Knife making weekend Gloucestershire
Description
As the country starts the long journey to opening up again we will be restarting our courses in July with new social distancing and smaller numbers.
The weekend is taught by Arian Leljak, an experienced blacksmith and teacher. By the end of the weekend you will have completed a knife with wooden or antler handle and a leather sheath. The weekend starts 7-9 on the Friday then all day Saturday and Sunday. Each course will have four participants.
You will work to your chosen design to create a blade out of high-carbon steel. You will learn how to harden and temper the steel in order to achieve an excellent cutting edge. The handles will be made of variety of woods, to meet your aesthetic sense and to fit your hand. Finally we will make sheaths by moulding veg-tanned leather.
Age 16 and above. 16-18 with parental consent.
The course would make an excellent present.
Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts. Start dates may be amended on request.
What's included in the price?
The course price includes all materials and tuition and is held in a well equipped workshop in the centre of Nailsworth.
Teas and coffees are provided (as well as a selection of biscuits) but we ask that you provide your own lunch. Being in the centre of Nailsworth the workshop is surrounded by many cafes and shops where you can buy something
Contact
Pam Brown at Nailsworth Community WorkshopBath Road
Nailsworth, Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL6 0HH
Suitable for
- Hen dos
- Public transport
- Stag dos
- Suitable for beginners
- Teenagers
- UK Holiday
- Wheelchair users
This craft course provider has been awarded Gold status for receiving 10 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
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Reviews
This was the best weekend I've had of 2020! I personally love knives and bushcraft and always wanted to try and make my own knife, I had quite a specific idea in mind. I wanted to make a Sheep-foot blade that was a halfway house between a cooking knife and a woodwork / survival knife.
Arian helped me to redesign the knife as the one sketch I came along with was a little large. He was completely correct with everything he said and was never pushy or rushed you along. You then decide whether you want a full tang or not and begin to create the blade. Once that is done you choose your wood (of which there is so much choice) and begin work on the handle. Making a survival knife we managed to make a sheath too which was fantastic! There was a lot of colour choice for the leather and string. The final product was great, I was very proud of what I made.
If you are thinking of doing this weekend I 100% recommend it.
Thank you Arian and Bear for a memorable weekend and a "friend for life".
Response from Nailsworth Community Workshop:
Hi Jack, Thank you very much for your generous feedback. I very much enjoyed witnessing how you and others in the group came to very individual designs by developing your ideas and relating them to practical reality. It matters to me that you and others have the space to make something that is unique and respects your needs and choices. I'm glad that my guidance and approach helped you to produce something you're proud of and feel ownership of.Well done, and be in touch.
If you're deliberating over booking this course, do it! It was bought for me as a surprise gift and I'd never have thought of knife making as something I'd be into - I've just come back from the most incredible weekend working with Arian. Every person on the course came away with a beautiful object they could be proud of - Arian guides and teaches with patience and skill, ensuring you create something you'll feel proud of and walk away happy with - but also that YOU created - he never takes over or hurries you along.
Class sizes are kept really small and Arian is attentive and ever-present meaning you always have the help you need. He makes every effort to accommodate the designs and materials that you want so that you feel like you've made something truly yours, and you learn three different crafts in one weekend: metal work, wood work, and leatherwork.
Pam is lovely and makes the organisation of the course ultra efficient. Don't think we ever waited more than 5 minutes for a reply email! And Gavin, who runs the workshop and other courses there popped in a few times too and was incredibly friendly and positive. I have come away really inspired - genuinely can't recommend highly enough.
Bought for me as a surprise 40th birthday gift by my wife and kids and had such a thoroughly enjoyable weekend! Arian was not only a great host, but I'm sure there's very little he doesn't know about knives and the making of such a tool. From designing my ideal kitchen knife through to hours of filing and sculpting, and then selecting and creating the handle from a beautiful British plum log the course was easily the most enjoyable and fulfilling that I've been on before. Lovely location, great host and with such a small group it was nice to get to know each other over the two days. Highly recommended!
Me and three friends have just spent the weekend on the knife making course. We have all made knives and sheaths that far exceeded what we believed we were capable of making. Arian is a gifted teacher. His knowledge of his craft is far reaching, his help invaluable and his enthusiasm is captivating. He guides and encourages his students all day long without 'taking over' your work but steps in to help just long enough to keep you on track. I can't rate Arian as a teacher, or the course, highly enough. We will take another of his courses in the future.
Response from Nailsworth Community Workshop:
Hi Simon, Thank you for your comments. It was a pleasure helping you to achieve such good work. I've enjoyed responding to the group's individual ideas and wishes whilst making sure we remain within the principles of this craft, as produce such a wide range of well-made knives.It was also great that you all designed and made knives which you will use frequently, the work improves further as it gets used and acquires that unique weathered look and feel.
Thank you again for your hard work and positive attitude and hope to see you soon again.
I had a really fab time on this course. Arian was a first class teacher, knowledgeable and patient. I'm now a very proud owner of a unique item.
Just had a fantastic time on this course. Arian was a very patient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher. I learned a
lot and was able to take away a very useful and good looking knife. I would highly recommend this course to anyone as it is very interesting and good fun.
I had a voucher bought for last years birthday and after looking through all of the available knife making courses I settled on this one. I am really glad that I did.
The combination of brilliant facilities and the great teaching from Arian made the whole experience both really fun, but also a lot easier than I expected; even for a complete novice with most of the techniques used.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time making the knife and the finished knife far beats the expectations of what I thought I would be able to create, all thanks to Arians expert guidance. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who wants to try their hand at knife making.
My son and I have just finished this wonderful course. We were both complete novices to knife making and we started off with a certain degree of apprehension as to whether we would achieve anything vaguely resembling a knife! However this was soon put to rest by the very relaxed.and informal atmosphere in the workshop.
Arian is an excellent (and very patient) tutor with a wealth of knowledge and skill which he used to guide us through all the stages of producing our knives. Our confidence soon rose and we became completely immersed in the whole process and enjoyed the plentiful supply of tea and biscuits!
Special thanks to Arian for helping my son to incorporate a lambs horn from one of our own sheep into the handle of his knife- a real personal touch.
Would have no hesitation in completely recommending this course to anyone no matter what your ability level. You will not be disappointed!!!
Many thanks.
This course was bought for my 50th Birthday by my best mate. 5 of us took part in the weekend. I have to say it was one of the best things I have ever done. It was so well organised and the skills taught were presented in such a great way. We all walked away with a wonderful knife and some wonderful memories.
Highly recommend due to the quality of instruction and the format of the weekend.
Thank you so much for a weekend I will never forget
I highly recommend the course. Arian is a very inspiring teacher. You gain experience working with metal, wood and leather. I got the bug and taken up knife making as a hobby as a result of the course.
A very enjoyable course led by a friendly instructor who showed a real interest in the knives produced and had a genuine desire for everyone to make a good knife.
The level of instruction was tailored to each person on the course and never felt overbearing which allowed everyone to create their own designs and resulted in individual unique knives.
I came away from the course with a real sense of achievement which is repeated each time I look at the knife I made.
Arian is a very likeable and good teacher; he communicated very well all aspects of the craft. It was a very enjoyable couple of days covering metalwork, woodwork and leather work as well as all other the aspects of creating and looking after the useful handmade personal tool of your own knife made by you from raw materials.
If you have any basic DIY skills you will enjoy and be able to fly through this coursevand end up with a beautiful knife.