An anvil is a heavy, hard work surface used to hammer, bend, flatten and shape metal. Hobbyists use small ones for jewelry and stamping, and larger ones with a horn and hardy hole for forging. The right choice mostly comes down to weight, face size and whether you will bolt it down.
The six anvils below range from 9 pounds to 56 pounds and include cast iron, cast steel and a combined anvil and vise. Every detail comes from the product listings on Amazon.com. We have not used these anvils ourselves, and listings sometimes disagree on material or weight, so we flag those spots. Follow the maker’s instructions for mounting and use.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Weight | Heavier anvils move less under the hammer |
| Material | Cast iron, cast steel and forged steel differ in make; check what each listing says |
| Face and horn | A flat face suits flattening; a horn suits curves |
| Hardy and pritchel holes | Accept tooling and let you punch or bend |
| Mounting | Bolt-down feet or bases keep the anvil steady |
Specs at a Glance
| Anvil | Weight | Material | Features | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia Tools 38-789 | 9 lb | Cast iron | Face 5.5 x 2 in; horn 3.5 in | Material wording conflicts |
| Draper 35481 | 4.5 kg | Cast iron | Face 120 x 65 mm; bolt-down | Color conflicts |
| HimaPro 50624 | 24.7 lb | Cast iron | Round horn; polished face | 12.99 x 4.92 x 6.3 in |
| VEVOR 22 lb | 20 lb listed | Cast steel | Hardy and pritchel holes | 13.58 x 4.53 in; horn type conflicts |
| KANCA Anvillo ANV-125 | 15 kg | Drop-forged steel | Anvil and vise; 3.5 in jaw | Combination tool |
| Pro-Grade 59102 | 56 lb | Cast iron | Hardy and pritchel holes; 4 anchor points | Powder coated finish |
The 6 Best Anvils for Blacksmithing
1. Olympia Tools 9-Pound Cast Iron Hobby Anvil
A 9 pound anvil in gray, 9.45 by 3.38 by 4.13 inches, with a 5.5 by 2 inch face and a 3.5 inch horn. The title and details call it cast iron, while one bullet says cast steel, so confirm the material with the seller. The listing mentions a limited lifetime warranty.
Suits: small hobby tasks. Strengths: light and compact. Weaknesses: a small face and conflicting material wording. Skip it if you want a heavy forging base.
View Olympia Tools 38-789 Hobby Anvil 9 lb on Amazon
2. Draper 4.5 kg Single Bick Cast Iron Anvil
A bolt-down single-bick anvil with a 120 by 65 mm oblong working surface, 9.06 by 5.51 by 4.41 inches and 4.5 kg. The title says blue while the description says grey cast iron, so color may vary.
Suits: a bench-mounted small anvil. Strengths: bolt-down pattern. Weaknesses: a very small surface. Skip it if you want a freestanding forging anvil.
View Draper 35481 Cast Iron Anvil 4.5 kg on Amazon
3. HimaPro Single Horn Anvil for Blacksmith, 24 LBS
A cast iron anvil weighing about 24.7 pounds and measuring 12.99 by 4.92 by 6.3 inches, with a round horn for bending and a polished flat face for hammering and punching. HimaPro says the hardness is 45 to 58 HRC, which is the maker’s own figure. The brand sells other weights under similar titles, so check the size before ordering.
Suits: metal stamping and light blacksmithing. Strengths: a moderate weight with a horn. Weaknesses: the broad hardness range. Skip it if you want hardy holes.
View HimaPro 50624 Single Horn Anvil 24 lb on Amazon
4. VEVOR Cast Steel Anvil, 22 Lbs Double-Horn
The title calls it a 22 pound (10 kg) double-horn cast steel anvil, while the details list 20 pounds and a single-horn item name. It measures 13.58 by 4.53 inches and has a hardy hole and a pritchel hole. VEVOR describes it as drop-forged steel with 55 HRC and a polished, sprayed surface.
Suits: bending and shaping with holes for tooling. Strengths: hardy and pritchel holes. Weaknesses: conflicting weight and horn data. Skip it if you need exact specifications.
View VEVOR Cast Steel Anvil 22 lb on Amazon
5. KANCA Anvillo ANV-125 Anvil and Vise Combined
A 15 kg combination tool with a vise that has a 3.5 inch jaw opening. KANCA describes drop-forged high-grade steel and an induction-hardened top face. The vise adds clamping to the same base.
Suits: a small workshop wanting one tool for hammering and holding. Strengths: two tools in one. Weaknesses: no horn mentioned in the listing. Skip it if you want a traditional horned anvil.
View KANCA Anvillo ANV-125 Anvil and Vise on Amazon
6. Pro-Grade Cast Iron Anvil, 55lb Work Surface
The heaviest here at 56 pounds, with built-in hardy and pritchel holes, a long rounded horn, a polished work surface, a powder-coated finish and a reinforced base with four anchor points. The seller says the casting is 20,000 psi; we have not verified that.
Suits: a permanent bench or stand. Strengths: weight and four anchor points. Weaknesses: not portable. Skip it if you need to move it often.
View Pro-Grade 59102 Cast Iron Anvil 55 lb on Amazon
Setup Tips
- Mount the anvil on a firm base and follow the maker’s instructions for anchoring.
- Match hardy tools to the hole size in the listing.
- Keep the face clean and use the equipment the maker recommends.
- Compare weight and face size before buying, not horn length alone.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying by weight alone without checking the face size.
- Ignoring conflicting material wording in a listing.
- Using a tiny anvil where a heavy base is needed.
- Skipping the maker’s mounting instructions.
Anvil FAQ
Cast iron or steel?
Makers describe both. Cast iron is common in small hobby anvils; steel is described as harder. Check each listing and, if unsure, ask the seller.
How heavy should it be?
Heavier is steadier, but a lighter anvil moves easily. Match it to your work and space.
The Short Version
For a small hobby anvil, the Olympia 9 pound. For a bench-bolted mini, the Draper. For a mid-weight horn, the HimaPro. For holes and tooling, the VEVOR. For an anvil with a vise, the KANCA Anvillo. For the heaviest, the Pro-Grade 55 pound.
