Here's a bunch of the heavy metal objects I've used to help me form metal into different shapes I desire.
The very first item I owned to use as such a tool is that length of RR track with the hole in it for a bolt that was given to me by my 3D art teacher a while back.

After I figured such a piece of rail isn't really that good as an anvil, I moved on and bought my 53lbs Fisher_Norris anvil seen on top of the 175 lbs Peter Wright anvil.

The next thing that came into my possession was that swage block, then the rather large ball hitch.

The block of wood with the sledge hammer head and the bickern in it was something I made just to prove a point that you don't need to immediately buy an anvil to start out as a smith. I still use it for special tasks.

Later on I forged the bickern that is in the Fisher from a slice of RR track.
That solid round bar is just something I have that is helpful for making candle holders.