Editing Anvil (section)

==Types==
[[Image:Amboß eines Hufschmiedes.JPG|thumb|Anvil of a [[farrier]]]]

There are many designs for anvils, which are often tailored for a specific purpose or to meet the needs of a particular smith. For example, there were anvils specifically made for farriers, general smiths, cutlers, chain makers, armorers, saw tuners, coach makers, coopers, and many other types of metal workers. Most of these anvil types look similar, but some are radically different.  Saw maker anvils, for instance, are generally a large rectangular block of steel that have a harder surface than most other anvils due to hammering on a harder steel for saws.  Bladesmith anvils tend to be rectangular with a hardy and pritchel, but no horn.  Such designs have originated in diverse geographic locations. Several styles of anvils include, Bavarian, French Pig anvil, Austrian, and Chinese turtle anvil. 

[[File:AOLBS.jpg|thumb|left|45 pound Bavarian Style Anvil]]
The Bavarian style is known for the sloped brow. The brow was first used in medieval times to make armor on the church windows below the brow. Common manufactures include, Söding Halbach and Holthaus. This style of anvil is known not to sway in the face due to the extra mass with the brow. 

{{anchor|blacksmith's anvil}}<!--"Blacksmith's anvil" redirects here. If the contents of this section changes, please make sure that the rediect still points somewhere sensible. TIA-->
The common [[smith (metalwork)|blacksmith]]'s anvil is made of either forged or cast steel, forged wrought iron with a hard steel face or cast iron with a hard steel face. [[Cast iron]] anvils are not used for forging as they are incapable of standing up to the impact and will crack and dent. Also, cast iron anvils without a hard steel face do not have the rebound that a harder anvil would and will tire out the smith. Historically, some anvils have been made with a smooth top working face of hardened steel welded to a cast iron or wrought iron body, though this manufacturing method is no longer in use. At one end, the common smith's anvil has a projecting conical ''bick'' (''beak'', ''horn'') used for hammering curved work pieces. The other end is typically called the heel. Occasionally, the other end is also provided with a bick, partly rectangular in section. Most anvils made since the late 18th century also have a [[hardy hole]] and a [[pritchel hole]] where various tools, such as the anvil-cutter or hot chisel, can be inserted and held by the anvil. Some anvils have several hardy and pritchel holes, to accommodate a wider variety of [[hardy tools]] and [[pritchel]]s. An anvil may also have a softer ''pad'' for chisel work.

[[File:Steam hammer anvil, Blaenavon.jpg|thumb|Steam hammer anvil]]
An anvil for a [[power hammer]] is usually supported on a massive anvil block, sometimes weighing over 800 tons for a 12-ton hammer; this again rests on a strong foundation of timber and masonry or concrete.

An anvil may have a marking indicating its weight, manufacturer, or place of origin.  American-made anvils were often marked in pounds. European anvils are sometimes marked in kilograms. English anvils were often marked in hundredweight, the marking consisting of three numbers, indicating [[hundredweight]], quarter hundredweight and pounds. For example, a 3-1-5, if such an anvil existed, would be 3×112{{nbsp}}lb + 1×28{{nbsp}}lb + 5&nbsp;lb = 369&nbsp;lb ≈ 168&nbsp;kg.

Cheap anvils made from inferior steel or cast iron and often sold at retail hardware stores, are considered unsuitable for serious use, and are often derisively referred to as "ASOs", or "anvil shaped objects".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anvilfire.com/21st-century-blacksmithing/anvils/ebay-fraud/ |publisher=Anvilfire.com |title= Ebay Fraud: Purchasing an ASO (Anvil Shaped Object)}}</ref> Amateur smiths have used lengths of railroad rail, forklift tines, or even simple blocks of steel as makeshift anvils.

A metalworking [[vise (tool)|vise]] may have a small anvil integrated into its design.