This traditional forging day teaches you the basics of making a 'Blacksmiths or Viking' style knife. Using our coal forge, you will learn how to shape the high carbon steel bars into basic utilitarian knifes that would have been common place in medieval England and across Scandinavia due to their simple but functional designs.
 
Hosted by Bill's Workshop in Partnership with Pathhill Outdoors this course will be located at Pathhill’s Woodland Forge in South Oxfordshire. Parking is easily available onsite with hot drinks and snacks provided throughout the day but please bring your own lunch and refillable water bottle. This course allows for lots of direct teaching time with a small and focused number of people on each course (2) allowing you to get fantastic personal tuition from our team.
 
The Days Overview:
Please arrive for a 9:30am start where you will venture into the woods to meet the team and get to know the workshop. After you have a hot drink, we begin learning some basic skills and make a fire-steel as a warm up project so you can practice and get used to swinging a hammer. After lunch we begin working on your knife, shaping the tang and blade. we will then heat treat your blade so that it has a hardened edge. depending on the time we may begin to profile and sharpen your blade, however from here it’s a simple proccess at home to get a sharp edge if we run out of time. Throughout the day you will be guided by an expert member of the team. The day will come to a close at 4:30pm where you will be able to take home your hand forged goods!
 
-You will be emailed further documentation and information upon purchase to fill out and return.
-Private bookings of up to 4 people are available for this course, please get in touch to arrange. 
 
All safety equipment provided 
Over 18s only
For this course you do need to be reasonably fit and healthy as it is hot and hard work throughout the day on your feet.
If you have any concerns or disability, please get in contact to discuss what arrangements can be made to make the course more accessible for you and answer any questions
Please wear full length trousers (an old pair of jeans are ideal) and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty as well as old trainers or boots - no open toed shoes, flip flops or sliders. 
Please view additional terms and conditions at the bottom of the page under terms and conditions