What a great, helpful response! Thank you!

A few points of clarification:

I have a small machine shop, so I'll be machining tools for him until he's ready to forge his own, so the S7, A2, etc. are no big deal there.

When you say that the face and pein of the hammer will need to be dressed, how do you mean? I have a chunk of mystery steel I came across today that I think would be perfect for making a couple hammers. It was some sort of ram, so I expect it will work well as long as I can harden it. I'll slice off a piece for a test before we put any work into it.

I have a mostly completed (just need to build the motor mount and controller enclosure) 2x72 grinder, and I expect he'll end up making one as well.

I have a few very good files but there many that I'm lacking. Any recommendations for best-bang-for-the-buck new files? Occasionally I find a good, old Nicholson (and their new ones made in Brazil are okay, but their made in Mexico ones aren't much better than Harbor Freight), but I haven't looked around for files yet.

Thanks for the advice about the tongs. I have a few hundred pounds of A36 steel, mostly flat strap, that we can use to make specific ones when he's ready, but I find your argument for buying the first ones convincing.

Thanks again!