Introduction To Bladesmithing 1 Day Class

There is nothing quite like hand forging your own knife. This introductory 1 day class taught by Neels van den Berg, an American Bladesmith Society Master Smith and member of the Knifemaker's Guild of Southern Africa, will teach you how to hand forge a basic knife as it has been done through the ages, with step by step instruction. The class is open to students of all skill levels, including those with no prior experience in bladesmithing.

The class focuses on the fundamentals of forging, grinding, and heat-treating a blade. The knife will be forged from SAE5160, a medium carbon spring steel perfect for the intended application. During the class, students will be guided through the process of forging the knife blade to shape, basic flat grinding, heat treating - hardening and tempering, and blade finishing and sharpening.

The class covers the safety precautions that must be taken when working with high-carbon steel and the tools and equipment used in bladesmithing. Students will learn about the history of bladesmithing and the different types of blades and knives that are made by bladesmiths, as well as the basic principles of blade design, such as blade geometry, edge angles, and balance.

By the end of the class, students will have the opportunity to take home a single hand-forged knife, which is the outcome of the class (No handle scales and no sheath). Class notes are provided in the form of the instructor's Bladesmithing 101 tutorial uploaded to his YouTube channel, which is free to access.

This class is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning about the art and science of bladesmithing. It's a hands-on class that provides a great introduction to the field, and will give you a taste of the process and the skills required to be a bladesmith. You will have the opportunity to learn from a master of the craft, and gain a solid foundation in the basics of bladesmithing.

Start Time:  Class starts 7:45am and finishes before 6pm.
Please allow for 15min extra travel time as the last 7.5km is a dirt road in a Nature Reserve with a speed limit of 40km/h.

Lunch: Lunch is provided in the form of boerewors rolls at about 11am. We will have Oros available but you are welcome to bring your own cold drinks.

 TERMS & CONDITIONS:

• FULL payment upon class booking. Any cancellations forfeits the full class fee.
• Please make 100% sure you can attend your selected class date. Rescheduling will not be allowed.
• I am currently only offering classes for students 14 years and older. Minors will need to be accompanied by a legal guardian for the duration of the class.
• Safety equipment is provided for all classes in the form of safety glasses, apron and leather gloves.
• Safety glasses must be worn at all times.
• Please ensure that you are wearing non-flammable clothing and sturdy leather shoes or safety boots. No shorts & No plakkies!
• In the unlikely event of a class being cancelled by me, all class fees are fully refundable. However I cannot be responsible for any other costs incurred.
• You must be in reasonably good physical condition in order to successfully complete any of my classes. Bladesmithing requires a degree of exertion. The dangers for those who have mobility issues will make these classes difficult or impossible to complete. When in doubt, phone me on 083 451 3105 to discuss.
• Failure to realize that you are not physically capable, will not be grounds for a refund. I reserve the right to deny classes to anyone who I consider not physically capable of completing the given class.
• No alcohol allowed.