North House, in partnership with The Viking Connection, is pleased to welcome Lars Mørch, a visiting full-time blacksmith from Denmark who specializes in Viking-era tools. In this class, students will work in three two-person teams to forge multiple axes documented to Viking Age Denmark, as they learn to chisel and drift the axe head. They will then follow documented methods of construction such as forge welding in the bit that will become the cutting edge. Advanced students may wish to attempt forge-welding a folded axe head after accomplishing the punch and drift method. This will be a step-by-step process, as students replicate those taught by Lars. Each student will end up with their own axe (or more!) by the end of the class. 

This is a unique opportunity to work with a guest instructor in a small class size, allowing for extensive one-on-one instruction. Lars will be joined by Cody Myers, a regular North House instructor. Students must have basic skills working with a coal forge and basic skills at forge welding: this is not a suitable class for first-time blacksmiths.

Required Tools

• Leather gloves
• Jeans
• Cotton shirts (no nylon clothing)
• Leather shoes
• Clothing comfortable to be outdoors

Optional Tools

• Safety glasses
• Ear protection
• Steel punch
• Steel chisels
• Hack saw
• Vice grips
• Channel locks
• Camera
• Your favorite blacksmithing hammer (non claw types 1-3lb hammer)
• Good file for steel
• Tongs or over-sized pliers
• Any hammer heads that you like to use (non-claw)
• Ball-peen hammer(s) and/or heads to be modified into a suitable blacksmithing hammer