Ok I am getting into blacksmithing and have been looking for an anvil for months (rail isn't cutting it anymore). Here is what I found this morning:

#1

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/3049140623.html

#2

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/tls/3054252080.html

What would be the better buy? Thanks to all in advance.

I would go with the second anvil but would also offer less for it, heck the worst the guy will say is no. The first anvil is cast iron with a tool steel top which are usually fairly thin to begin with.

Hay budden would be better Id say, Vulcans are usually considered to be lower quality than most.

Hay budden. Hay budden. Hay budden. That Vulcan is junk. He is ask way to much for it anyway. I agree with Thomas. Go for the hay budden. Ask if he would work on the price.

Awesome thanks for the input guys.

The only time I advise folks to get a Vulcan is when there are serious noise issues to be dealt with---and even then fastening an HB down so it doesn't ring would be the better way to go!

Serious overpriced on the vulcan too it6's about the lowest of the "real" anvils in quality and price sould NOT be that of a top of the line anvil!

I used a Vulcan anvil for years, with no issues with it. However, as the other guys have said, the Hay Budden is far better quality. Both seem to be pretty high in price, although the Vulcan is way to high. :)

Well I went ahead and set up to buy the Hay Budden. Thanks!

The Vulcan is worth about a $1/#, perhaps a little more, at most but the Hay Budden it is worth between $2 to $2.75/# maybe $3 if you are really in a sweat to get an anvil out here in the Phoenix area.

glad i saw this, was looking at a Vulcan near San Antonio, they were asking for 300...but might want to wait...

The second listing was deleted before I had an opportunity to look at it. How big and how much were they asking? I have two H-B's, 112# and 163# in good shape that I paid $125 and $250 for; of course that's in Maine.

The second one was 155# and was asking $500.