Blacksmith Anvil Information

The first anvils were the large, heavy and hard stones that cavemen used a work benches. A piece of bone of flint would be placed atop this stone and a smaller stone held in the hand would be used to chip away at the bone or flint to create a shape, usually an arrow or spear head. In the millennia since then anvils have come a long way, but there basic function remains the same. The modern anvil, as we know it, came into existence in the Middle Ages when metal working was a major activity.

The upper or working area of the anvil, where the heated metal is placed is called the face. The face is usually tempered and hardened so that it does not loose its shape or surface integrity with use. The constant force of the hammer blows is transferred through the metal being worked to the anvil and a soft face will become misshapen and useless. The hardened face of the anvil will also absorb very little of the impact of a hammer blow so that the effect of each blow on the metal being worked will be both greater and more controllable. The face also needs to be completely smooth and defect free. Marks or scratches on the face will create unwanted impressions on the underside to the metal being worked on. An important aspect of maintaining the integrity of the face is to never let the hammer strike it directly since this will cause damage.

The anvil will normally have rounded edges since squared off ends result in sharp edges that that many cut into the metal that be being worked on. Some anvils have a step with a squared off edge at one end. This is used for cutting metal by hammering at a point directly over the step so the edge acts like a knife. Many blacksmiths do not use this design as they feel that the hammer force being applied to the edge of the face can, over time, cause it to warp.

Most blacksmiths anvils have a cone shaped projection extending from one side. These are used for hammering the metal into curved shapes and since the hammer blows are around the cone and not directly on it; these do not need to be made out of hardened tempered steel. The cones are also used for stretching the metal by pulling it over the curved surface to make it both longer and thinner.

Some anvils have two holes on the side of the face. The square one is called the Hardy Hole and is designed to hold special forming and cutting tools which are used for bending and punching holes in the metal being worked.

The round hole is called the Pritchel hole which is used for punching holes in the metal. The spot where the hole is to be created is place directly over the Pritchel hole and a punching tool or bit is then hammered over the metal, punching a hole.