How Much Do Anvils Cost in 2022?

How Much Do Anvils Cost in 2022? – Updated for 2024

Anvils usually go up in value over time. The same anvils I purchased in 2015 and 2016 for $280 a piece, now go for $450 (up from $360 in 2022).

These anvils, made by NC Tool Company, are high quality, lighter weight anvils that sit at the bottom of the mid-range for anvil price.

In fact, their low cost and durability were the main factors in my decision to purchase two of them.

I use them weekly in classes at the shop and for forging customer hardware.

Anvil Prices Range from $70 up to $2575

At the low end, you’re going to find cast iron anvils from Harbor Freight and similar companies.

At the top end, you’ll find small anvil manufacturers like Nimba Anvils in Port Townsend, Washington.

Why the big difference in price?

1. Quality
2. Size
3. Production capabilities

Lightweight Harbor Freight anvils are mass-produced with heavy machinery. Nimba Anvils are made one at a time in a small production facility.

Prices come down when manufacturing can be done at-scale.

Should You Buy An Anvil On Facebook?

Short answer: It’s not recommended.

In the current climate, blacksmithing is enjoying an upswing in popularity.

When a thing becomes popular, prices for associated items go up.

As prices go up, more sellers enter the market. Some of these sellers have dubious assets and even more dubious motives.

There are better options than Facebook for purchasing anvils. Directly from a manufacturer or from respected retailers.

To Avoid Overpaying for Anvils Online:

1. Follow a rule of $7 per pound or less. For a 70-pound anvil, you want to pay under $490. You can absolutely do this.
2. Adjust price based on the Age and Condition of the anvil.
   1. If it’s old, but severely damaged (missing the tip of the horn, for example), I’m dropping my offer by a few hundred.
   2. Some old anvils are worth the price based on their historic value alone.
3. Vet the seller as much as possible. Do they know what they’re selling?
4. Ask an expert. It never hurts to ask someone with more experience.
5. Consider buying from reputable dealers like Centaur Forge, NC Tool Company, or Blacksmith’s Depot.

An Anvil is an Investment

An investment is an asset that appreciates in value over time.

Anvils do this in a couple ways:

• The older they are and the better shape they’re in, the more valuable they’ll be.
• Their value increases the more you use them and the better you get at blacksmithing.

You don’t need to spend more than a few hundred on an anvil.

The anvils I use today each cost $280. They have made thousands of projects to date and generated a full-time income for over 7 years.

That’s an amazing return on investment.

Conclusion: Anvil Costs Range, But Have a Sweet Spot

Aim to spend at least $400 on your anvil. NC Tool Company’s 70-pound anvil is the one I recommend to students every week.

Directly from them: nctoolco.com

From Centaur Forge: centaurforge.com

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• Anvils
• Forges
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• Metal
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