space hammer Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm looking to get an anvil around 200 lbs or so for regular work in my shop. I'm weighing all my options right now, and I was wondering which anvil you'd choose if you could get one today. I need something that will be a real workhorse and be a solid investment for the shop. I have worked a good bit before on a 225 lb peddinghaus, which I quite enjoyed. What other makers should I be looking at? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshua.M Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 if you liked peddinghaus try a kohlswa b-38 or a refflinghaus, i personally like peter wright but they are no longer being manufactured Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Peddinghouse is a pretty hard act to follow... but- Steve McGrew from Incandescent Iron is Spokane is going to bring a few very lightly used Rhinos to the NWBA Conference for a fair price. He has personally overseen the quality control at the plant that makes them for him in China and they are a FINE anvil. You can reach him at Incandescent Iron..try google. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Fontanini, also known as Rathole. Be american, buy american Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshua.M Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 ooo i like the look of rathole never seen them before what are the specs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRunals Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I recently invested in a 250 Nimba. I've been super happy with it. It's mounted on a stump that's buried about 3 feet in the ground and it is BY FAR the most solid feeling anvil I've ever used. Peddinghaus and Refflinghaus look amazing too though, I'm sure any high end new anvil is going to be incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishoe Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Emerson Horseshoe supply in Bosier City, LA makes a London style anvil that weighs 200 pounds. Nearly identical to the Kohlswa anvil and American made! I have been using one for several years and it seems to be holding up fine. I have worked on the Rat Hole anvils and they are awesome. On my wish list for sure. They are available in 250 and 460 pounds. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 You don't say where you are. In UK I would buy a Brooks. They are first class and discounts are usually available from the colossal prices on their list. Even if that isn't an option certainly look at www.anvils.co.uk for ideas from their catalogue. On continental Europe you would have lots to choose from. One good choice would be a Hofi. There is a separate thread on those. Any of the german ones would be good or even a Euroanvil For new, in the states, you have plenty of choice. I think I would get one of the slightly used, effectively new, Rhinos. See www.incandescent-iron.com for details. I think Rhino do a discount for ABANA members but whether that would apply to used anvils I don't know. Of course you could go to the event and wait until the end and make him an offer! In a choice between loading a 300+ pound anvil back onto a truck or offering a further discount I know what I would do if I were the seller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 ooo i like the look of rathole never seen them before what are the specs? http://www.fontaninianvilandtool.com/http___www.fontaninianvilandtool.com/Welcome.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbas Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm looking to get an anvil around 200 lbs or so for regular work in my shop. I'm weighing all my options right now, and I was wondering which anvil you'd choose if you could get one today. I need something that will be a real workhorse and be a solid investment for the shop. I have worked a good bit before on a 225 lb peddinghaus, which I quite enjoyed. What other makers should I be looking at? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks! In the U.S. (and maybe Canada) I'd go for the middle Rhino. I spent a thousand or two thousand hours on a 100 kg (220 lb) anvil in Spain and feel that's the starting point, the default weight. I recently received a 242 lb Rhino here and am impressed by every aspect of it. You wouldn't go wrong with that anvil. lbas (smiling at finally having a really good anvil for the first time in my life - at sixty-five!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Ozark Pattern Anvil by Tom Clarkhttp://www.ozarkschool.com/anvil.htm "Buy the best and cry once" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 The Ozark Pattern anvil is also one of the great ones. 275#, S7 steel, made in Missouri, USA. Bob Alexander is now handling them. If you want to talk to him, PM me and I will give you his phone#. I have used this anvil a would LOVE to have one in my shop...maybe one day...Price is comprable to any of the above mentioned brands. Remember, you HAVE to post pics of the new one once you get it home! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I own a Rhino from the afore mentioned Incandecient Ironworks. Its a very fine anvil and much less expencive than the competition. I like it just fine. I got the 242lb model and I don't really need another. Serves me very well. Anvils are very difficult to find in Alaska so that drove my decision more than anything. If I run across a 100 lb or so anvil I would like to have one. But, I don't need to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 What would be your choice, to broaden things a bit, if somebody else were to pay? I genuinely don't know the answer to that one! Any new anvil from anywhere in the world....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Someone else paying? I'd design my own and have it cast in a high alloy steel by a top of the line company and then have it professionally heat treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I have a lot of anvils both new and old Jymm Hoffmam Tom Clark Niimba gladiator Vaughn Brooks Emerson Mankle Refflinghaus Habberman JHM These were new And Peter Wrights Hey Buddens Fishers Mouseholes All in various weights. If I could pick only one to use off of this list it would be one of the refflinghaus anvils There are a lot of good anvils out there. Some people will cut corners on an item that will last several lifetimes if taken care of ( anvils , Guns etc )and have no problem spending 30,000.00 on a vehicle that if they are lucky they will get 10 years out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajajoaquin Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 If I could pick only one to use off of this list it would be one of the refflinghaus anvils Could you share your reasons with us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
space hammer Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 This is great guys thanks for all the input. I've been reading up online on all these suggestions. Lots of great looking anvils out there to choose from. I'm in Alabama, USA, so I would love to get an American made anvil, if i can afford it. Looks like the nimba 275's run about 1500 before shipping, which is about the ceiling for me, and might be a bit much. The Ozarks do look nice, I might look into those a bit more. This is a pretty big tool buy for me, so I'm going to take my time choosing the right anvil. My upright railroad track will just have to continue serving in the meantime ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dief Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I got my Rat Hole 250lb in 2005. It is a great anvil that is also very pleasing to the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rasklking Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Fontanini, also known as Rathole. Be american, buy american Gotta agree with this one.... buy American Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyornamental Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I just purchased one of the 460's from Steve Fontanini , formerly Rathole Forge. I had originally planned on the 250 lb anvil but he had sold out of those by the time I was ready to buy. Just worked the 460 for the first time yesterday, it is a very nice anvil! Steve has one 460 left in stock. You will not go wrong with either one of the two offerings from Fontanini Anvil. http://www.fontaninianvilandtool.com/http___www.fontaninianvilandtool.com/Welcome.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I bought the last 460 from steve, working out the shipping. He is currently waiting on the foundry to let him know what the price increase will be for the next batch. I can't wait to get it to the shop! Rest assured i will be posting pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beslagsmed Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I got a Kohlswa 129 kg for my shop. I really enjoy it. Bought it 6 yrs ago and has been working great for me. As I am a farrier I mostly make horse shoes, but I also do a lot of other projects on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironstein Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Yeah, i have heard kolswas are great anvils. Cogratulations, did you buy it new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surthrival Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I did buy two new anvils... the Nimba 260 lbs. and the Rat Hole 460 lb. The Nimba 460's don't do it for me... But the Nimba 260's has the right look what with the feet... it is a cute little pig that is great to work with. I know, mass and all.... And the Nimba 460 is a solid sucker right down to the base. But I couldn't warm up to the look of it. The Nimba 260 I can look at and work with all day and not grow weary of it. Now the 460 rathole... Once you get out the angle grinder with an american made bronze or brass knotted wire wheel on it to "plate" or heat transfer the lower, nonworking parts of the 460 lbs rathole, you have an anvil that seems smarter than you. The combination of the Nimba 260 and the rathole 460 is a lifelong tooling set up that will be in great shape when my time on the planet has passed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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