I'm just starting out trying this blacksmith stuff. I want to make some camp fire pokers and stuff and forge some knives and tomahawks,Etc. I have a piece of RR Rail 20" long and an old coke forge with a hand blower. Now for my question about an anvil I found - a very nice 70# anvil. I know this is light but is it good enough for a starter anvil. I would also like to do civil war reenactments (village blacksmith making camp fire equipment) would it be OK for this also? Thanks much to learn and read here. Last note I live in AZ and if anyone here from AZ has an extra anvil Please let me know.

You're correct that it is on the light side but for the type of work you described it should work out OK. Just be sure not to do any heavy forging on it. It is intended for making small things on like horse shoes, hooks, pokers, most anything that can be fashioned from 1/2" stock on down but I don't recommend anything much larger. I have seen small anvils with heels, horns and hard faces broken and it is the result of too big a hammer working too big of stock on too small of an anvil.
If your looking for a bigger anvil you may want to join the Arizona Artist Blacksmith Association http://www.az-blacksmiths.org/

Well it depends on how your very nice anvil is constructed; of which a brand name would be a good indication.

The london pattern anvil is spot on for the American Civil War but not a good choice for the English Civil War, Spanish Civil War, etc. (and yes I have friends in AZ who do ECW rather than ACW events.) Now if it's a modern farrier's pattern with turning cams, etc it won't be that good both in style and weight distribution. Much better than a chunk of rail though! (and remember that modern rail is different in shape than ACW rail---if the examples at the Manassas Museum were a good example of the types in use.

If it's a cast steel anvil or forged anvil it should work for light duty and be easy to travel with. BEWARE the drunken lout that wants to strike for you though! My Demo anvil for non-medieval demos is only 93#, an Arm and Hammer and has worked great for the last 27 years---makes me appreciate the "beast" back in the shop however...

So *details* please!

I just checked the AABA websites classified section and there are several larege anvils up for sale from one fellow, so you may want to check it out if you want a bigger one. http://www.az-blacksmiths.org/

Thanks for the replies. I will join the AABA at one of their hammer open forge sessions. I have tried to call the guy that is advertising the anvils but no call back yet. Thanks again.

Well it looks like my first anvil will be a Fork lift fork. The first place I call in Phoenix had bunches of bent forklift forks so I picked up 2 for $50. Should be able to make 1 anvil out of these two forks.

That a good deal for them, good luck in building your anvil. Somewhere on here I posted a Youtube video of a young man that built a wonderful one out of them. :P

Man I gotta move. Around here they run to $150 a pair.
Ken

Raven Rider, Where in AZ are you? There is a blacksmith in Skull Valley that has several anvils for sale in different states of condition. I do know of some more around. They all are asking premium price for them though.