Decorative Knife Making Workshop

This class focuses on creating a unique decorative knife with carved wood or antler handle. Students will be working with carbon steel to forge their blade and choose from a selection of materials for the handle (dependent on availability).

You will have full access to Shea's studio, the induction will cover standard workshop health & safety practices, basic use of the forge, blacksmithing tools, grinding and cutting tools.

No previous experience needed!

This class will cover:

Day 1
Forging
You will be drawing out the steel (this will depend on what kind of steel your working with) and forging the profile of your knife.

Grinding and sanding
You will be using the angle grinder and belt sander to refine your knife profile, remove forge marks and clean back your blade.

Choose handle materials
Select a handle material from our stocks or bring your own timber/handle material. Pick a fitting material, usually brass or perspex, and cut a slot for the tang of the blade.

Heat treating the blade
The knife will be hardened and tempered to give it the hardness, toughness and flexibility it needs to perform as a knife.

Day 2
Handle making
You will measure the handle material to fit the tang, glue the handle and use the belt sander to shape it to the desired size.

Handle carving
You will create a design and carve it into the handle of the knife. Using sandpaper, sand the timber to a smooth finish, making sure to round sharp angles.

Polishing and sharpening
Finally, you will polish your blade and it will be sharpened the blade ready for use.

This class takes six students.