I was just contacted by Dick Nietfeld and told that he has a no. 58 refflinghaus anvil with my name on it. It's not my first choice as I had wanted a no. 9 at 380 pounds but one of those didn't come in with this shipment of anvils. I have a London pattern anvil and have never used a German style of anvil of either style so seeking the opinion of those who have side shelved anvils. From what Mr. Nietfeld says most people who have one wouldn't be without the shelf and then there is the horn differences between the no. 9 and the  no. 57 and 58. He says I could wait for the next shipment of anvils in march or April and there might be a no. 9 available but he couldn't say for sure. It sounds like refflinghaus anvils are getting harder to come by so I decided if I wanted one I had better make the commitment to do it and yes I have a very understanding wife.

 

 

If you do a lot of things that profit from a side shelf you will find it slicker than..., slicker than a very slick thing indeed.  If you don't it may be an option you don't need.  I missed where you tell us what you will be doing with it.     Like me asking: "Do I need a 15 passenger van; or a small fuel efficient commuter car; or a 4WD vehicle?" 

Most of my forging has been tongs a few hammers other hand tools. My interest are mostly in tools and in learning and doing some traditional joinery.Also  axes, hatchets , and tomahawks and some knife making. 

 In what ways is it slicker than slicker in your uses Mr. Powers?

I have a #58  with the side shelf and I use the shelf frequently. I kept the edges on the shelf a bit sharper than the anvil edges so they are useful for forging a sharp inside corner. Also it is useful for straightening with the piece bridging between the anvil surface and the shelf much as you might do across the hardie hole.

I really like the gradual curved transition from the anvil face to the horn on the #58. It gives me a whole new set of curves readily at hand.

I moved from a London pattern anvil and the only thing that I occasionally miss is the step. I make up for that with a hardie tool that gives close to the same functionality.

Thanks for the reply ironalchemy, guess it's like most other things in this hobby just get out there and use it and see how it goes, observe, adjust and try again. I think the uses will become more obvious as I use it. Yeah I could see missing the step on my old mouse hole but it won't b far away.