coal stove. Coal stoves can burn wood but generally not as good as any wood only stove. I say this because the air intake is located on the bottom (aka typical coal setup).
The Kodiak you posted - if its pre 1989 then it could be whats considered a slammer - which means it may be tricky to actually connect a round flex pipe to the flu exit - since 'slammer's didnt have a flu exit that lended itself to connection to a round pipe - but instead was 'slammed' into the fireplace and sealed around the edges - where smoke would just spill out and into the existing chimney. That's a no-no.

Do you have any chance at finding the placard on either stove to find the model/year of manufacturer ?

What are these stoves going to cost you ?

Pete

Another question where are you located what cold temps do you reach ?

Pete

I would definitely advise you look for something made after 1989.
There are two types of stoves that are made after circa 1989 - EPA-Exempt and EPA Certified. Both are good with the latter being generally more expensive on the used market (the epa certified ones).
Anything before 1989 you can bet is whats called a smoke dragon. Anything after '89 likely has secondary burn action that helps limit smoke and reclaim energy that would otherwise be lost up the flue.
Smoke dragons tend to chew through wood. I have both...and the difference is startling in smoke and efficiency.
Craigslist may be one of your best sources - but when you go looking - know what you are looking at and what to beware of. Cracks in the welds, missing baffles and/or firebricks.
I totally understand the cost issue - so craigslist / used market isn't bad as long as you are careful in inspecting what you are considering before shelling out green stuff.
As for which models to look for...others here will chime in but it maybe best to search...then post questions about it or better yet - use the search feature of the forum to see if anyone else has asked the same about any given stove.

Edit - Just read you post about the Kodiak at $450 - if you are willing to spend that much money - I would steer you towards a free standing stove like the Englander. They have a good following here on the forum. But the other posted asked where ya from - so thats also important.

You can always put a freestanding stove in front of it as well and just extend the hearth. Your advantage in this is a freestanding stove does not require electricity to heat it will radiate. Englander can be found at a good price online for a 30-nch as well as craigslist has a lot of stoves pop up.

Pete

Welcome, Execute Method. First, I'd inspect (or have inspected) the chimney to see if it meets code. The 2nd one does look like an old Buck woodstove with blower. May have a screen so that it can be in fireplace mode. I'm thinking 1970s-1980s. It will heat like a beast but go through wood quickly.
With all the EPA regs and insurance regs, like jjs777_fzr states, I'd put my money in something newer. Having a window to see fire is really cool. England Stove Works makes fine stoves and inserts at low prices. Home Depot runs sales on them. Where are you located?

Whew, I was guessing stoves were close to free. $450 - Egads! Put that money toward a new one. Stoves have an R value for underneath. Gotta calculate what materials in hearth satisfy that....someone who's done it will chime in. Home Depot shows Englander NC30 for $899 in my area. Some zip code in Virginia was quoting $699 at one time. You "buy" it from VA and have it shipped to your store or house.

That is a nice stove be sure that the cat is in good shape. They can be expensive a couple hundred or more.
I would recommend posting this again in the hearth forum because it will get a lot more responses as well as there are a bunch of jotulers over there lol.
Pete

I am new to wood burning but that Kodak will prolly put out good heat even without a blower. I am going to guess that Tennessee has fewer regs than Mass. Does. I was in the exact situation with a foreclosure except the owners before the last took the insert and previous cobbled up some doors to use the fireplace. IMHO keep searching but don't dismiss the older units entirely. A lot of Internet chatter talks about them like pre EPA stoves like they are the dark ages, but some have great reputations. Good luck searching