This course will introduce students to the methods and techniques involved in hand crafting an all-metal friction folding knife, a project suitable for beginners to experienced smiths that want to learn more about knife making. Students will learn to forge, grind, heat-treat, and polish a carbon steel blade using coal or propane forges. We will also forge and shape a steel handle for the knife, assemble the pieces, and sharpen the finished blade. Students will use hand tools such as tongs, hammers, files, and sharpening stones, but should expect to use power tools such as grinders for cutting and shaping parts of the blade and handle material.

You will need the following tools for this class:

• leather gloves
• jeans
• cotton shirts (no nylon clothing)
• leather shoes
• clothing comfortable for outdoors and indoors

• safety glasses
• ear protection
• your favorite blacksmithing hammer (non claw types - 1-3lb hammer)
• good file for steel
• tongs or over-sized pliers
• steel punch
• steel chisels
• vice grips
• channel locks
• ball-peen hammer(s) and/or heads to be modified into a suitable blacksmithing hammer
• any hammer heads that you'd like to use (non-claw)
• camera
• 4.5" grinder