knife in a day

Make a knife in a day

The idea behind this course is for you to have the experience of making your very own knife, from scratch and learn the basics of forging as well as the various aspects of knife making. You will walk away, at the end of the day, with a knife of your own making. I will be guiding you all the way, so you won’t go empty handed regardless of your dexterity.

Forging is a very demanding exercise that exacts skills and muscles that are likely to be lying dormant in you. In this Day Course, I do not expect you to hone such skills as this requires many hours of practice and those alluded muscles will soon declare they are not ready yet (!). You will however, get a very good idea of what forging is about and you’ll be reminded in the following days after, by the aforementioned muscles, that you have been forging.

What you can make:

You can make just about any type of knife; Full Tang or Hidden Tang, kitchen knife or one for the outdoors or even a simple Friction Folding Knife.

The blade size is limited to 170 mm in length, as larger blades require more time for grinding.

Many types of wood are available to choose from but, feel free to bring any particular one you'd like to use. The same goes for the blade (granddad's old file might make a great knife.

The price for 1 person is £285 and £525 should 2 of you decide to come together. I don't have groups so, if you are coming on your own, it's a one-to-one course.

You can also purchase a Gift Voucher which will be valid for a year from the date of purchase.

The default steel for the blade is a farrier's rasp or leaf spring. If you'd like to make a damascus/pattern welded knife on this course, let me know and I'll make a billet before your day. There is a surcharge of £70 or £110 for 2.

I try to be as flexible as possible so, suggest a few good dates to suit you and I'll see how they fit in the diary but, do think 3 months ahead.

The schedule for the day is:

08.45 Arrival, discussion of safety rules, concerns and familiarisation with the workshop. Coffee/Tea.

The Day:

-09.00 Start of course; discussion of your project, choice of materials.

*Forging of the blade

*Coarse Grinding

*Quenching and Heat Treatment

*Fine Grinding and Polishing

-12~1 pm Lunch break

*Preparation of all Handle Components

*Making of the Ferrule or Guard