Learning and teaching are two of my passions. I have been a student of the forged blade for over 15 years now. It has been a true privilege to learn from some of the best master blade smiths in the world. Many of my years in Nicaragua were spent teaching blacksmithing and bladesmithing because I feel it is my duty to carry on the craft and pass it on to others who are willing to learn. I want to continue to offer this experience and these skills to others. For this reason I started to give blacksmithing and bladesmithing classes in my shop here in Trussville, Alabama.
- My Intro to Bladesmithing Class is designed for folks with little to no Bladesmithing experience. We start with a bar of 1/4" x 1" blade steel and go through the forging, grinding, heat-treating and handle fitting processes in two days. Along the way to finishing your knife you will learn some of the tips and tricks that I've learned over the years. Total Fee is $550.00 ($150 deposit with the $400 remainder due on the first day of class).
- The Next level course is my Bowie Knife Class. This class is meant to take the skills learned in the intro class and expand them. You'll forge and heat-treat a bigger blade, learn how to fit up a guard as well as a hidden tang handle. Every thing in this course is designed to help aspiring bladesmiths gather the necessary skills to start making knives on their own without all the guess work. The skills, tips and trick learned in this class will take some of the mystery out of bladesmithing and help folks to hone their skills as well as create a process to they way he/she works. Even though you'll be using my tools you'll also learn to do many of the vital processes with minimal tooling and cost. Total fee is $750.00 ($150 deposit with the $600 remainder due on the first day of class).
- Chef's Knife class: Just about everyone who takes my Intro to bladesmithing class inevitably asks if I would ever consider putting on a Chef's knife class. Well, that is something I am now excited to offer! Similar to my Intro class, students will learn to forge a Chef's knife from a bar of high carbon steel. Students will go through the entire process of heat-treating, grinding and finishing their very own Chef's knife that they can use daily in their own kitchen for years and years. The cost of the class is $600 ($150 deposit and $400 due on the first day of class).
When you sign up for any of my courses I require a $150 deposit with the balance due the first day of class. You may cancel with full reimbursement up to 2 weeks before the class starts.
Upcoming Classes: (Go to "Available Now" page to sign up)
Intro to Bladesmithing: January 18 &19 2025 (Sat & Sun)
Chef's Knife class: Feb. 15 & 16 2025 (Sat & Sun)
When Classes are available to purchase you will see them as an item on the "Available Now" page.