Our "List of makers currently producing anvils" thread says that Perun anvils are made of a proprietary alloy hardened to 54-58 RC. The Blacksmith's Depot page for Perun anvils says that they're cast tool steel, although they don't currently have any listed for sale.

Like Frosty, I'd really like to take one of those for a test drive. At ~$1,450.00 plus delivery, that's probably not going to happen anytime soon, though.

Well I still didn't get a new anvil as yet.  But still want this Perun when they come back in stock.  Thought about just ordering a Scott or Kanca, but no luck there either.  There's plenty of those in stock-that's a different problem. Every time I get to sit aside the funds to buy one, I go to a machinery auction and find way too many good buys...Last anvil money bought quite a bit!  It's almost absurd that anvils cost so much, considering what they are.

Cost of anvils comes up a lot.  I think it is something of a legacy from the 80's and 90's where aside from special circumstances you could find good used anvils for $1/LB or less.  On the other hand, if you consider that a quality anvil can easily last 100 years of proper daily use, and the amount of effort and equipment needed to make them and heat treat them, the prices don't seem outrageous to me.  You can always pickup a new Doyle at HF for under $200 to use while you are looking for something better.  Might find that it is all you need.

18 hours ago, Latticino said:

the 80's and 90's where aside from special circumstances you could find good used anvils for $1/LB or less.

Good point. It’s worth noting that $1 forty years ago is roughly equivalent to $3 today, simply because of inflation. 

Even that doesn’t take into account the extent to which the supply of good quality antique anvils has diminished considerably, with the increased popularity of bladesmithing, Forged in Fire, the maker movement, and so on.

The basic law of supply and demand dictates that decreased supply and increased demand inevitably makes prices go up, so that now $4-6/pound is pretty standard, with larger anvils and those in excellent condition commanding even more premium prices. Still, the endlessly repeated stories of perfect anvils going for a song persist…

The old rule, "fast, good, cheap. Choose two," applies as well. If a person is willing to spend the time, months if you're lucky you CAN find the steal of a deal on a good anvil. But in general if you want a good anvil FAST it's going to cost plenty. Fast and  cheap will be poor quality. 

Luck happens of course but a person can't rely on luck with any kind of certainty.

Frosty The Lucky.

Well guys this is my comment on this ,from  New Zealand I spotted a I think 250 lb Peter Wright on our equivalent of eBay , I bid to 2300 $ nz -(  1 nz$ = about 60 cents US )and no didn’t get to reserve price .  Annoying so much so that I bought a Chinese one , cast steel 400 lb brand new for NZ $ 1400  in retaliation lol . I do not like stuff from there but actually the rebound is at least 80 % with a big ball bearing , has a surface ground top . Induction hardened . The horn is rough,  needs a smoother surface .  I have forged some 3” heavy angle steel on it to make a hinge for the farm roller . Actually if I try to forget about where it is made it actually isn’t a bad anvil . Certainly does me .

I’m starting out , sadly my  mums uncle’s old blacksmith  anvil was sold , I remember it at grandparents ,it  must have been 250lb or more .
I  should post a picture of the total safe Chinese anvil here . 
I bought a heap of gear from a closing industrial smith here in New Zealand. 
He had some big steel blocks from his drop hammer for sale , just about no one was willing to buy them  even though they were not expensive . I’m sorry to say quite a bit of the big equipment was scrapped . A massive 6” upsetting press 1200 ton force , a 600 ton hydraulic press .  
I saved a 10 cwt and a 400 lb pneumatic hammers and his big gas billet forge . And his whole collection of spring swages and tongs , many of them were his fathers . 
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge on this excellent site , I really appreciate it . I also like the comradeship here , you are willing to help out others . 
All the best from New Zealand

regards 

Tim Harvey 

What brand of anvil Tim? I like the shape of the DTX anvils, think they are from china.

How about some pictures of anvil and hammers  :-)

Dear Tim,

I haven't said this before but welcome aboard from 7500 feet (2286 meters) in SE Wyoming.  Glad to have you.

I understand your reluctance to use a Made in China product but a good anvil is a good anvil.  On an individual level it is better, IMO, to use a good Chinese anvil than a worse anvil from somewhere else. Sometimes you have to do a deal with the devil to get the best you can afford on whatever your budget might be.  If we are REALLY true believers in just using domestically made products we end up doing without a lot of basic things, e.g. I don't think there is anyone left in the USA who makes light bulbs.  I imagine that it is worse in a small country like NZ.

It sounds like you scored some good stuff from the old machine shop.  Good luck in refurbishing it and putting it to use.  You must have a fairly large shop for machines like that.  I have had to pass on acquiring some large equipment because I don't really have room in my shop for it besides the issues of transporting it and moving it around to install it.

Happy New Year.

George

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand." 

Ok so it's been a few months since I last posted.  I didn't buy an anvil the mean time.   I've been holding out on ordering hoping some of those Peruns would come back in stock, but the importer told me last week they didn't they they'd ever come in again.....

So I'm probably going to order one of the Kanca anvils, the 160lb one to beat tariffs and price hikes that may or may not come on the next batch.

Deep down I'm a wee bit leery, They've been on "sale" with a deep discount everywhere for a while.  I wonder if they had a batch come in that weren't finished well or not properly heat treated?

 

Uncertainty over the economy. 4 years of insane inflation followed by people trying to get back up to speed. If there are still rock bottom prices available I'd get one soonest. Things are starting to recover and as soon as there's some free money folks will start spending on hobbies.

Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Frosty The Lucky.