Anvil Lifting – Feat of Strength

Anvil lifting has been around as long as blacksmiths, who happened to be some of the strongest men in the past. They would be challenged, or challenge others, to lift them.

Unlike barbells or dumbbells, anvils are unwieldy due to their irregular shape and unbalanced weight distribution. Lifting an anvil by the horn (the tapered end) is particularly renowned as a benchmark of grip and pinch strength, demanding serious tension through the fingers, wrist, and forearm.

Historically, feats such as lifting an anvil onto a stump or carrying it a certain distance have served as tests of real-world, utilitarian strength—closely mimicking the kind of brute force required in old-time labor and craftsmanship.

George Jowett on Anvil Lifting

Here is a report by old time strongman George Jowett, found in The Key to Might and Muscle.

“It happened at one of the times that I picked up an anvil by the horn in a smithy shop, and after that stunt I pressed the anvil to arm’s length by lying it on its broadside upon the flat of my hand, which is not as easy as it sounds. After I had done this I put the anvil on the floor on its base. We began to talk about various anvil feats being so difficult because of its awkward unbalanced construction. One man remarked that it would be some stunt to balance the anvil on the hand upside down. That meant the face would rest on the hand and the heavy wide base on top. Somehow I conceived the notion I could do it, and accordingly I took hold of the face with my right hand, and with the help of the left arm got the weight to the shoulder. Despite the wide base and the bad balance caused by same and the horn, I not only succeeded in balancing the anvil by its face, but pressed it to arm’s length, to the amazement of all. I have done it many times since, and for this volume I performed the same feat, thinking it might interest my readers. The anvil weighed one hundred sixty-eight pounds.”

Here’s footage from the 2010 Arnold Classic Mighty Mitts competition. There were many events and this video shows the 173 lb anvil carry for distance by the horn.

Training with and for an Anvil

Many strongmen incorporate thick-handled implements, pinch blocks, and odd-object carries to simulate the demands of handling an anvil. A unique aspect of anvil lifting is the necessity for a crush grip, where the hand must actively compress and clamp the object rather than passively hold it.

If you have an anvil to train with, use it. In addition to the horn you can also grip it in many ways an you can build up that pinch and support grip. This video from Eric Roussin showcases some other forms of pinch grip in anvil lifting that can be used.

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