I have four anvils, ranging in size from a 100# Peter Wright, to a 90kilogram side-face London Pattern, to a 250# Fisher, to a 450# Nimba Gladiator. The Nimba is, far and away, my favorite, and not simply because it is the biggest.
The Nimba is everything Ries said, and more. Simply the finest anvil available today. I do wish mine had a side shelf, and I may very well add one to it, albeit that doing so would have most Nimba purists outraged. Still, it is my anvil and a shelf would make it more useful to me. Setting the shelf 3/4" lower than the face would give me a step, as well.
The double horn style of the Nimba is eminently practical, and its generally massive bulk makes the main face about 7+ inches wide. I use the square horn about ten times as much as I use the round horn, it seems. I don't know how I ever got along with out one, except that I fought with floppy and insubstantial flat bick irons for too long. I believe that the Nimba is the finest forging tool available at any price.
If you want to try out a Nimba before you buy one, feel free to drop by my shop and use mine. Okay, its a bit of a reach to get here, but the weather is good. :-)
Rich
P.S. - I nearly forgot tomention that the Nimba has an absolutely mind-boggling ring, but you can kill that by bedding the anvil in Geocel 100% silicone construction sealant. Mine is on a welded steel stand set that way and has almost as little ring as my Fisher (arguably the quietest real anvil made). Sure saves the hearing.
Nathan,I have four anvils,
Nathan,
I have four anvils, ranging in size from a 100# Peter Wright, to a 90kilogram side-face London Pattern, to a 250# Fisher, to a 450# Nimba Gladiator. The Nimba is, far and away, my favorite, and not simply because it is the biggest.
The Nimba is everything Ries said, and more. Simply the finest anvil available today. I do wish mine had a side shelf, and I may very well add one to it, albeit that doing so would have most Nimba purists outraged. Still, it is my anvil and a shelf would make it more useful to me. Setting the shelf 3/4" lower than the face would give me a step, as well.
The double horn style of the Nimba is eminently practical, and its generally massive bulk makes the main face about 7+ inches wide. I use the square horn about ten times as much as I use the round horn, it seems. I don't know how I ever got along with out one, except that I fought with floppy and insubstantial flat bick irons for too long. I believe that the Nimba is the finest forging tool available at any price.
If you want to try out a Nimba before you buy one, feel free to drop by my shop and use mine. Okay, its a bit of a reach to get here, but the weather is good. :-)
Rich
P.S. - I nearly forgot tomention that the Nimba has an absolutely mind-boggling ring, but you can kill that by bedding the anvil in Geocel 100% silicone construction sealant. Mine is on a welded steel stand set that way and has almost as little ring as my Fisher (arguably the quietest real anvil made). Sure saves the hearing.