This paper presents a laboratory simulative test for hot and warm forging tools designed and set-up by the Authors with the twofold purpose of (i) verifying the applicability of wear micro-mechanical models in simulation of hot and warm bulk metal forming operations using FEM codes and (ii) evaluating wear parameters by an inverse numerical technique. Although its configuration is simple, the test embodies many of the tribosystems encountered in industrial forging operations and relevant tool wear and failure mechanisms, such as abrasion, thermal fatigue as well as permanent deformation of tool surface. The paper focuses on the design of the test configuration and the description of testing and measuring apparatuses. The research. work is part of the workprogramme of a European BRITE-EURAM project aimed at developing a DSS for predicting abrasive and adhesive wear in bulk and sheet forming operations.