[larrynjr]

When I got my new Nimba, I was somewhat surprised and slightly disappointed that the face was not ground smooth but was left with the shot peen finish. After talking with Jim at Nimba, I learned that was standard way (for them) to leave the anvil and left it to the smith to decide if they wanted to polish it or not. He commented that many prefer the shot peen finish because the texture helps to keep the work in place and not skitter around on a shiny polished surface.

The shot peen finish does not transfer to the metal as you work it and I'm finding that as I use the anvil, my "regular" areas that I pound on are becoming work polished. So it it very obvious what parts of the anvil I use most! I am still very happy with the Nimba anvil.