Blacksmithing & bladesmithing courses

The Blacksmith Experience Days, the original 'day in the life of a blacksmith' course at Anvil Forge, based at Blackcroft Farm in Wokingham near Reading. Everything you make on the day is yours to take away. Everyone makes a fire poker as the first project and we then proceed to make a project which can be an idea you have or an item we guide you on, which can be discussed with us in advance. Anvil Forge is a small Blacksmithing and Metalwork company, established by John Loveluck and family-run....

Vlakvark Forge has re-opened with limited attendee numbers and Social Distancing. These restrictions will apply until the Government advises that they can be relaxed. Can you handle the heat? Want to experience what it takes to make your own knife? Under the tutelage of Graham Clarke you will learn to make a fully useable carbon steel knife. During your day you will: * Shape your knife using a gas forge, hammer, anvil. * Normalise your blade in the gas forge * Grind your blade to it's near finished shape *...

Please Note : Knife Making is not permitted to under 18 year olds unless attending with adult. The one day knife making course is designed for beginners that have no or little experience in metalwork or blacksmithing. The course starts with a quick safety talk and a cup of coffee. Once we are all settled in the first task is to make a fire poker which will give everyone some hammering skills and a feel of how the material will react once its heated. The knife we make is a...

Due to the Coronavirus emergency, all our courses for Spring/Summer 2020 have been postponed - we're very grateful to all the affected students who have opted to take their course later, when it is safe to do so. We are happy to receive enquiries for bookings in 2021, but are not accepting paid bookings at this stage. Our 'B' course is led by Ambrose Burne, who introduces his students to the basic operations with some set pieces; then it becomes more design-based and experimental, with an exploration of the students'...

Due to the Coronavirus emergency, all our courses for Spring/Summer 2020 have been postponed - we're very grateful to all the affected students who have opted to take their course later, when it is safe to do so. We are happy to receive enquiries for bookings in 2021. The 'O' course is led by Peat Oberon, award-winning blacksmith, and inspiring and sympathetic teacher; assisted by Eamonn Kenward. The courses are suitable for absolute beginners, male or female, from the age of about 14 upwards; or for metalworkers seeking to gain...

Please Note : Knife Making is not permitted to under 18 year olds unless attending with adult. Our new course by popular request. The two day chef's style knife course is designed for beginners that have no or little experience in metalwork or blacksmithing. The course starts with a quick safety talk and a cup of coffee. The material we will be using will be from spring steel which has a greater carbon content, these are the properties that make it more suitable to being hardened to ensure it keeps...

'Strike while the iron's hot' and get sweaty behind a roaring fire to sound of ringing anvils ..... We have a spacious purpose built workshop with its own snack room and bathroom. We offer a wide range of experience days to cater for groups up to twelve, of any ability and will provide tutors to fit your group size so whether you want to come on your own, with a loved one, or as a larger group such as a stag or hen do or team building with colleagues, then...

We have an amazing and unique experience to make a 60 layer damascus knife or axe. We will cover every aspect from basic forging techniques and hammer control, then grinding and profiling followed by heat treatment and fitting the handle. Day 1 starts with you making your own damascus billet, it’s a thrilling experience with sparks flying and the use of seriously heavy duty machinery, or if you wish you can do it manually with a great deal of hammering. Day 2 and 3 drawing and planning your knife/axe, then...