So, this is an anvil that my friend had lying around for about five years. I'm just getting started and haven't even built my forge yet, but this anvil is free to me.

This is the only picture I have of it at the moment, though.

 

 

The only thing I would do is wire wheel it to clean it, oil it with BLO and use the heck out of it.

BTW... Welcome to IFI. I always suggest reading this thread to get the best out of the forum.

 

Mount it on a stand and start hitting hot metal on it. Looks like it is a Vulvan at best or it is just a cast iron anvil.

While those may not be ideal, when you consider humans were using stones as anvils to make spears, swords and arrow heads thousands of years ago when your skills surpass the ability of the anvil then you can upgrade.

I just do this as a hobby and my Anvil is way more skilled than I am!

Mount it, wire wheel the face, hit hot metal!  Being in Phoenix you can skip the BLO...

If I were to take it to a higher elevation, say, Snowflake, would the BLO be necessary? It's still pretty dry up there as long as it's not monsoon season.

The only way to beat the price, put it to good use.

If you get condensation in the shop BLO is a good idea if you don't get condensation in your shop can be used but not needed.  If you need us to tell you about the weather status in your shop; perhaps you should ask someone without "curmudgeon" in their profile...

Although it is unfortunate that your heal is snapped off and therefore have no hardy hole you do have a very flat face and a good horn. You can always take any hardy tools that you have and use them in the vice. I kinda doubt there's much you can do to repair this. I would just plop it on a block and work away.