Clarke Knives reviews

Nick C reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"Really enjoyable day out with my son - we both got the opportunity to try tools and techniques we'd never normally get to do, all with the patient and skillful support of the crew at the forge. That evening our freshly forged knives made cutting BBQ steak effortless. Will definitely recommend to friends."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Nick"

Nick C reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"Really enjoyable day out with my son - we both got the opportunity to try tools and techniques we'd never normally get to do, all with the patient and skillful support of the crew at the forge. That evening our freshly forged knives made cutting BBQ steak effortless. Will definitely recommend to friends."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Nick"

Alison Horridge reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"I had a great day making a knife, instrutors we fantastic and so encouraging Would highly recommend"

Clarke Knives responded:

"Glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you both again sometime."

Darrel Horridge reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"My wife and I both attended the single day knife making course. it was a fantastic day and i would highly recommend it. a great family outfit that make you feel totally at ease."

Clarke Knives responded:

"I'm glad you enjoyed it so much - it was great to have you with us"

Rowena & Mike Bird reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Thank you Graham and Declan, we had the best time. I am not a Forged in Fire viewer so didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed myself and have a very decent knife to show for it. Really interesting to learn about metal, forging and finishing, the time just flew by. Your knowledge and skills are superb, thank you for sharing."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Rowena, It was a pleasure to have you and Mike spend the day with us."

James Watt reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"The guys really knew their stuff. Really friendly, really fun. Declan is a wizard with a hammer and showed us what for. Honestly had an excellent time and as a first time forger walked away with a piece I'm super proud of. Can't thank them enough for a brilliant experience."

Mark Thornton reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Had a really fantastic day with Graham! He is very knowledgeable, and an exceptionally good teacher who gives simple, easy to understand instruction in bite sized chunks to all students, both young... and not quite so young! Thanks also to Dave (co-owner) and Declan for their help too. Clarkes Knives are in a proper engineering workshop, with plenty of tools, spaced out with plenty of room to work. On a Covid front, masks on at all times, plenty of hand sanitiser available and distancing maintained. My 15yr old son made a knife, starting at the forge with hammer and anvil, working through grinding on Grahams custom belt grinders and ending by wrapping in a paracord handle. Also available a 2 day knife course with a wooden handle and a leather sheath AND a 2 day axe course, complete with making & fitting your own ash handle. Very highly recommended. We are definitely going back! This review also posted on Google"

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Mark, We thoroughly enjoyed having you with us and we all look forward to seeing both of you again."

Maria reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"Myself, partner and my brother organised the one day experience for Dads special birthday. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would recommend the experience to anyone! I have enjoyed showing photos of the day to family, friends and colleagues. There is plenty of help available but you are also given independence to just get on with it so the balance felt very comfortable. There was also plenty of food and drink available throughout the day which was a very thoughtful touch. Thank you for a great day. From Maria and family."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thank you Maria, we're all so glad you had such a great day with us. Regards, Graham, David & Decklan"

Maria reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"Myself, partner and my brother organised the one day experience for Dads special birthday. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would recommend the experience to anyone! I have enjoyed showing photos of the day to family, friends and colleagues. There is plenty of help available but you are also given independence to just get on with it so the balance felt very comfortable. There was also plenty of food and drink available throughout the day which was a very thoughtful touch. Thank you for a great day. From Maria and family."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thank you Maria, we're all so glad you had such a great day with us. Regards, Graham, David & Decklan"

Kris Czarnecki reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"Me and my wife had a great day. We both enjoyed learning about bladesmithing and forging our own knifes. Graham is very knowledgable. We very much recommend this course."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was a good day Kris, I hope we'll see you and Jana again soon."

Kris Czarnecki reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"Me and my wife had a great day. We both enjoyed learning about bladesmithing and forging our own knifes. Graham is very knowledgable. We very much recommend this course."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was a good day Kris, I hope we'll see you and Jana again soon."

Rob Millard reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"It’s not often that you can get an absolutely top-rate expert to walk you through a new experience, but that’s what my son and I got at Vlakvark Forge. Forget other forges experiences that ‘play’ at knife making and you leave you with some two-bit effort. Graham, a highly qualified and experienced metallurgist, took us through the whole process of forging, grinding, heat treating, tempering and finishing the blade, explaining every step in minute detail. I can not recommend him highly enough."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Rob, It was a very enjoyable day. Regards, Graham"

Lewis reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Fantastic course with really top notch instruction. Purchased the day as an experience for a family member's birthday, and it was really great fun. I never thought I could possibly create a knife from a hunk of metal, but as the day progressed it gradually took shape. Really satisfying craft!"

Clarke Knives responded:

"We all hope to see you again sometime. Graham, David & Decklan"

Richard reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"A great day and full of learning and fun. The guys supported everyone irrespective of baseline skills and were happy to help and give as much knowledge and insight as requested. Thoroughly enjoyable and cannot recommend highly enough!"

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Richard, It's gratifying to know the day met your expectations, Regards Graham"

Richard Tarran reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Such a good day! Time flew by and you end up with something useable at the end of the day. Excellent tuition and camaraderie"

Clarke Knives responded:

"We're all glad you enjoyed the day with us."

Peter Quayle reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"The course from start to finish was fantastic. A great bunch of passionate, professional and down to earth guys at the top of their profession. Lunch was great, the banter and brew flowed throughout the day and the expert training and support to give everyone attending an end product of a working knife is testimony to the way the course was run. Brilliant, thank you."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was a really good day Peter. We all hope to see you again in the future"

Peter Quayle reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"The course from start to finish was fantastic. A great bunch of passionate, professional and down to earth guys at the top of their profession. Lunch was great, the banter and brew flowed throughout the day and the expert training and support to give everyone attending an end product of a working knife is testimony to the way the course was run. Brilliant, thank you."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was a really good day Peter. We all hope to see you again in the future"

Wayne Scheepers reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"I had spoken to Graham at their stand at the Newbury County Fair in 2019 and my girlfriend decided to surprise me by booking a course for my birthday. Graham, David and Declan (3 generations of Clarkes') were all excellent instructors and very knowledgeable in their craft. After getting the initial obligatory COVID-19 / safety talk out of the way, Graham gave a brief overview of what we would be doing during the day through each stage of the process. The course was very hands on which I enjoyed though Graham was there keeping his expert eye on things and offering guidance on improving technique to better the outcome and explained why certain things done at that stage affected the process at a later stage. Each stage was carefully explained and I left feeling greater awe at the skills of these master craftsmen. It was a most enjoyable experience and the time literally flew by. I have to recommend the guys at Vlakvark Forge and I shall definitely be back to do more."

Wayne Scheepers reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"I had spoken to Graham at their stand at the Newbury County Fair in 2019 and my girlfriend decided to surprise me by booking a course for my birthday. Graham, David and Declan (3 generations of Clarkes') were all excellent instructors and very knowledgeable in their craft. After getting the initial obligatory COVID-19 / safety talk out of the way, Graham gave a brief overview of what we would be doing during the day through each stage of the process. The course was very hands on which I enjoyed though Graham was there keeping his expert eye on things and offering guidance on improving technique to better the outcome and explained why certain things done at that stage affected the process at a later stage. Each stage was carefully explained and I left feeling greater awe at the skills of these master craftsmen. It was a most enjoyable experience and the time literally flew by. I have to recommend the guys at Vlakvark Forge and I shall definitely be back to do more."

Colin Wicks reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"A birthday gift from my partner. And what a great day it was. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Came away with a knife I can use in a bit of bushcraft. Nothing fancy but function is more important. I've used it and am well happy. Definitely recommend."

Clarke Knives responded:

"Thanks Colin, I hope we'll see you again soon."

Robbie reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Having had Bladesmithing as a new hobby/side project on my mind for quite a while I decided to take the one day course to get a feel for what exactly's involved. Graham, David & Declan (great kid) were all really engaging and made the day fun, enjoyable and really informative. You can tell they all have a lot of knowledge about the blacksmithing world. It's definitely made me realise I want to pursue Bladesmithing beyond this one off experience. I'll be back for more. Cheers."

Clarke Knives responded:

"And we look forward to seeing you again Robbie."

Gavin Simmonite reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Had a fantastic day with Graham, David and Deklan. Really enjoyed my day learning about bladesmithing. Would highly recommend this course."

Simon Morford reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Superb weekend spent making a great knife. Really pleased I went for the two day option and ended up with a completed knife and hand made sheath. Graham, David and Declan were the fun side of professional throughout and clearly knew what what they were talking about. Already saving up for the axe course."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was a great Weekend Experience and we all look forward to seeing you again"

Simon bennett reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"Great course covering all aspects of making a knife from start to finish. Good staff to attendee ratios enabling prompt attention to each stage of the process with clear guidance and explanations not only what to do but why the step is necessary. Good natured conversation throughout made the day highly enjoyable. Very pleased to get a finished product at the end of the day, and with the parachute cord option for the handle allowed the knife to be usable immediately."

Clarke Knives responded:

"An enjoyable day indeed Simon with a great result."

Harry Brian King reviewed: Bladesmithing Weekend

"A great hands on experience day, enjoyed learning how to craft metal at a proper forge. Enjoyed every minute with Graham and his family great people and very knowledgeable in their skills."

Clarke Knives responded:

"It was great to have you with us Harry - I hope we'll see you again soon"