Bladesmiths, 

I have been trying to set aside a little money for a new anvil. I am not quite there, but need to find out about how much to save up for and where to purchase from. My goal is to purchase an anvil over 200lbs as I was told by a few MS that I should buy as big of an anvil as I can afford. Any advice or correction of my short research would be appreciated:

I currently have a Vevor 134lbs anvil I got from the local Lowes. It works for now and it being shipped to the local store for free I couldn't beat the $250 price. Due to that knowledge it has been difficult for me to pay more money for a anvil smaller than that or even double or triple the price for anvil that is only 20-40lbs heavier. Now that being said I know there is always a lot I don't know and I am open to information. I am sure there is a lot to be said about shape of an anvil, cast vs forged, and cases against "ductile iron". But here are my findings ranking the anvils I have found that are made in the US, and after reputation I ranked them based on proximity to Montana.

• (Holland, MI) Holland Anvil - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-55 RC (NB: also makes swage blocks)
  1. 315lbs - $2300
  2. 220lbs - $1650
  3. Great Customer Service
  4. Best prices and options, and Quality
  5. (Estimated Shipping add between $350-500)
• (Spokane, WA) Rhino - USA, cast steel (proprietary alloy), 54 RC
  1. Cast anvils
  2. 240lbs $2025
• (Townsend, Washington) Nimba - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-52 RC
  1. Oddly shaped
  2. 450lbs - $2500 - reasonably Priced
  3. No Prichet Hole
• (Ohio) Lyon Blade & Anvil - USA, cast S5 steel, 58-60 RC
  1. 220lbs - $1380
  2. No Prichet hole, just hardy hole
• (Ohio) [Jymm] Hoffman Anvils - USA, cast H13 steel, 52-54 RC 
  1. Only 300lbs or larger size
  2. Looks like a good anvil
• (Illinois) JHM - USA
  1. Good price
  2. Bad - Ductile iron unknown Hardness
• (Multiple Distributors) Scott Anvils – USA
  1. Cast ductile iron, hardness unknown
  2. 250lbs - $1900)
• Louisiana (200lbs Avil $1800) Emerson - USA, cast 4140 steel, 48-50 RC
• (Texas) (250lbs - $1801) TFS - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown
• Anvil width only 4” and 3k just for product) Big Blu - USA, cast steel, 54 RC, alloy unknown
• ANVILS That were cut from list: 
  1. (TOO SMALL) Atlas Anvil - USA, cast 1050 steel, 60 RC
  2. (TOO SMALL, Small farriers anvils) Cliff Carrol - USA, cast steel(?), alloy and hardness unknown
  3. (TOO SMALL) Frontstep Forge - Canada, cast steel, 53-54 RC, alloy unknown
  4. (TOO SMALL) NC Tool - USA, cast ductile iron, hardness unknown
  5. (No longer making anvils) (only 120lbs) Mathewson Metals - USA, steel, alloy and hardness unknown (listed as "Fully hardened and heat treated tool steel face")
  6. (No longer in business) [Alec] Steele - USA, cast CM40 steel, 52 RC
  7. (Couldn’t find website) Fontanini Anvil - USA, cast 8640 steel, 50-56 RC
  8. (Near New York) Forged in Canada - Canada, cast 4140 steel, 58 58
  9. (Couldn’t find website) [William] Barnhart - USA, cast 50MN steel, 57 RC