The Blacksmith's-Knife & Bottle Opener Making Course

Led by experienced blacksmiths; Max Anderson & Giles Clarke and/or Tom Quinnell. Priced per person and limited to 10 participants.

*** Please scroll to the bottom to choose from available dates ***

Your course will start promptly at 9:00am and finish at approximately 5:00pm (may go on a little longer if required).

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED - but there is a lot of hammering involved in this course so it is advised that those attending have reasonable stamina (we are always on hand to assist if required)

Your tutor will guide you through the various techniques involved in the fascinating craft of forging hot iron (‘blacksmithing’). Both items you make, you can take home with you. This experience day is suitable for absolute beginners (adults, and teenagers from the age of 11 upwards*).

You will warm up in the morning by getting stuck in straight away with hands-on introductions into some of the key blacksmith processes whilst forging a forged bottle opener that gets put to the test at the end of the day on your choice of locally brewed bottled beer (18+) from the Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate or a J2o). You will next move on to forging a classic blacksmith's-style knife in mild steel (not high-carbon steel). It will be entirely forged, including the handle, and we will dress/grind the cutting edge after you have finished the forging leaving the knife with a clean edge for you to fully sharpen at home. You will be taught how to correctly use a variety of hand tools and equipment. By the end of the day you will have learnt to manage your own fire, alongside a variety of skills and techniques required to manipulate red-hot metal. You will have also utilised the following blacksmithing processes: Drawing down/tapering, bending, twisting, punching a hole.

Please bring a packed lunch with you.

• Tea, coffee & bottled water is provided all day. (decaf tea and coffee also available)

• Homemade cake and/or brownies, and a selection of biscuits (not homemade) on offer throughout the day

• Beer (pale ale or bitter from the local ‘Pilgrim Brewery’ in Reigate) or a J2o will be provided to end the day to ‘test’ your bottle opener! (Alcoholic beverages for 18+).

• All required PPE is provided (with the exception of footwear). You will be provided with new safety glasses and leather gloves, which you may keep at the end of the day if you wish.

Feel free to take a look at our photo gallery to get an idea on what to expect.

We will provide tea, coffee, bottled water and biscuits, but please make plans for, or bring a packed lunch with you.

Our booking terms can be found via the menu on our website or by following this link

Your course takes place at the Rowhurst Forge blacksmithing and heritage site, where decorative ironwork of a world-class standard has been produced by the Quinnell family since 1932. You will based in the teaching area of our forge, and you will have the chance to see the beautiful work of leading British artistic metalworkers in our well-known Fire & Iron Gallery.

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Classes are limited to 10 students, each with their own forge, anvil, leg vice and all necessary hand tools. PPE is provided - safety glasses, leather gloves, leather apron, and optional earplugs & face masks. For hygiene reasons, you are required to bring your own safety boots - please read our health & safety information for further details on this.

With our decades of experience, and over 2000 very happy students to date, we can confidently guarantee that you will enjoy yourself enormously!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or queries QSB@fireandiron.co.uk - 01372 375148 (mobile)

* We can take younger students, from 11 years old, but only on condition that if under 16, they must have a parent or close family adult member also booked on the course with them, they must be well-motivated and really want to take the course and must have reasonable stamina. This course can be quite demanding, and so we would advise that they attend our 1-day blacksmithing experience course before attending this one. Alternatively, we offer shorter and tailored ‘one on one’ courses from 3hrs+, suitable for younger students - with these, an adult does not need to participate, but must be present and can observe throughout. Please contact us to discuss before booking.