Blacksmithing Basics – Making a Letter Opener and Iron Age Knife
April Special: take both classes in one weekend
Blacksmithing Basics-Making a Letter Opener: This class is an introduction to blacksmithing, including safety precautions and some techniques for working with hot steel. The project is a letter opener, a knife-shaped piece of forged and twisted steel suitable for opening a sealed envelope. A handout will be provided.
Blacksmithing Basics - Making an Iron Age Knife: This class continues a student's blacksmithing experience, reinforcing previously learned safety precautions and techniques, and developing the student's skill. The project is a small Iron Age knife similar to one found in a Danish archaeological site. It was worn hanging from a cord on a woman's girdle, and most likely used for basic household cutting chores like food preparation, clothing or shoe repair, etc. This project also teaches some basic bladesmith techniques, including distal taper and quenching. A handout will be provided.
Students must wear fire-safe clothing (cotton, wool, or leather; no synthetics), closed-toe shoes (no synthetic uppers), and should dress for an open classroom. Long pants and short sleeves recommended.
Water will be provided.
DATES: Saturday and Sunday: April 5-6, 2025
TIMES:
- Saturday: 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Sunday: 9:00am-4:00pm
FEES:
- Both days: $300 (includes materials) -
- Saturday only: $150 (includes materials) -
- Sunday only: $175 (includes materials) -
LOCATION: San Luis Obispo campus
INSTRUCTOR: Leif Bennett
QUESTIONS: Contact Shelly Ingram shelly_ingram@cuesta.edu
| Meet the instructor | |
|---|---|
| Leif Bennett | Leif Bennett has been blacksmithing and metalworking since 1993. He has taken a wide variety of blacksmithing courses and has been teaching blacksmithing for more than a decade at Adam’s Forge in Los Angeles. He has a B.S. in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology and currently holds Level 1 and Instructor certificates issued by the California Blacksmith Association. |