Get in touch

ronenburstein@hotmail.com

Knife Making Workshops

Create your own knife from scrap metal at my traditional smithy in Cornwall. I offer 5 different workshops in which you can make knives of different shapes and sizes and experience the joy of working at the forge.

I run different knife making courses at my smithy in Cornwall.

In some of them you will forge your own blade from scrap metal (spring steel), then shape the blade profile and establish the knife bevel. You’ll heat treat the knife, fix the handle to the blade, sharpen the knife and then finish it by etching your logo onto the knife blade.

In one course, we skip the forging stage and start the knife from sheet steel. If need be, I can change the knife design to some degree. It is not a classic blacksmith experience but you’ll definitely spend a good four hours at the forge.

And, of course, you will take the knife you’ve made home with you at the end of the day.

The workshops all take place in my smithy, which is located on the Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall.

They are open to anybody who can lift a hammer, although young people do need to be accompanied by an adult. No previous experience is needed. All you have to do is arrive in the morning equipped with working clothes with long sleeves, of non-flammable material and work shoes. I provide all the materials you will need to make the knife and the sheath, but if you want to use different materials you are more than welcome to bring them with you.

In all workshops I will provide light lunch on the first day. Needless to say, tea and coffee will be available throughout the day.

Two day workshop to make a full tang knife

Stock removal knife making technique so, no blade forging involved. Here we take 4 mm O1 sheet steel and trace the knife’s silhouette onto the steel, mark the lanyard and pin holes and then cut out the profile. We partially grind the bevel and give it heat treatment in order to make the edge strength better at holding its sharpness. We use a brass lanyard, loveless bolts and hardwood scales for the handle.

£390 per person

Leather Sheath One Day Workshop

Now that you have made your knife, it is time to holster it in a sheath that will do it justice. In this one day course I will show you how to do exactly that. We start by making a paper template for cutting the leather. We cut it and then use leather dye to colour it. We then glue and stitch it. If you want we can use leather stamps to emboss the decoration into the sheath in order to give it that special touch. Now all we need to do is trim the edges, burnish it and give it a good polish.

On this course we cannot produce a more complicated sheath than the workshop knife’s model. If you do want to create a different knife sheath, please contact me first and be aware that we may need more than one day to complete it.

Please note that unlike the workshops for knife-making, I can accommodate more than one person on the same day.

£160 per person

My Workshops

One Day Workshop to make an all Steel Knife

If you are looking for the most robust knife construction, you are in the right place. This knife, as the name implies, is made from only steel. There are no other materials in the knife itself except for a leather string to make it more comfortable to hold. Although simple in appearance, the blade is as good as any of the more sophisticated looking knives.

It is a very long day so be prepared!

£195 per person

Two Day Workshop to make a Bushcraft Knife

In this workshop, the style of the knife is designed with outdoor use in mind. It is a bolted, full length, tang-type knife. The blade, although very robust, provides sharp angled bevel geometry. This allows the knife to be very sharp without compromising its strength. You will use a hard wood for the knife guard, and leather washer and plastic spacer to construct the knife’s handle.

£390 per person

Two Day Workshop to make a Utility knife

This is slightly shorter than the bushcraft knife and its construction is less complicated. It is designed to be up to any task, in the farm yard or any other tough outdoor activity. The blade is somewhat thinner and slightly narrower than the bushcraft knife but as it is shorter it remains as strong. In addition, the handle shape enables the addition of a lanyard to the knife. This is very desirable when you are carrying the knife whilst engaging in energetic activity..

£390 per person

Chef Knife Two Day Workshop

Based upon the famous Japanese Santoku kitchen knife, the blade is thin and wide so has very, very sharp degree blade cross-section geometry. This makes the knife extremely sharp and allows it to stay sharp longer than other knives with different blade bevel geometry.

£390 per person

Blacksmithing Experience Workshop.

I offer half a day* workshop to forge fire poker, marshmallow fork or a spoon. Other objects can be practiced, but I need to know well in advance and if it is not overly complicated. We will us either gas forge or more traditional charcoal forge.

The workshop happens in my smithy near a creek off the Fal River on the Roseland peninsula in Cornwall.

The course is open to all age providing one can lift a hammer.

No previous experience is needed.

The workshop is up to three people, though it may take the all day.

*If somebody so wishes, I can do a full day workshop.

The workshop prices are per person but, if more than one person does it at the same time, a discount can be given.

£100 per person for half a day workshop.

£200 per person for a full-day workshop.

Testimonials from previous workshop customers

“Just a short note to let you know how much Ross and I enjoyed the course. Ross has not stopped talking about it and I learnt a lot more about the process of steel forging, having spent lots of my working career fabricating and welding. Just goes to prove there is always more to learn. Many thanks again and good luck with your courses.”

“On arrival at Ronen’s the peacefulness, tranquillity and beauty of the area hits you and you know that it is an inspiring place to be and work. I was there to make a knife as a birthday gift from my wife, I thought I had a good idea what to expect (and yes I have watched Forged in Fire on the TV), but the depth that Ronen goes in to far exceeded my expectation, his knowledge of moving hot steel, grinding, heat treating, polishing and sharpening and all of the time explaining what was going to happen right through to the final etch of my initials on the blade was something that I was not expecting. My one day course turned out to be a day and a half. I highly recommend you try one of his courses. Ronen is a brilliant craftsman. Thank you for a wonderful experience.”

“I did the one-day knife making course with Ronen yesterday and it was an awesome experience. I was amazed at how good the knife looks and how well made it is, I’m sure it will serve me well for many years. Ronen really knows his stuff and explains all you need to know very clearly. He really is passionate about his craft and it definitely shows in his knife collection. What you get for the price is just amazing, I will definitely be back! Thanks Ronen for a great day, can’t wait to start making my own forge…Oh and Ronen’s coffee is the real deal.”

New Paragraph

Accommodation

During the Summer months I put up a tipi tent near my smithy. Students that are coming from far away can spend the night in it for a small fee. There are two comfortable mattresses (no bedding) and some garden furniture in it. I can also provide BBQ grill, fire pit and some wood. A toilet and shower are located nearby and there are several pubs and restaurants within a 10 minute drive.

PRICING

The price per night is £50 for two people or £40 for one person.

Workshop Availability

Please use the enquiry form below the calendar to book your place on a workshop.

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

2pm Busy

Busy

Book a Knife Making Workshop today

The workshops are very intensive and I need to supervise the student very closely so they are designed for one or two people* per course. If two people are taking the course together, the workshop will have to be extended by one more day (except for the sheath-making workshop) but, price per person remain the same.

*A small group can book a workshop experience. Please contact me for more details. Check calendar for availability below.