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I checked out their site, impressive to say the least. I totally understand the "lust" you speak of.
I'll await more suggestions from others if available and a reply from Nimba.
It's so hard, almost impossible to find a decent anvil in my neck of the woods, I have employed your methods of "searching" also. :D
Thanks again for your help Thomas.

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I own a Nimba "Gladiator" and it was my first anvil shaped anvil. (I used re-purposed forklift forks to start.)I had been advised to get the the heaviest I could afford. I love the Gladiator for a lot of my work, But at times the face is too wide. Yes , you can use the the flat horn for narrower sections but I often jump to my 90# Trenton.I really like the look of Mr. Hofi's anvil and would lean that way if I would have had more experience.BTW my brief moment of more money than sense has passed. :)
Johnny

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My vote is also for Nimba, if your gonna spend the $$$ for a new anvil then might as well get the best and also go with the biggest you can afford and keep your eyes out for a smaller one if needed, it's a lot easier to find a 100#er for a fair price than it is to find a 300#er, alot of times you can find small ones laying around in someone's barn or shed and they will give it to you.

welder19

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My advice to newbies is find you a real anvil and see if ya gonna stick with smithing. Why spend a grand or two
then say it's not for me. Or worse say I have so much invested I just have to do it. If ya have money to burn go for it. I am very happy with my 5 anvils 194 lb Trenton 142 lb and 88lb Hay Buddens 60 lb fisher and a 37 lb track anvil I built. All for less than $650. Do we buy a $150K car for our first?
Ken

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If you're going to spend the money on a new anvil I would go with either the Hoffman or a Nimba in the same size.
A 110lb anvil on a 100-200lb base would be a very serviceable unit and likely hold or increase its value as long as you take care of it.(that means NO GRINDING ON IT)

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I have A
560 lb vaughn brooks
500 lb euroanvil
500 lb haberman
Nimba gladiator
One each of Hoffmans
1245 lb refflinghaus

They were all purchased new except for the haberman which had only been used for demonstratons at the ABANA conference in Kentucky by haberman.
None of them were reasonably priced according to a lot of smiths except maybe for the euroanvil.
They are all top quality anvils
It all boils down to the style and weight that you like and the size and style work that you are going to be using it for.
You can do small work on a large anvil most of the time easier than you can do large work on a small anvil.
I also have and have used large and small ( peter Wrights, haybuddens, mousehole,fisher,mankle,TFS,JHM and a few others that I cant think of right now.
If I could only keep one it would be one of the Refflinghaus anvils.
My favorite is the big Refflinghaus.
There are a bunch of brands of new anvils out there and with the advancement of the metalurgy they are arguably better anvils than the older ones. ;)
I would rather pay too much for something that I really want than to get a good deal on something that I really dont want.
Check out
Blacksmith Depot
Blacksmith Supply
Centaur Forge
Shady Grove Blacksmith shop
Hoffmans Website
All of them sell anvils and there are many more that can be found with an internet search.

Mike Tanner

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I have A
560 lb vaughn brooks
500 lb euroanvil
500 lb haberman
Nimba gladiator
One each of Hoffmans
1245 lb refflinghaus

They were all purchased new except for the haberman which had only been used for demonstratons at the ABANA conference in Kentucky by haberman.
None of them were reasonably priced according to a lot of smiths except maybe for the euroanvil.
They are all top quality anvils
It all boils down to the style and weight that you like and the size and style work that you are going to be using it for.
You can do small work on a large anvil most of the time easier than you can do large work on a small anvil.
I also have and have used large and small ( peter Wrights, haybuddens, mousehole,fisher,mankle,TFS,JHM and a few others that I cant think of right now.
If I could only keep one it would be one of the Refflinghaus anvils.
My favorite is the big Refflinghaus.
There are a bunch of brands of new anvils out there and with the advancement of the metalurgy they are arguably better anvils than the older ones. ;)
I would rather pay too much for something that I really want than to get a good deal on something that I really dont want.
Check out
Blacksmith Depot
Blacksmith Supply
Centaur Forge
Shady Grove Blacksmith shop
Hoffmans Website
All of them sell anvils and there are many more that can be found with an internet search.

Mike Tanner

How could you have a 1200 lb anvil and not say it was your favorite!!


I own a Nimba Gladiator as well and although it is a fine anvil If I could only have one I think I would rather have a traditional London pattern... or a smaller Nimba maybe... As others have said I find often the face of the Gladiator to wide... I go to my 350 lb Trenton or 170 lb Hay Budden... Its a tough call... any anvil you use will have its strong and weak points.... Find a good solid working anvil and use it for a bit and figure out what you like about it...
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I have multiple anvils around my forge as some are better than others for specific things---my 515# Fisher gets most of the heavy hammering and is nice and quiet, however it's heel is way to thick for fork work! So the 93# A&H with it's "razor" thin heel is handy for that ---I know I know I should build a bridge tool for the Fisher's hardy but at 1.5" it's a job and I like using my travel anvil's heel---I'm used to it.

Students usually work on the HB as they are unlikely to damage it and I'm polishing out the fine pitting on it's face with scale and so get them to contribute to the cause.

For medieval demo's I have both a T stake anvil of about 75# and a lovely "cube" anvil with mounting stake.

I know some folks get by with just one anvil and I admire them for it all the while reveling in my abundance!

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I use a 260# JHM Competitor. It is a great anvil. I do have to admit my want for a European style anvil with a tapered heel. I have seen guys use that a lot and do a lot with it that I cannot do on my london pattern.

One day I would like to use a 330# refflinghaus. I work in Mike's shop and see his big one used, and have spoken with Dick about this brand. I am under the opinion that this is the Rolls Royce of anvils and aspire to save up enough to get one some day!

http://www.blksmth.com/330_lb_58_2.htm

Peyton

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There are a lot of very good new anvils being made these days. And, after tons of research and thinking, I have decided to get the Texas Farrier Supply 200# blacksmithing anvil. It's a basic english pattern anvil. For the price, plus shipping, plus my ability to pick up that much weight. I am gonna get that one.

http://texasfarriersupply.com/proddetail.php?prod=anvblacksmith200%23&cat=41

If anvils were easier to find here I would get a used one but after almost 6 mo. of hunting and no luck...time to get new.

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I have A
560 lb vaughn brooks
500 lb euroanvil
500 lb haberman
Nimba gladiator
One each of Hoffmans
1245 lb refflinghaus

They were all purchased new except for the haberman which had only been used for demonstratons at the ABANA conference in Kentucky by haberman.
None of them were reasonably priced according to a lot of smiths except maybe for the euroanvil.
They are all top quality anvils
It all boils down to the style and weight that you like and the size and style work that you are going to be using it for.
You can do small work on a large anvil most of the time easier than you can do large work on a small anvil.
I also have and have used large and small ( peter Wrights, haybuddens, mousehole,fisher,mankle,TFS,JHM and a few others that I cant think of right now.
If I could only keep one it would be one of the Refflinghaus anvils.
My favorite is the big Refflinghaus.
There are a bunch of brands of new anvils out there and with the advancement of the metalurgy they are arguably better anvils than the older ones. ;)
I would rather pay too much for something that I really want than to get a good deal on something that I really dont want.
Check out
Blacksmith Depot
Blacksmith Supply
Centaur Forge
Shady Grove Blacksmith shop
Hoffmans Website
All of them sell anvils and there are many more that can be found with an internet search.

Mike Tanner


Mike,

Is it your favorite because of the the cup holder or despite it?

Brian
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Newbie:

some good advice here so far. If you can find someone willing, ask to use their anvil to gauge your needs. Going to meetings is a great way to do this. A Nimba is different than a Euro is different than one of Hoffman's, and each user will tell you that they favor theirs because of practice with that tool, and importantly, the technique that they brought with them when they began using it. Someone said earlier that Nimbas put the most mass under the face... but the squat design leads me to think otherwise (still a great anvil, statement just seems counterintuitive)

weight, face width, horn shape (cone or curve), face hardness, and hardy size are some of the most important considerations when looking at these different brands. Everything else is really optional and will depend on your willingness to spend, as well as the technique that you already have/wish to develop.

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