Knife Making
- Flexible Booking
- E-Voucher to your Inbox
Valid for 18 months
Flexible Booking
E-Voucher to your Inbox
Valid for 18 months
Forge your own knife from raw steel in this hands on knife making experience.
Guided by an experienced blacksmith, you’ll heat, hammer, grind, and shape your blade from start to finish. Choose from bushcraft, heritage, Japanese, or classic kitchen knife designs.
At the end of the experience, you’ll leave with the blade you forged yourself (without a handle).
- Design and forge your very own knife
- Price includes a max of two people to work together to make one knife
- All vouchers are valid for 18 months
- Available 7 days a week running twice a day
Forge Your Own Knife – A Traditional Knife-Making Experience
Make sparks fly and discover the fundamentals of traditional knife-making in our rural Herefordshire forge. This immersive one-day knife course is perfect for beginners and those with previous experience, offering the chance to create your custom knife from start to finish with expert guidance at every stage. From designing your blade to forging and shaping it, you’ll leave with a unique, handcrafted piece that tells a personal story.
Enhance Your Creation
For those looking to elevate their knife, we offer an optional handle-making workshop. Here, you can personalize your knife with a premium-quality handle, ensuring your masterpiece is completed to the highest standard.
Forge Your Own Knife Package – The Perfect ‘His and Hers’ Gift
Looking for a unique and unforgettable gift? Our Forge Your Own Knife Package is perfect for solo adventurers, couples, friends, or groups looking to share a hands-on experience. Whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, or any special occasion, this workshop is an incredible way to learn a traditional craft together.
At our Herefordshire forge, chefs from around the world come to design and craft their custom knives. Whether you’re a professional chef looking for a personalized kitchen tool, or a passionate home cook wanting a one-of-a-kind culinary piece, our expert team will guide you every step of the way.
What to Expect:
Design, forge, and shape your own knife
Upgrade your creation with a premium-quality handle (additional fees apply)
Take home a custom-crafted knife with a story
This workshop isn’t just about making a knife; it’s about creating a personalized tool that reflects your style and culinary needs. Leave with a unique masterpiece ready to enhance your kitchen and become a cherished part of your cooking routine for years to come.
Course Details:
Duration: Approx. 7 hours
(The timings provided are approximate and may vary based on the customer’s capabilities and the specific design requirements).
Ready to craft a knife that’s as unique as you are? Book your experience today!
The price of this booking covers up to two people making one knife during a full-day session. That’s right, add an extra person for free to join you!
We welcome groups of friends to come and take part together, simply adjust the number of people when making your booking.
If you’re buying a voucher, the voucher will entitle the recipient to a full-day session making one knife. (The timings provided are approximate and may vary based on the customer’s capabilities and the specific design requirements).
Handling Package / Knife Finishing
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In-House Finishing: Leave your knife with our skilled in-house carpenter, who will expertly finish and handle your knife before securely posting it back to you.
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One-Day Handling Package: Join our expert-led session and personally complete your knife from start to finish. By the end of the day, your knife will be fully finished and ready for use.
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DIY Take-Home Handling Pack: Prefer to finish your knife at your own pace? Take home a DIY handling pack and complete your knife in the comfort of your own space.
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Metal Handles: Opt for a custom-designed metal handle, which requires no further finishing work.
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Custom Knife Sheaths: We are also delighted to offer bespoke leather sheaths, crafted specifically for your knife. You can explore our selection here:
We offer a wide range of finishing options to ensure your knife meets your exact specifications: Oldfield Forge Leather Knife Sheath
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For more information or to discuss specific finishing options, feel free to reach out to our team—we’re happy to assist!
Be sure to dress accordingly, remembering that in the colder months it can get pretty chilly inside the workshop, despite the fires! Please wear long trousers and suitable footwear.
Make sure you follow the guidance on our website and what’s sent to you ahead of the event. And always listen to the instructions of our expert team on the day.
1 When you arrive
On arrival, you’ll be signed in and introduced to the smith who will talk through the course step-by-step and help you select which design you would like to make. We’ll discuss what you want to achieve for the day before providing you with protective equipment and a safety briefing.
2 Firing up the forge
The forge will have been lit and heating up before you arrive, so it’s ready to go! You will get an introduction on how to control and maintain the fire of the forge to a forging heat.
3 Handling Options
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Handling Service
Leave your knife with our skilled woodwork team. We will complete the handle installation and send the finished piece directly to you. -
One-Day Handling Package
Book a place on our one-day handling session. Complete the work on-site with full support from our team. -
DIY Option
Purchase the components on-site and take them home to complete the handling yourself. -
No-Handle Design
Opt for a custom-designed metal handle that eliminates the need for any further handling work.
4 Forging the Handle and Tang
You will start by forging the handle or tang using a process called set downs to create steps from the handle or tang to the blade, then rounding to forge a comfortable fitting handle. You will then begin forging tapers for hidden tangs and shaping over the bick (horn of the anvil).
5 The Blade
Moving on to the blade, you will be forging tapers for the business end of the knife, drawing out to manipulate the shape and size of your knife, forging bevels, curving blades, and normalising the blade to prepare for hardening.
6 Finishing
Once the knife is cooled, you will head to the grinding bay to use a number of grinders and files to grind a profile and bevel into your knife. Then is the heat treating, heating up your blade to the desired temperature and oil quenching to harden the blade, this will help the knife maintain a sharp edge.
After hardening, the final edge is ground into the blade, for a sharp and practical tool.
7 Photo Time
It’s great fun working alongside one another and crafting something unique! Once the forging is complete, it’s time to pose for those all-important photos at our wooden stage!
