Recently acquired (first!!) anvil, 106lbs. I'm thinking its from maybe 1780-1830s. The swayback in the face is ~1/5 inch; I know some is common especially with older anvils but is this depth something to worry about?

Photos look highly compressed. Did you change one aspect without doing both? 

Either way it still looks like a usable anvil. It will have some quarks but you can get used to it. 

Good Morning Alex,

The sway won't be a hinderance at all. When you are forging, the material actually springs down and bounces back. It is much easier to straighten something on an Anvil like that, than a flat Anvil. I know, the logic isn't there, but the reality does make sense.

Use it, don't grind it. Using it will tell you how to get the most out of it!!

Neil

Thank you swedefiddle! I did hear that it helps with the spring back of the material but I wasn't sure if that stopped being at some degree of swayback.

Daswulf, photos aren't compressed. There's a difference of lighting and angle but that's it.

Alex, that looks like it might be a solid wrought iron anvil rather than one with a tool steel face.  The folks who know more than I about early anvils will be able to comment with more authority.  I agree with Swede, it is a perfectly usable anvil as is.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."