The 8 Best Anvils for Blacksmithing [2023 Review]

One of the main struggles for an aspiring blacksmith is to acquire the wide range of tools needed to pursue this activity! The anvil is an indispensable blacksmithing tool but can be one of the most difficult and surprisingly expensive pieces of equipment to source.

The following anvils are useful for blacksmithing operations

Many people who get involved in a new hobby or a new interest want to get the best and the biggest equipment available to get started. This strategy for anvil purchasing can be a little more expensive than what you bargained for. We have some suggestions for anvils to get you started and anvils you can aspire to acquire as you commit to your blacksmithing!

While there is much debate about the best anvils for blacksmithing, we have a different take on the subject. The best anvil for blacksmithing is the anvil that gets you beating hot metal!

In other words, the best anvil for you is the best anvil you can afford within your budget that you can use to learn the skills you need to improve as a blacksmith.

As with any craft, there is a place for the big and expensive and the small and affordable. We have put together a collection of anvils that can get you started blacksmithing at any level!

NC Tools Big Face Anvil

Blacksmithing encompasses a wide range of metalworking tasks, some specialized for very specific markets. The NC Tools company is one such manufacturer of blacksmithing tools specializing in tools for a niche market, namely tools for farriers.

NC Tools Company started teaching farriers the art of shoeing horses but found that students struggled to find quality anvils for farrier work. The company started its own line of tools for farriers, which included the Big Face Anvil, to make it easier for their farrier students to source quality tools for their occupation.

The NC Tools Company Big Face Anvil is a smaller footprint anvil with features designed for farrier work rather than heavy-duty blacksmithing.

Even though this anvil is intended for use by farriers and has all the features needed for this type of work, it does not exclude using this anvil for other forms of blacksmithing.

We have included this anvil in the list because it is a great choice for farriers, but it is also suitable for knifemakers, beginner blacksmiths, and for use in any blacksmithing shop for smaller lightweight jobs.

Big Face Anvil Pros

The Big Face anvil has some features that count in its favor for light-duty blacksmithing, which include the following.

• Weight. This is a 70-pound anvil, classified as a bench anvil. The smaller size means it is not bulky and easy to store, making it a good-sized anvil for smaller workshops or garage spaces. This anvil is great as a starter anvil for blacksmiths or as a lightweight anvil for smaller jobs.
• Large face. The anvil has a larger than usual face for an anvil of this size. The 4-inch wide by 6-inch long face provides greater versatility for smaller blacksmithing jobs.
• A 1-inch Hardie hole. The anvil features a 1-inch Hardie hole located in the anvil horn, where most of the mass in this anvil is centered.
• A Pritchel hole in the anvil heel. Many smaller anvils do not include both a Hardie hole and a Pritchel hole, but this anvil offers both, improving the overall versatility of the anvil.
• It can be used for hot or cold shoeing. This anvil is designed to work horseshoes hot or cold, making it a great tool for farriers.

Big Face Anvil Cons

Since this anvil is intended for a specific purpose, the cons related to its use would be relevant when it is used for purposes other than farrier work and include the following.

• Size. While the size and weight of the anvil can be great for a smaller shop or the beginner blacksmith, this anvil is not suitable for heavy blacksmithing. If you intend to progress to larger projects, you will outgrow this anvil and need to purchase a larger one.
• Weight distribution. Most of the weight in the anvil is centered in the horn rather than in mass under the face of the anvil. This restricts the weight and size of the hammers and material that can be worked on the face of the anvil.
• Rockwell hardness of 48-HRC. The low Rockwell hardness of this anvil is confirmation of its usefulness for light-duty blacksmithing only.

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Happybuy Single Horn Anvil

This anvil is slightly lighter in weight at only 66-pounds, but it is suitable for various light to medium-duty blacksmithing tasks due to its construction.

The bulk of the anvil is made from cast iron, which traditionally makes for a cheaper, light-duty anvil, but this anvil has a steel face welded to the cast iron base. The anvil face is hardened to 60-HRC, which gives it a surprising amount of durability for a relatively small anvil.

The Happybuy Single Horn Anvil is marketed as a tool best suited for softer metal forging, such as silversmithing. However, this anvil performs very well for basic bladesmithing and light blacksmithing work.

Happybuy Single Horn Anvil Pros

The following features of the Happybuy Single Horn anvil we found to be the most useful aspects of the product.

• Weight distribution. The bulk of the weight of the anvil is located under the face, making it suitable for relatively larger material than similar smaller anvils.
• The flat, tapered heel. The flat tapered heel of the anvil effectively extends the face of the anvil, providing a good, workable surface. This tapered heel works as a flat horn, which extends the versatility of the anvil.
• Good for entry-level blacksmithing. This lightweight anvil is easily mounted and used in a small workshop or garage and is not too heavy to limit its portability. Despite its light weight, it performs well as a hobbyist or handyman-type blacksmith tool.
• Low cost. This anvil is good value for money since the body is made from cast iron to keep the price low, but the face is made from hardened steel, making the anvil a create choice for a constrained budget while still offering great usability.

Happybuy Single Horn Anvil Cons

On any budget tool, such as the Happybuy Single Horn Anvil, there will be some less than desirable features. However, this anvil is a great entry-level tool for the price despite these shortcomings.

• Awkward location of Hardie hole and Pritchel hole. The location of the Hardie hole and the Pritchel hole on this anvil are a little awkward to use. If your punch is too long, it can penetrate all the way through the anvil and jam on the anvil foot. The location of the Pritchel hole too close to the face plate makes seating tools difficult.
• Painted horn. The horn is painted rather than polished. Beating hot metal on the painted horn quickly damages the painted surface.
• The horn is rough finished. The horn is not smooth-ground, making it difficult to achieve a smooth finish on your workpiece. This finish can be fixed by grinding the horn smooth yourself.
• Loud ring. While this anvil gives a decent hammer rebound for its size, it gives a very loud ring incongruent with its size. The loud ring makes it difficult to use in a suburban garage without eliciting noise complaints from neighbors.

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The RIDGID 69642 Model 12 Forged Anvil

Ridgid is an American tool brand that manufactures and distributes tools under their brand name. However, not all the tools distributed by Ridgid are made in the USA, and this is true of the Ridgid Anvil.

While non-American origin usually infers a cheaper product, this is not the case with this anvil distributed by Ridgid. The Ridgid 69642 Model 12 Forged Anvil is manufactured in Germany, where it is made using the drop-forged method, resulting in an extremely durable product.

These anvils are sometimes referred to as Ridgid Peddinghaus anvils in references to their German steel heritage.

These are not small anvils, with their 275-pound weight putting them firmly in the class of shop-sized anvils, which is any anvil over 200-pounds. However, this is exactly the size anvil you would need for heavy-duty blacksmithing, which is why we have included it in the list.

RIDGID 69642 Model 12 Forged Anvil Pros

The Ridgid model 12 anvil has several features that make it stand out as a premium anvil for the serious blacksmith. It would not be out of place in a professional blacksmithing operation.

• Heavy-duty. The Ridgid Model 12 is an anvil that will handle any blacksmithing task thrown at it and would be an asset in any blacksmith shop.
• Great face feedback. The face or working surface of the anvil provides a good rebound for heavy hammer work, and the induction hardened surface is up to any blacksmithing task.
• The Pritchel and Hardie holes are well situated. The size of this anvil provides for a good location of these accessory and drift punching holes without the punches getting in the way of the structure of the anvil.
• Upsetting block. One side of the foot of the anvil features an upsetting block for upsetting larger stock material, making the anvil versatile for large stock sizes.

RIDGID 69642 Model 12 Forged Anvil Cons

A large anvil such as this is a fine tool to have in your blacksmithing shop, but its sheer size and weight come with some drawbacks which may not make it suitable for smaller shops.

• Size and weight. This anvil is large and heavy, weighing in at 275-pounds. This is not an anvil that you will be able to muscle out of the way to park your car in your garage.
• Requires a solid base. The Model 12 anvil is large and can be used to work large, heavy stock, but to use the anvil to its full potential, it must be mounted on a solid, firm footing to handle heavy hammer blows. This requirement adds to the anvil’s overall weight and space requirements and generally requires its position to be permanent rather than mobile.
• Price. This is an expensive anvil, requiring a serious commitment to blacksmithing before purchasing. Many hobbyists or backyard blacksmiths may consider this anvil out of their budget.

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Grizzly Industrial G8147 55 lb Anvil

Grizzly Industrial is a tool distribution company operating out of Bellingham in Washington, USA. The company sources tools worldwide and distributes them at an affordable price in North America.

Most of the machines and tools supplied by Grizzly Industrial are sourced from Taiwan or China, but other well-known brands are also offered. This particular anvil is manufactured in the USA. If you are a hobbyist blacksmith and want a basic anvil to hone your skills without creating a significant dent in your bank account, this would make a good starter anvil.

The Grizzly Industrial G8147 55 lb Anvil is a bench anvil at only 55-pounds, but the face is nicely machined and smooth. You will quickly learn to keep your hammer blows accurate using this anvil since the face will become dented if you miss the workpiece and your hammer impacts the anvil face.

If you work your workpiece when it is too cold, you will also mar the anvil face with the impact of the hammer blows. Working with a cheap anvil is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it is the only anvil priced within your available budget. It certainly beats having no anvil at all, but you should be aware of what you have to work with when using this anvil.

Grizzly Industrial G8147 55 lb Anvil Pros

Even though this anvil is considered a budget anvil, it has some features that work in its favor, making it suitable for certain blacksmithing applications.

• Price. The low price of this anvil is probably its strongest advantage. The low price point entry for these anvils puts learning blacksmithing skills within the scope of almost anybody, irrespective of your budget constraints.
• Good mass distribution. Even though this is a light anvil at only 55-pounds, the bulk of the mass is located directly below the face of the anvil, which is where you want it to be.
• Hardie hole. The anvil features a Hardie hole allowing drift punching holes in hot metal or adding accessories to the anvil.
• Portability. The size of this anvil makes it easy to store out of the way and bring it out when you need to use it. The size does not warrant a permanent mounting. This feature is ideal when you don’t have a lot of free space in your workshop.

Grizzly Industrial G8147 55 lb Anvil Cons

The Grizzly Industrial anvil is intended for someone interested in learning the craft of blacksmithing but cannot afford the expensive professional-grade tools from the outset.

As such, these anvils have some limitations that you should be aware of before deciding on this anvil for your shop.

• The anvil is made from cast iron. Cast iron is not the strongest material for an anvil, but it keeps the cost of the anvil affordable for hobbyists.
• The anvil face dents easily. The anvil face is not hardened to a high degree, making this anvil most suited to light-duty blacksmithing or using softer stock metals on the anvil.
• The anvil horn is not smooth. The anvil horn is not as smooth as possible, making rounding material a little more work.
• The anvil horn is painted. Paint and red hot metal do not go well together, which means using the horn on this anvil will quickly deteriorate the paint on the horn. My suggestion would be to grind the paint finish off the horn when you get the anvil.

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TruePower 22-Pound Anvil

TruePower is a tool, parts, and hardware distributor that sources its equipment from a wide range of locally and off-shore suppliers.

While it is uncertain where this 22-pound anvil is sourced from, it is certain that it is in the realms of strictly hobbyist blacksmiths or for working on soft metals such as jewelry work.

The TruePower 22-Pound Anvil is also suitable for entry-level knifemaking and learning the basics of blacksmithing at a very affordable price.

This anvil is made from cast iron, which does not make it the strongest anvil, but at the price, you will be able to replace it without blinking an eye!

TruePower 22-Pound Anvil Pros

The TruePower 22-pound anvil may be a lightweight in anvil circles, but it offers some advantages for hobby smiths.

• Convenience. This anvil does not require a fixed mounting and can be easily secured to a bench-top when it is needed.
• Price. At under $50, this is truly a budget anvil, which is a great entry point for young or novice blacksmiths to get started in blacksmithing in the garage.
• Good-size face. The anvil may have a small footprint, but it does have a good-sized face at over 6-inches long.

TruePower 22-Pound Anvil Cons

Of course, there will be some cons to using a lightweight anvil such as this, but it is a good enough anvil to get you started learning some blacksmithing techniques.

• Not much mass. At only 22-pounds, this is an extreme light-duty anvil that is only suitable for very light smithing with lightweight hammers.
• Noi Hardie hole. The anvil does not have a Hardie hole, limiting accessories on the anvil.
• No Pritchel hole. The anvil does not have space for these additional features.
• Narrow, painted horn. The horn on the anvil is narrow, limiting the curves that can be hammered into the material. The horn is also not rounded but flat on top, and the coat of paint will wear away quickly.  

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Olympia Tools 9-Pound Cast Iron Hobby Anvil

The Olympia Tools hobby anvils are made in Vietnam, and thee anvils are strictly for extreme light metalwork. The mass of these anvils is insufficient to beat on them with a significantly heavy hammer.

The rule-of-thumb for the size of hammer best suited for an anvil is to divide the weight of the anvil by 50. The low mass of the Olympia Tools 9-Pound Cast Iron Hobby Anvil reduces the maximum hammer size to less than 1-ounce. This limitation makes the anvil impractical for any other use than jewelry making, where soft metals are used.

Olympia Tools 9-Pound Cast Iron Hobby Anvil Pros

The use of this anvil may be limited to light work, but the anvil still has some features working in its favor for its intended purpose.

• The mass is centered under the anvil face. The mass of the anvil is focused directly under the anvil’s face.
• The face is machined flat. The face of this anvil is flattened very well, providing a nice smooth working surface, which is what you want for precision jewelry work.
• Easy to store and move. The small footprint and weight of the anvil making it easy to store out of the way when it is not in use.
• It can be fixed to a workbench. The anvil can be mounted to a workbench top to secure it in place

Olympia Tools 9-Pound Cast Iron Hobby Anvil Cons

This is the smallest anvil we have reviewed, and while it is suitable for its intended purpose, which is light jewelry work, it has some limitations for other blacksmithing work.

• The low mass of the anvil. Mass is important when working material on an anvil. The mass of the anvil is directly proportionate to the type of work that can be done. This anvil is only suitable for light work such as the soft metals used in jewelry making, or at the very most, hot forging a small knife if the anvil is secured to a solid base.
• No Hardie or Pritchel holes. This anvil is too small to use accessories or perform drift punching, so the design does not include these holes.
• Cast iron design. The anvil is made from cast iron which is not durable for heavy work.
• Low face feedback. The feedback from the anvil face is almost non-existent, which is to be expected from a small anvil.
• Anvil’s face dents easily. If a heavy hammer is used on this anvil, or cold forging is attempted, the anvil face dents easily. This anvil is for extreme light work only.

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PMC Supplies LLC 15 Lb Bench Horn Anvil

PMC Supplies is a supply and distribution company for tools and materials for the jewelry and hobby industry. The PMC in the company name stands for Precious Metal Casting, indicating their dedication to the jewelry and hobby market.

The PMC Supplies LLC 15 Lb Bench Horn Anvil is not a full anvil but rather a modified horn anvil. The face on top of the horn is flat to cater to flattening material, and it tapers to a point to allow for material rounding. A cut-off round horn on the one end of the anvil can be used for limited rounding work.

We have included this anvil in the list for blacksmiths who work with precious metals to decorate their completed projects. This decoration can be in setting jewels in knife handles or including gold or silver inlays in steel projects.

PMC Supplies LLC 15 Lb Bench Horn Anvil Pros

The little 15-pound bench horn anvil has a few features in its favor for use in delicate, fine smith work.

• Ideal for use with precious metals. This anvil is weighty enough to use with working gold, silver, copper, thin brass sheets, and other soft metals for jewelry creation or decorative work on larger projects.
• A Hardie hole. The anvil may be small, but it includes a 9/16-inch hardy hole for securing a range of tools to use with the anvil.

PMC Supplies LLC 15 Lb Bench Horn Anvil Cons

The restricted application of a small anvil will produce several cons that will exclude this anvil from other heavier-duty blacksmithing tasks.

• Low mass. The low mass of this anvil excludes it from use for any other form of metalwork other than jewelry or precious metal work.
• Limited versatility. This anvil is intended for a specialist craft market, and if it is used for any other blacksmithing functions, the results will likely be disappointing, and the anvil could be damaged.

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RIDGID 69632 Model 9 Forged Anvil

The Ridgid Model 9 forged anvil is the little brother to the 275-pound Model 12 anvil that we discussed earlier. Like the larger Model 12, this Model 9 anvil is also manufactured in Germany from high-grade steel.

The RIDGID 69632 Model 9 Forged Anvil is made from drop-forged steel, offering superior durability a better work face for most blacksmithing tasks.

The weight of the Model 9 is 170-pounds which places it right in the crossover zone between a bench anvil and a shop-sized anvil.

RIDGID 69632 Model 9 Forged Anvil Pros

The Ridgid Model 9 is a great anvil for either a professional blacksmith or a serious hobbyist blacksmith. This anvil offers many of the features of a heavy-duty anvil but at a more affordable price.

• Medium to heavy-duty. The Ridgid Model 92 is certainly suitable for any hobbyist or backyard blacksmith and would more than meet the needs of this application. This anvil is more than a hobbyist tool and is a professional-grade medium to heavy-duty anvil worthy of a place in any smithing operation.
• Excellent face rebound. The anvil face offers great feedback when performing hammer work, making the anvil easy to use.
• Pritchel and Hardie holes. The anvil features both these accessory and drift punching holes.
• Upsetting block. Like the larger model, the Model 9 features an upsetting block close to the foot of the anvil, increasing the versatility for upsetting langer stock material.
• Value for money. The Model 9 is significantly cheaper than the larger Model 12 but is more than suitable for most blacksmithing tasks. Consequently, this is a highly recommended anvil for its cost-effectiveness and usefulness in a blacksmith shop.

RIDGID 69632 Model 9 Forged Anvil Cons

The Model 9 Forged Anvil is probably the best all-around choice for the serious blacksmith, but it has drawbacks for smaller operations with limited space and a lower budget for tools.

• Requires a solid base. The Model 9 anvil is smaller than the Model 12, but it is still not easy to move a 170-pound anvil around the shop. It is best if this anvil is mounted on a solid, permanent footing to provide the necessary stability required when using the anvil.
• Price. The Model 9 anvil is significantly cheaper than the Model 12 but still represents a fairly significant investment to acquire this tool.

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Anvil FAQs

If you are new to blacksmithing, there are some terms we have thrown around that you may not be too familiar with and would benefit from some additional clarification.

What Is The Difference Between A Hardie Hole And A Pritchel Hole?

A Hardie hole is a square hole, while a Prichel hole is a round hole in the anvil. Both holes can be used to drift punch holes through hot metal.

Another function of these holes is to support other tools, such as a hot cutting chisel or a bending drift. Some of these tools have a round shank, requiring a Pritchel hole to support the tool, while others have a square shank, which will only work in a Hardie hole.

Are Forged Or Cast Iron Anvils Better?

Cast iron anvils are traditionally seen as lower quality anvils that do not have the durability or quality of forged anvils.

Forged anvils have greater mass and better feedback for hammering work but are generally significantly more expensive than cast iron anvils.

Cast iron anvils often have a hardened steel face welded to the cast iron body to extend the life of the anvil.