Hi folks, just a quick thread to post a couple pics I took today at Chatham Dockyards. Me and the wench went to a "Salute to the 40s" day but my attention drifted when I saw these beasts. Unfortunately these pics don't really give a true sense of size but these were 'on the large size' to say the least! Me and my girlfriend could both sit comfortably on the anvil. Sorry about the huge pic sizes, can't shrink em.

And you didn't buy the swage and anvil why?

Because I would have needed an entire rugby team to lift it, but more to the point it's a museum. There was a blacksmith on the site though who wouldn't sell me any old punches, though he did tell me that old car springs straightened out make good ones.

I absolutely hate when I run across a giant anvil and can't buy it! Though, if it's at a museum I guess that's alright. At least it's being saved for posterity and not being abused.

Old coil springs from cars can make very good punches and chisels. The bigger ones from large trucks are often thick enough to make hammers, too. Keep an eye out for old axles and tie rods and anti-sway bars.... ya might not know what type of steel they are, and can't do a solid heat-treat as a result, but you can fudge that a bit and come up with some great tools.