Make a chef's knife

Such a great experience! I turned up full of anxiety - not done anything useful with my hands for years, so thought it unlikely I’d even end up with a knife-shaped object. But from the off, Spencer and Paul made us feel at home - stepwise instruction, personally and passionately delivered. And the knife I ended up with is one I’d have paid a lot of money for 😮
So pleased my wife found this for me

Three of us spent 2 days making a chef's knife at the Anvil Forge. Two of us have never thought about iron work previously, far less experienced anything like it. On day 1 Aiden took us through the forging process. He was really approachable, very informative and made sure we were all comfortable handling the red hot steel safely etc. On day 2 John oversaw the woodwork (to make the knife handles) and completion of the knives. He was very supportive, even allowing one of our party do try something John had never done before (it turned out very well and was fun to do something different). We all went home having thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and with three super knives that we are really very proud of. We highly recommend the experience. Good luck.

I joined with 4 others, John, and his team of smiths on his two-day knife making course. Brilliant. Great fun and very rewarding being able to produce a ‘sharp’ thanks Aden.
Making a chef's knife was a fantastic way to spend two days sweating away…true craftsmen all of them, great atmosphere, team giving plenty of one to one tuition. I thoroughly recommend this course.
John, great idea with the ploughman’s lunch much better than the pub lunch!
Thank you to you all. David.

A great way to spend a weekend! I like to cook and like to make things, so my girlfriend decided to buy this course for my 30th. John, Alex, Henry and Mark are all nice chaps and have a wealth of knowledge to share. What was really nice is that they always demonstrated on other pieces, so you really do make the entire knife yourself, with minimal interference. A couple of nice pub lunches didn't hurt, either!

Having now done two course with the team at Anvil Forge, I can highly recommend them. Wonderful guys working in a great environment. The courses are paced well and interesting, this is a working forge and it is the real deal. What John, Spencer and the team produce on a daily basis is outstanding, and under their guidance you will produce a fantastic piece of work. I have managed to produce a herb cutter and a chef's knife and both have become firm favourites in the house. The easiest way to compliment them is to say I will be back to create any great blade.

Thanks for a few great days.

Mark Steven

Just had a weekend at Anvil Forge on the chef's knife making course. I had the best time, John, Steve & Alex were brilliant. It was a really welcoming place with so much knowledge and a keenness to pass that on but with the freedom to make it your own. Throw in a couple of tasty pub lunches and you couldn't ask for any more! Thanks again

Just spent two wonderful days @Anvil forge on a knife making course.
We were “broken in” to the process by making a poker in order to gain an understanding of basic skills immediately followed by work on our knives.
At the end of day one, it suddenly occurred to me that, although freely available, I only had stopped for one tea break because I had become so involved and was really enjoying the work.
Thanks to the superb help of John, Spencer and Steve (master blade smith) for their patient teaching, help and support (and good pub lunch) for a memorable two days. Highly recommended.

Thanks to John, Spencer and Steve for your incredible knowledge and experience and teaching skills. It was a very enjoyable course and I have a great knife at the end. Top course highly recommended

A great course, educational, constructive and great fun. You first lean the basics of forging metal before starting on your blade.the instructor combines knowledge and patience allowing freedom of design yet great teaching. All wrapped up with two great pub lunches.

Overall fantastic course, immense fun and a great knife to take home.

Would thoroughly recommend.

Having just completed the 2 day Chef's Knife course @AnvilForge, I am still beaming with pride at the result. I have my own personal and custom made Chef's knife which I can’t wait to use!
John (owner/blacksmith @Anvilforge), Mark (journeyman blacksmith) and Steve (knife specialist @whitetigerknives) were all brilliant during the course, offering expert tuition/guidance whilst allowing you to shape and craft your own blade out of leaf spring steel with a choice of wood for your own design of handle (I chose a unique piece of cocobolo).
I love it so much, I’m already looking at going back to craft something else! Highly recommend the course and the team. Thanks guys….