The anvil is an essential item for every farrier or metal worker as it acts as a base for the forging and shaping of metal, both cold and hot.

An anvil is made of wrought iron and/or steel and has a typical form, with a flat surface (face) and a beck (or horn) which is a conical structure extending to one side. The side of the face opposite the beck is called the heel, this may be squared or tapered depending on the type of anvil. On the face, there are two holes (the hardy and the pritchel hole).

The anvil rests on an anvil base.

The base is the structure upon which the anvil rests. Its height determines the height of the face of the anvil. The anvil base can be made of a variety of materials: wood, metal, concrete or a combination of materials. Ideally it should absorb or dissipate some of the concussion produced by the blows of the hammer on the anvil.

The main working surface of the anvil.

Anvil with the following features: an asymmetric conical beck to the left of the face extending into a table, the face slightly higher with hardy and pritchel hole at the right end and the heel terminating in two turning cams.

Anvil with the following features: A symmetric conical beck on the left level with the face, usually an additional clipping horn, the heel extending to the right and tapering towards a point (the square/rectangular beck), a hardy hole to the left of the face, a pritchel hole to the right of the face.

Anvil with the following features: A symmetric conical horn level with the table, a step up to the face with hardy and pritchel hole on the right towards the squared heel. May have an auxillary clipping horn and turning cams.

A small anvil used by the mobile farrier to fit and adjust prefabricated shoes. Fitting anvils are smaller and lighter than the stationary anvils found in forges and can easily be moved around and placed in the vicinity of the horse being shod.

A tool which fits into the hardy hole on the face of the anvil. The tools are usually used in conjunction with a corresponding top tool, fitted with a handle and struck with a hammer. The most commen type of hardy tools are chisels used to cut barstock and swages used to shape bars of metal.