The step is, well, a step up to the face of the anvil. The face is the hardened, flat, top surface of the anvil. It is the work surface where most of the hammering is done. At the opposite end of the anvil from the horn is the heel . Most heels are as wide as the face and square on the end, but some are tapered, depending on the user's preference.
Hardies are a group of tools used to cut, swage, fuller, flatten, or shape bar stock.
The blacksmith puts the hardy tool on top of the hardy, heats the stock in the forge, places the hot stock on top of the hardy, and strikes it with the hammer to forge it into the desired shape. Anvils range in weight from 5 to 1,000 pounds. Some have built-in modifications like turning cams, clip horns, nailing grooves, and other odds and ends custom made to the smith's liking. If you enjoy the challenge of making your own tools, you can fashion an anvil from a variety of different materials. One of the most common is a piece of rail from a railroad track.