Intermediate Bladesmithing – San-Mai (3 Layer)

Default blade type – Chefs knife

Large knife (Over 6 inch blade) 

Sgian dubh (up to 3.5 inch blade)

Please specify which blade type/length at time of booking to allow for custom scheduling

Not advised for beginners

For this course you will ideally have had previous forging experience.  The aim in this class is to make a larger knife, such as a chefs knife, dirk or scramseax (viking) style blade.

This will be created by fire-welding at high temperature in the forge, a billet of carbon steel in-between other steel or wrought iron.  This will then create a 3 layer laminate steel billet that when ground and etched in acid, will contrast nicely in light and dark finishes.

You will then forge this billet into the shape of your knife, heat treat, grind the blade and then finish it off using a choice of handle material.

This will be finished off using a range of techniques and styles, some of which are covered in any of our beginners courses.  Forging experience is recommended.

 

Maximum blade length for this is 9 inches.

This will take you through each stage of making your own custom knife.  From forging the blade, hardening, tempering, sanding and polishing until finally you will etch the blade and add handle to it, completing your blade.

Day 1

  • 9am Start.  Introduction, coffee/tea and a brief overview of the day.
  • 9:15 Fire up the forge
  • break
  • Lunch – 30min-1 hour
  • forging the guard and pommel (where required)
  • 5pm Heat Treatment (hardening & tempering)
  • Close 5:30pm

There is extra time if required during certain steps

Day 2

  • Grind & sand blade
  • Drill and size up guard and pommel if required
  • choose wood for handle
  • mark, measure and cut
  • shape the grip
  • final assembly
  • sand and oil
  • 5pm Close

Disclaimer – I will not allow the making of any bladed or non-bladed articles that are on the UK Banned Knives list in my workshop or advise you how they could or can be made.

What to bring

We ask that you wear old clothing that is not flammable and that you don’t mind getting dirty.  No fleeces should be worn in the workshop nor jogging bottoms or clothing made from a similar material.  Footwear will ideally be steel toecap boots, leather boots or robust footwear. No sandals or open-toed shoes will be allowed in the working area as no alternative can be offered and you would run the risk of serious injury.  Trousers should cover any top opening of the footwear to avoid any hot steel or shrapnel falling into your shoes and causing injury.

There are shops and cafes in the immediate area that serve good food at reasonable prices, as well as a small corner shop and a small Sainsbury’s store.

Social Media

We would of course like to promote images and videos of the courses in action. If you are not comfortable with this or have any concerns then we will of course be happy to address any questions you have, or omit you from the media on your chosen course dates. We want you to be safe and comfortable whilst having fun on the course!

Any images taken on the course will be used for the purposes of a teaching portfolio on my website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) unless otherwise specified.

Please send all booking enquiries to bookings@glitteringedge.com