Bent,
I wish more of the older smiths and metal workers i have met at auctions were like you! I have met a few smiths at local auctions and always get outbid on things like stakes, anvils, and swage block by them( at two of the auctions when i was talking to them they let slip that they have about 12 or more swage blocks and still they out bid me on it) as they seem to like to hoard them.They seem to have bottomless checkbooks. Ive let a few anvils go to other smiths after talking to them and they dont have one to work with. Share the wealth!!!!
Sean