Can you make an axe head out of a small anvil? How will it perform?

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St33L

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Dec 18, 2013
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Can you make an axe head out of a small anvil? Say, something tiny like what's in the image below.

I believe anvils typically have an HRC somewhere around the upper 40's-50's for the 1-2" of metal on top.

How will it perform when made into an axe for chopping and splitting tasks?

Thanks in advance.

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It would be a lot of work for little payout. You'd be better off keeping the anvil an anvil and using a automobile leaf spring for raw material instead.
 
I've seen other makers forge a Hammer head into an Axe, Much easier than that lump of steel anvil you have there.

The RC is determined when you reheat treat. the head, Look on youtube
 
A lot of anvils are too low carbon for decent axe blades. Older ones cab be almost pure iron. There are way too many different types, brands and quality anvil materials to make a blanket statement without some knowledge of what the anvil is made of. Anvils don't need as much carbon as typical knife blades any more than hammers do but some is needed just like some is needed in hammers, sledges and axesw. Old blacksmith axes were often iron with a small bit of high(er) carbon steel folded into the edge. Doing it that way anything can be possible. I agree with the "but why?" part though.
 
Get a large ball peen hammer and forge the head into an axe. It works great, and all you need to do is drift the eye to the right shape.

Forge out the head into the blade, and forge the ball into a small splitting wedge.
 
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