After years of teaching and hundreds of students- we're proud to be Pittsburgh's premier blacksmithing instructional shop!

$200 per student

Join us to learn the intricacies of forging, grinding, heat treating, profiling, and sharpening a Knife you can proudly claim as your Own!
We’ve teamed up with Andy Alm of Andy Alm Custom Knives (Of Forged In Fire Fame!) - a well known expert in the art of the railroad spike knife, to bring you this exciting Intro to Bladesmithing class!

PREREQUISITE:
All students taking this course must first take OUR “Intro to Blacksmithing- Railroad Spike Bottle Openers” course, as we’ve designed these two courses to truly build off each other. Think of the knife class as 8 hours of hands on instruction and background information necessary to craft a knife…. but we choose to split that up into two far more approachable 4 hour sessions (as two classes, intro to blacksmithing, then intro to bladesmithing).

This class has taken quite a bit of work and years to hone to perfection, and we’re Excited to share it with you!

In this 4 hour class, you’ll build upon the skills and knowledge you gained in OUR beginner blacksmithing class making railroad spike bottle openers. By requiring this prerequisite, we know we can jump into Knife making with only a general safety refresher, shop introduction, and a few key tips- instead of having to explain the intricacies of setting up a shop and working with metal. You’ve taken our course, you know how much we covered- now we’re ready to grow upon that experience!
You’ll forge, profile, bevel, heat treat, and finish a railroad spike knife that you’ve created with our guidance and tutelage, keeping you as hands on and actively engaged as possible. Just like in our bottle opener course- we want you to be able to go home with something you can truly say “I MADE THIS”, we intend to be as hands off as possible.
You’ve got this, we’re here to guide you!

We believe that if you want to learn to make a knife, much like learning to play Tchaikovsky- you need to start by learning the chords and scales. The best way to become good at making a knife, is to start by not making a knife. We are hard at work on a knife making class, but it will require our prerequisite beginner class- this one:
Beginner Blacksmithing- Railroad Spike Bottle Openers
If you want to learn to play…. you’ve gota be able to show up and run through the scales first.
All students must be at least 18 years of age and fit enough to swing a 2lb hammer.
WE DO NOT OFFER ANY CLASSES TO MINORS (It’s an insurance thing…)

This class can be difficult- we need to know that you’re confident in the basics via a successful completion of our beginner class making bottle openers before you can take this class.

Classes will take place at production blacksmithing studio in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Additional information will be emailed to those who sign up, usually one to two days before the class.

Sign up for a class if we’ve got a spot open for you, by clicking here:

PRIVATE CLASSES

Want to schedule a private class for your group or event beyond the scope of what’s seen here?
Fill out this simple form:

For more information on what it is we’re doing to keep you safe and comply with all the regulations we’re required to, as well as “WHY” our classes have had to change a bit- check out or “COVID PIVOT” page here:
COVID PIVOT

Interested in a gift card?
https://www.thebarefootforge.com/gift-cards