I've spent the last few months reading and trying to learn as much as I can about blacksmithing and wanted to share a few ideas that I have run across I've copied and pasted this from several sites.
In recent years anything labeled "blacksmith" has become a hot item in ebay the on-line auction system. So selling blacksmithing tools has become big business on ebay. Ebay has also become a haven for unscrupulous dealers and folks that commit out right criminal fraud. There is no shortage of them selling tools, including anvils.
An ASO is a popular new blacksmithing term for for "Anvil Shaped Object", something that LOOKS like an anvil but is so poorly manufactured that it is useless as a tool and often said to be good for nothing but a boat anchor. In fact, they are not even good for a boat anchor. They are just big ugly paperweights or doorstops. ASO's are generally made from cheap low grade cast iron. Cast iron is not suitable for tools because it is brittle and very weak compared to steel (1/3 the strength of common steel and 1/5 of tool steel). Good anvils are made of hardened and tempered tool steel.
If you do not know what it is you are buying and the possible risks then avoid ebay and auctions in general. On average prices on ebay for good old anvils have been about double what you would pay from a tailgater at a blacksmith meet. They are often more. Good deals are rare on anvils unless YOU find one from an original source. If you are going to buy an auction item, set a price you are willing to pay and stick to it. Always look into what the shipping is going to cost. Beware of dealers with high fixed shipping costs or who will not give you a quote prior to the close of bidding. Do not purchase items that the seller refuses to let you pick up and insists on shipping. THINK about the fact that this person may disappear after the sale and you will have no recourse if the product is not as advertised OR if it is not delivered at all. DO NOT expect ebay to help with a problem dealer.
BUYER BEWARE! I have been looking around myself on Ebay and have found that there are several dealers that had adds for cast iron anvils from China that will fail with even light uses and with prices that are running into the ranges of 300 - 500 for an anvil.
A good anvil has quick rebound when struck with a hard hammer. Good anvils ring when struck depending on how they are mounted. An anvil that is clamped or bolted down dosn't ring very well. Small anvils in the 100 lb. range will ring enough to hurt the ears while large anvils in the 300 lb range generally ring less. Taping the horn or heal from the side will make an anvil ring more than when struck on the face. An other wise good anvil rings less or not at all if it is cracked (a hard call). When is an anvil "worn out?" When the face starts to get sway backed to the point you don't need a straight edge to tell. When the face starts showing a fine pattern of stress cracks. When any part breaks off the anvil without undue abuse (ALL anvils are abused to some degree). It is common on very old anvils with thin steel faces for peices of the face to break off or get worn through.
Broken worn out anvils have their uses and thus have some monetary value. They are better than no anvil at all and generally better than railroad track anvils. At this point the question becomes, "Is this a museum piece?" and "Should I be pounding on a museum piece?" Tough questions that even museum curators fight over. anyway I'll get off my soap box now but I wanted to make sure everyone has a heads up
MW
Knowledge is a Good thing. Thank You Tim
Good reading. Thanks! dntn