Columbian

[reddog1k9]

I've just been offered a very nice 44# Columbian for $150.00.

Only one small nick/chip on the close edge of the face.  Can someone weigh in with their opinion on the brand itself, and if the price is right?

[C-1ToolSteel]

Columbians are great quality cast steel anvils. Whether or not it's worth $150 though is your decision. I don't think it's a bad price, but again, how badly do you want a 44 lb anvil? It's kind of a weird size where it is almost too smal for blacksmithing, and really big for jewelry. Not that it couldn't do both, though. And to a collector, if it's rare, it could be worth an insane amount to them. 

[Charles R. Stevens]

As a 10# sledgehammer head is big enough to smith on, a 44# isn’t to small. It will make a great traveling anvil and or anvil for small fry.  As a new 20# sledge costs

$58 in my neck of the woods and you will have just about the same mass under the hammer plus a horn, heel, pritchel and hardy... 

i just beat the snot out of a pick head and drove a pin threw the eye on my 70# farriers anvil on a light tripod.  That anvil is plenty big for 2# hammer (4# for a sledge) I honestly could shoe on that anvil 90% of the time

[ThomasPowers]

One aspect of improvised anvils is that we are generally not afraid to do things that might be considered abuse on a "commercial anvil". 

[JHCC]

And no-one gives you grief for grinding on one -- people even praise you for it!