Bladesmithing

[Ian Marshall]

Hello, my name is Ian. I am 18 and live in Littleton Colorado. I have a huge passion for knives and the art and craftsmanship behind them, I want to get into the career of bladesmithing and think the best way to start would be to get an apprenticeship or some kind of cleaning job at a Custom Knife shop. If anybody knows any Custom Knife makers or bladesmiths in Colorado and can point me in the right direction your help would be much appreciated!

 

[eisman]

The best thing to do would be go to school. Most technical colleges have metalworking classes, and I recommend you start there. Blacksmithing, machine work, forging, etc are all taught. And you're going to want all of those skills.

You might also spend a couple bucks and buy a Knives Annual and look in the back at the list of knife maker organizations and schools. Likewise, I can't remember a single knife show where there wasn't a representative from some organization looking for people to learn about knife making.

Last, if you look around on this board you'll find info on classes and hammer in you can attend.

 

[Ian Marshall]

The best thing to do would be go to school. Most technical colleges have metalworking classes, and I recommend you start there. Blacksmithing, machine work, forging, etc are all taught. And you're going to want all of those skills.

You might also spend a couple bucks and buy a Knives Annual and look in the back at the list of knife maker organizations and schools. Likewise, I can't remember a single knife show where there wasn't a representative from some organization looking for people to learn about knife making.

Last, if you look around on this board you'll find info on classes and hammer in you can attend.

Do you have any technical colleges or classes in the Colorado area that you could recommend or any in general that are good for starting and working towards blade smithing?

 

[Ian Marshall]

Do you have any technical colleges or classes in the Colorado area that you could recommend or any in general that are good for starting and working towards blade smithing?

In addition do you think that blacksmithing classes and or school would teach me the skills that I need??

 

[eisman]

Yes, blacksmithing would help. Think about it. Until about 100 years ago the large majority of the blades available anywhere in the world were made by smiths. Have you ever watched the Forged in Fire show on TV? Don't you think that what they do looks like blackmithing. The main difference is the blacksmith uses mostly iron, the bladesmith steels. Forging is forging. The skills you need are metalworking, machining, woodworking, welding, sculpting, and like industrial sciences. If you want to make a living at this I highly recommend some business courses.

Two Colorado schools that teach this type of work are Trinidad State and Colorado School of Trades. Admittedly they focus more on gunsmithing, but the skill sets are the same.

Have you looked for schools on the American Bladesmithing association website? The Knifemakers Guild?

Have you looked in the back of a current Knives Annual at who makes knives near you? Have you tried to contact any of those smiths listed?

 

[Ian Marshall]

Yes, blacksmithing would help. Think about it. Until about 100 years ago the large majority of the blades available anywhere in the world were made by smiths. Have you ever watched the Forged in Fire show on TV? Don't you think that what they do looks like blackmithing. The main difference is the blacksmith uses mostly iron, the bladesmith steels. Forging is forging. The skills you need are metalworking, machining, woodworking, welding, sculpting, and like industrial sciences. If you want to make a living at this I highly recommend some business courses.

Two Colorado schools that teach this type of work are Trinidad State and Colorado School of Trades. Admittedly they focus more on gunsmithing, but the skill sets are the same.

Have you looked for schools on the American Bladesmithing association website? The Knifemakers Guild?

Have you looked in the back of a current Knives Annual at who makes knives near you? Have you tried to contact any of those smiths listed?

Thank you so much for the help I really appreciate it!